Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 6
2 Ne 6:24 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of
this awful monster;
6:24 Our escape is made possible by accepting the gospel of Christ and living according to its
principles.
2 Ne 6:28 Wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive
spirits,
2 Ne 6:29 And the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be
restored, one to the other;
6:28, 29 Jacob taught that "spiritual death is hell" (27). He goes on to state that "the spirit and the
body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are
living souls" (32). Then they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel" (36)
.
2 Ne 6:45 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men, if they will hearken unto his voice;
6:45 Zechariah prophesied to his people that they should "show mercy and compassions every
man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and
let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart. But they refused to hearken, and
pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their
hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear 'the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts
hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets; therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts"
(Zech. 7:9-12).
Jacob was five hundred years ahead of Christ's coming and ministry. Men “may" be saved, not
will be saved. The choice and action is with men. To hearken is to hear and yield obedience to his
voice.
JACOB CON11NUES SPEAKING ON REPENTANCE AND SIN, VER. 48-106
2 Ne 6:49 And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure
to the end, they must be damned;
6:49 This statement follows an affirmation that men can be saved by faith in the Holy One of
Israel, and by repentance and baptism. This is similar to but not so cryptic as Mark's statement:
"He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned"
(Mark 16:15).
Many denominations now teach that the believer, upon accepting Christ, is saved. In support of
this they quote John: "He who heareth my word, and believeth on him who sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death into life" (John
5:24).
Jacob's teaching that the promise of eternal salvation involved enduring to the end of earthly life is
based on observation and the law of agency. He is supported by Paul, who declared, "Work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). He knew that there was danger of his