Our Lack Of Commitment Is What's Killing Us And Here's What To Do About It
Christ's Cure To The Lack of Commitment (Workbook Part 3)
This email builds upon the last two… don’t worry if you didn’t read the past ones, this one is amazing on it’s own. You’ll find a lot of power as you combine it all together. I’ve been applying myself to all of this and it’s been amazing.
If you want to join a community that is focused on applying these principles, then click here - Inherent Identity Family. Sometimes you need to commit to something to get unstuck. And I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the price.
Step 3: Baptism
As you continually focus on building your relationship of trust with Jesus Christ and allow this relationship to seriously change the way you see God, yourself, and the world, you will naturally want to commit to living in a new way. You will desire to put off the old self and live into a new self. This new self will be the aligned with the identity and name that Jesus Christ has for you.
Baptism is a spiritually bonding relational commitment. Spiritual, because it represents an inherent internal desire to live into your godliness. Bonding, because it represents an unbreakable connection with Heavenly Father. Relational, because it represents a loyal, faithful, and eternal love. Commitment, because it represents a dedicated choice where you don’t go back to the way you used to be.
Baptism is also an ordinance. In Alma 13:8 we read the following about ordinances, “Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end—”
The etymology of ordinance and ordain is literally to “put in order.” The way God wants to “order” us so that we can become like him includes the following steps, as described in the Alma 13:8:
Called with a godly calling - Invited to do something good for others
Set apart in a godly way - You are specifically chosen and given gifts to fulfill the calling
Take upon you the name and power of high priesthood - You are to identify as the person with the calling, power, and name to fulfill the calling you feel pulled towards
Preach My Gospel: A Guide To Sharing The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, states the following:
“Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance prepare us for the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we receive this joyous ordinance of hope, we make our first covenant with God.”
In other words, believing in and building a trusting relationship with Christ and continually returning to that loving relationship prepares me to be ordered and organized and directed in a godly way (to be called with a godly calling, set apart in a godly way, and given the name, identity, and power to fulfill the calling).
Being immersed in God’s love and entering into a binding relationship of loving kindness is the first healing experience of Jesus Christ’s framework and method (called the gospel). Being baptized allows me to connect further and deeper with God. It helps me to be more whole, more of who I really am. It binds me to him. It is an act of raising my standards and living in a higher and holier way. It is an action that enables me to experience more of his love and spirit. It is a symbolic act of you choosing to live a better life
As you live into this joyous calling, setting apart, identity-accepting, and power-accepting experience of trust, you make your first binding relationship with God. You make your first commitment to live at a higher, more godly level.
Jesus taught that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). Unless you choose to enter into a spiritually binding relational commitment, you won’t be able to live into the truth of who you really are. Unless you choose to enter into a forever relationship with Unconditional Love, you will forever exist in a state of judgment.
Think about this for a moment. There are reports that about 80% of your thoughts are negative. Whether or not this is scientifically true, it doesn’t take science for you to observe your thoughts throughout the day and notice how many of them are not loving. You judge yourself, you judge other people, you unconsciously blame God for things. It’s never-ending darkness.
Christ’s invitation for you to enter into a serious and committed relationship to the only being who has ever loved you without condition (God) is the best way for you to heal. Let’s just say that if you get married to Unconditional Love, you will not be disappointed. Imagine waking up every morning with a spouse named “Unconditional Love” by your side telling you how wonderful it is to see you and experience you. You could wake up late, you could turn away and say “I don’t want to talk right now,” and you would be met with love… every time.
Covenant Relationship
When I was dating in college, I met a girl named Morgan. To me, she was attractive and had a special light about her. I was drawn to that light and the more I got to know her and have experiences with her, the more I trusted her. I wanted to be around her all the time. Just being in her presence was enjoyable. It was fun. I thought about her a lot and couldn’t wait for the moments we could be together.
The more time we spent together the more we entertained the idea of how joyful it would be to spend forever with each other. I mean, why not spend forever with your best friend? But the only way to ensure that we were committed to each other forever was through a covenantal marriage relationship.
Marriage is a big deal is most cultures. It represents a life-long commitment to stay in loving relationship to another person. I remember having a discussion with Morgan where I asked her about what she valued, the goals she had, how many kids she wanted, etc. Her values and desires were similar to my own. And it was only after this experience that I seriously considered Morgan as someone I would be willing to commit to an eternal relationship with.
Faith and repentance are kind of like the dating phase with Jesus. You set apart time to be with Christ, learn about him, and experience one another. The more you experience the love of Christ, the more you will want to be around him all the time. You will naturally think about him all the time and cherish the moments where you get to spend one-on-one time together.
Many people don’t think of the faith and repentance experience as being fun, but what if it could be? If men are that they might have joy, and joy is all about relationship, then the greatest joy will be found as you continually build a relationship of trust with Christ. That you start to see the way he sees things and notice the love and peace and joy that enters your life as a result.
The more time you spend with Christ, the more you will want to commit to a forever relationship. You will realize that Christ has a vision for you that is even greater and more beautiful than your own.
The forever covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ is called baptism. It’s the place where God promises to unite with you in a hesed type of relationship. Hesed is the Hebrew word for a loyal, covenantal love that is filled with grace and loving-kindness. It’s the kind of love where God is always delighted to be in your presence
Deep Dive Into Scriptures
When you partake of the sacrament each week, there is a prayer offered that can help us see the simplicity of what God is asking in the covenant of baptism.
77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
O God, the Eternal Father, I ask you in the identity of being a Beloved Son/Daughter and in connection with thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and set apart this bread to my soul that partakes of it. And I witness before you that I am willing to be loved, to always remember Jesus Christ and to follow any and all invitations you give me so that I can have the Spirit to be with me all the time.
