This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me reading in Romans 1-6. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Livingfor additional resources and suggestions.
Thought
“Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God. Thinking that we can trade our good works for salvation is like buying a plane ticket and then supposing we own the airline. Or thinking that after paying rent for our home, we now hold title to the entire planet earth.”
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015)
Scripture
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Roman 3:27-31).
Lesson
Ask your family to imagine they want to be a great mountain climber. Ask:
What is one of the most important tools used by mountain climbers? (A good rope.) Why would it be more dangerous to climb a mountain without a rope? If you compared life to mountain climbing, what might the rope represent? (The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, etc.) In what ways do some try to make it through life by their own power and without God’s help?
Tell your family that one of Paul’s greatest challenges was teaching Jews who still insisted on living the rituals of the law of Moses even though Jesus fulfilled this law and brought the gospel instead (see Matthew 5:17–19). Read Romans 3:27–31 together and ask:
Can doing the deeds of the law of Moses save us? Why not? To whom does God choose to give salvation? (Verse 28: Those with true faith.) How can you tell if a person has real faith in God? (His good works; see verse 31) Instead of faith canceling out “works” or the commandments, what does faith do according to verse 31? (Faith in Christ helps followers live the commandments better than ever before.)
Challenge your family to try as hard as they can to be like the Savior, knowing that He will help them even though they will make some mistakes.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006])
Lead image from Shutterstock
