19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
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.

I have always loved these verses for their timeless reminder that our path back to our father in heaven involves continually relying on Jesus Christ and his atonement. Accepting Christ is not just something that happens once, but it is a continual decision we make. What led us to the waters of baptism in the first place is faith in Christ and reliance on his infinite merit. And those same things are needed as we make our way onward and upward.

It is a grave error to think that after baptism we can make it all by ourselves. We must be steadfast in Christ. And it is only through steadfastness in Christ that we can maintain a perfect brightness of hope. It is only through steadfastness in Christ that we can love God and our fellow brothers and sisters. And as we feast upon his word, we gain and strengthen our faith to allow us to do those things necessary to endure to the end.

Christ is the central part of the process all the way through.



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