How important is salvation to you? How much effort will you commit to preparing for your salvation? Questions of extreme importance to all of us, whether you are of this LDS Church or not.

In the Bible, Paul the Apostle clearly said that we must work out our own salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10 ). Do you have any understanding what that means? Does any person understand that personal issues are the core of our focus to work out and resolve for our salvation? To make peace, not only within ourselves, in our minds and hearts, but with those who we have issue with.

Jesus Christ said,

Matthew 5:20–26
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Until every farthing is paid.

Jesus Christ speaks of having issue with others, be it family, neighbour, or whoever the issue is with. If we fail to resolve our personal issues, our salvation is not worked out. The words from Jesus spoke of self-responsibility, saying we are responsible for our personal issues. The atonement will not remove these issues for us because it does not take over our responsibility to them. The atonement helps us resolve these issues as we exercise responsibility to them. Those who think that the atonement will exonerate us are following irresponsibility and false doctrines.

When Jesus promised that we shall pay every farthing, he spoke of the promise that we shall be held responsible for the issues we hold, bury, deny or justify within us and in our lives. Notice that Jesus spoke to the faithful and how he addressed the non-faithful as the “enemy”. He gave counsel to the faithful to resolve their personal differences and to end all contention, for no corrupt thing will enter the kingdom of God, and personal issue is a form of corruption against the spirit of righteousness. It is what Satan wants you to retain. Why? – because then by the power of personal issues, you shall be made miserable.

Isn’t this true? Carrying personal issue against something or someone, does it bring peace and happiness? Of course it does not, it begets misery and that is what Satan tricks you to believe about holding to personal issue as just or right or whatever he causes you to believe as a justification.

To understand, personal issue has two facets. One is the set of circumstances that exist between us and our “enemy”. This we must resolve with the enemy if possible. The second facet addresses the existence of the issue within us, the core aspect that led us to manifest our part of the issue into life. This is the “what we sow, so shall we reap” part, the habit or bad pattern of behavior or act that you carry. To get at these inward facets requires the “inward man” as Paul described ( Proverbs 20:27; Romans 7:22; 2 Corinthians 4:16 ). Such a person must walk by the Spirit in order to resolve the second facet so it will never manifest the same issue again.

Fear not, if the “enemy” is no longer available or accessible, pray to Heavenly Father to provide to you an opportunity to resolve the issue. God may provide you an opportunity with another who acts as a proxy for the enemy, if Heavenly Father deems it appropriate.

Resolving your personal issues, will move you toward salvation because you are doing your self-responsible part to clean yourself of wickedness; being bad judgements, angers, resentments, fears and all such things that ties to sin. Holding to personal issues is a sin because that justifies and supports sin. Such is not righteous and does not denote a disciple of Christ. Read the scriptures of what God says about holding ill thoughts and feelings against your brother or neighbour.

This will not be an easy task, because you will be brought to see your part in each personal issue and shown what unrighteousness you have committed or hold to. In this, the words from Jesus as ‘repent’ take on a deeper and more global meaning.

Do you believe what I have said? If not, ponder the following, by holding to personal issues, especially against others, how then can you obey the second commandment of “love thy neighbour”, which you must do in order to obey the first commandment of loving God?

How then do you fit the scripture that says if you love God but hate your brother, then you are a liar?

God is quite precise with his principles, we should also learn and do the same.

Work out thy own salvation does include working out your personal issues.

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