The People’s Response
After King Benjamin finished speaking to his people, he sent messengers to ask them a question. He wanted to know if they believed the words he had spoken to them. All the people shouted together: 'Yes, we believe all the words you have spoken to us! We know they are true because of the Spirit of the Lord God. He has made a big change in us and in our hearts. We don’t want to do bad things anymore. We only want to do good things.' 'Because God is so good to us, and because his Spirit shows us things, we can see what will happen in the future. If we needed to, we could tell about all things that will come.' 'Our faith in the things our king has told us has given us this great knowledge. That’s why we are so very happy.' 'We want to make a promise to God. We promise to do what he wants and obey his commands in everything he tells us for the rest of our lives. We don’t want to suffer forever like the angel said would happen. We don’t want to drink from the cup of God’s anger.'
King Benjamin’s Answer
These were the words King Benjamin wanted to hear from them. So he said to them: 'You have said exactly what I wanted you to say. The promise you have made is a good promise.'
Becoming Children of Christ
'Because of the promise you have made, you will be called the children of Christ. You are his sons and daughters. Today he has made you his children in a spiritual way. You say your hearts have changed because you have faith in his name. So you are born from him and have become his sons and daughters.' 'Under Christ, you are made free. There is no other leader who can make you free. There is no other name that can save you. So I want all of you who have made this promise with God to take Christ’s name. You should obey him for your whole life.' 'Anyone who does this will be found at the right hand of God. He will know the name he is called by. He will be called by the name of Christ.' 'But anyone who does not take Christ’s name will be called by some other name. That person will find himself on the left hand of God.'
Remember Christ’s Name
'I want you to remember that this is the name I said I would give you. It will never be erased unless you do wrong. So be careful not to sin, so the name won’t be erased from your hearts.' 'I tell you to remember to keep the name written always in your hearts. Then you won’t be found on the left hand of God. You will hear and know the voice that calls you. You will also know the name he calls you by.' 'How can someone know a master he has never served? How can he know someone who is a stranger to him and far from his thoughts and feelings?' 'Let me ask you this: Does a man take his neighbor’s donkey and keep it? No! He won’t even let it eat with his own animals. Instead, he will drive it away and send it out. I tell you, the same thing will happen to you if you don’t know the name you are called by.'
'So I want you to be strong and never give up. Always do good works. Then Christ, the Lord God who has all power, will make you his own. You will be brought to heaven. You will be saved forever and have eternal life. This comes through the wisdom, power, justice, and mercy of him who created all things in heaven and on earth. He is God above all. Amen.'
Influences
- 5:3 — Titus 3:3 (KJV)For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- 5:3 — Westminster Confession chapter 5:4The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his providence that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men, and that not by a bare permission,
- 5:3 — 1 John 4:13 (KJV)Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
- 5:3 — 1 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
- 5:5 — Hebrews 13:21 (KJV)Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 5:5 — Revelation 14:10 (KJV)The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
- 5:7 — Acts 3:16 (KJV)And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
- 5:7 — 1 John 2:29 (KJV)If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- 5:8 — John 8:33 (KJV)They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
- 5:8 — Acts 4:12 (KJV)Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- 5:8 — 1 Peter 4:14 (KJV)If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
- 5:9 — Romans 8:34 (KJV)Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
- 5:11 — Matthew 6:1 (KJV)Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
- 5:13 — John 7:15 (KJV)And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
- 5:13 — Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- 5:14 — Matthew 12:45 (KJV)Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
- 5:15 — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- 5:15 — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- 5:15 — Luke 2:11 (KJV)For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
- 5:15 — Revelation 19:6 (KJV)And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
- 5:15 — John 6:40 (KJV)And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- 5:15 — 1 John 5:20 (KJV)And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.