In summary you promise…
to be willing to connect to love, draw power from love, and just be loved
to think about Jesus Christ always, because the mere thought of Him provides peace and power
to follow the invitations God gives you
The following are powerful verses and commentary that will expand your view of the gospel framework and deepen your understanding of baptism. All of these verses come from 2 Nephi 31. There will be repetition, but allow this repetition to work in you and communicate the truth again and again.
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
If the perfect, godly, unblemished and sacrificial Son of God needed to be immersed in the Love of God to enter into a binding relational agreement with Heavenly Father, so that he can enter into a "right relationship" with Him... then how much more do you, who are imperfect and incomplete, need to be immersed in God's love and enter into a binding relational agreement so that you can enter into a right and loving relationship with Heavenly Father.
When you are baptized, you commit to a new identity. You commit to being one with Christ. To having His mind and His identity. You commit to following His invitations to a more fulfilling and aligned life. You commit to partnering with him in joyful relationship. It's like the most beautiful thing you could possibly do.
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
Why was baptism necessary for Christ to enter into a right relationship with God? Wasn't he the most connected being in the world? Didn't he already have a loving relationship with God?
It was necessary because God asked Christ to do it. Heavenly Father invited Christ into a deeper relationship with Him through an ordinance (an act that brings things into proper order)
Heavenly Father invited Christ to enter into a more binding relational agreement where He could extend promises and where Christ could formally commit to obey God's invitations.
This act of baptism only increased Christ's connection to the Father and made them more one with each other. For Christ was immersed in the identity of Heavenly Father (that identity being love, for God is love).
Christ received a special and unique name from God only after he was baptized. That name was Beloved Son. This is significant in that to truly receive and live into the name and identity that God has for you requires a commitment to a forever relationship. It’s like marriage, if you are going to really be in this together, then with the lifelong commitment comes a new name.
11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
Heavenly Father invites you to have a serious change of thinking through a relationship with Him.
He invites you to immerse yourself in His love and identity. In the identity of being beloved.
If you are immersed in and choose to accept the love and identity that Christ has for you, then Heavenly Father will give you the Holy Ghost (spiritual direction, guidance, remembrance of your previous life and learnings, deeper connection with God, etc.).
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
If you truly follow Jesus, choosing to seriously change the thinking you have that leads to rejecting God's love and acting in ways that separate you from yourself, from others, and from God.
And if you tell God that you are willing to live into your Inherent Identity (the name and purpose given by God that is associated with Christ's name and identity).
If you choose to commit to this path through baptism...then you will live a life directed by God. Then your voice will have the power of God. And you will experience so much joy that you will shout praises to Jesus Christ who showed you the way.
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
The gate requires a one-by-one individual experience with Christ.
That gate is repentance and baptism. It is seriously changing the way I think about life through a covenant relationship with Christ.
Your personal healing will come from a relational agreement with Christ to live into the truth of who you really are.
As you commit and change your thinking from being in relationship with Christ, the natural byproduct will be healing of wounds and a bringing you back into oneness with God (love).
It will be like a fire that burns away the old self and restores you to your Inherent Self.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
Once you choose to enter into a relational agreement with Christ through baptism, then you enter into the 1:1 path with Him towards your personal promised land.
You have acted upon the loving invitation from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You have accepted, yielded, and lived into the Holy Ghost, which testifies of the truth of Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ.
You are promised to have the Holy Ghost after immersing yourself in God’s love and it was fulfilled.
Every time your immerse myself in the love of God you will be filled with the Spirit. That is the promise.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
Once you make a personal 1:1 relational agreement with Christ, you are not done. You don't stop building that relationship. Once you enter the gate you don't turn back to your old ways... that's not the plan.
The plan is to continue moving forward with Christ. To learn all you can about Him as your friend, deliverer, redeemer, and savior.
The more you learn about and have experiences with Christ, the more trust will grow in this relationship. The more you will trust in the promises he's given, and the more you will love God, others and yourself.
Continually building this relationship with Christ is what will lead you to your most alive and free life—the most glorious and joyful experience of living.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
The name of Christ as 'beloved' is the way.
In other words, there is no other identity given whereby you can be fully healed and live into the truth of who you really are.
Being loved is the name of Jesus Christ. It is the identity of Jesus Christ.
To be in constant connection and in constant reception of God's love... that is the way you live into the best version of yourself.
It is the only way. This is the doctrine... to be loved. It is summarized in one word, name, and identity - beloved.
Applying Baptism
Applying yourself to the principle of baptism is all about commitment. Let me share three quotes that when put together, teach the most practical way to approach this covenantal relationship:
Quote 1: William Hutchinson Murray
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Quote 2: Robert Brault
“We are kept from our goal not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”
Quote 3: Warren Buffet
"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
In other words, what keeps you from your promised land are all the little distractions and other things you are working on that God would rather you put on hold. When you fully commit, you draw the line, you decide once and for all that you are going to do whatever God invites you to do in order to create the desired result. When you commit at this level, that is when magic starts to happen. That is when you finally humble yourself and open yourself up to the way God wants you to approach this. And when you act in a guided way, miracles start to happen.
To put it simply, applying yourself to the principle of baptism goes like this:
Sincerely and deeply commit to God that you will partner with Him and do what He invites you to do in the accomplishment of a specific impossible ideal or miracle
Say no to everything else. If it’s not an invitation from God, don’t do it.
You might wonder, “what goal or ideal should I pursue?” It’s the one you feel divinely guided to start with or the one your heart has been yearning for the longest. As you prayerfully consider what your focus is to be and yield to God, you’ll be able to make full use of the gospel framework.
Putting Christ’s Framework Together (for Paid Subscribers)
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