Lecture 3
Overview
Lecture 3 of the Lectures on Faith systematically outlines the prerequisites for a rational being to exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. The text posits three absolute necessities: first, the idea that God exists; second, a correct understanding of His character, perfections, and attributes; and third, an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is according to God's will. The lecture spends considerable time establishing the second requirement by quoting extensively from the Bible and the Book of Commandments to prove that God is eternal, unchangeable, merciful, truthful, impartial, and loving. The text argues that without a correct understanding of these specific attributes, human weakness and liability to sin would cause doubt to replace faith. However, the most significant theological assertion is the third requirement: the text explicitly states that without 'actual knowledge' that one's personal behavior and life course are aligned with God's will, faith remains 'imperfect and unproductive.' This creates a theological framework where absolute behavioral certainty is the foundation for efficacious faith, deeply intertwining justification with personal sanctification and performance.
Key Figures
- God the Father: Presented as the eternal, unchangeable, merciful, and truthful Creator in whom faith must center.
- Lord Jesus Christ: Mentioned alongside the Father as the recipient of praise and glory when faith becomes perfect and fruitful.
- Moses: Cited as a historical prophet who received direct revelation of God's character (Exodus 34:6).
- Peter: Cited as an apostolic authority confirming that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
The Three Prerequisites of Faith
Assertion
In order to exercise faith unto salvation, a person must know God exists, have a correct idea of His character, and have actual knowledge that their course of life is according to His will.
Evidence from Text
Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.— For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine represents a severe departure from the Evangelical understanding of Sola Fide (Faith Alone). In Evangelical theology, saving faith is an instrument that lays hold of Christ's righteousness. It is an admission of spiritual bankruptcy and a reliance on the finished work of the Savior (Romans 4:5). By contrast, Lecture 3 makes the efficacy of faith contingent upon the believer's 'actual knowledge' that their personal 'course of life' is aligned with God's will. This effectively makes justification dependent upon sanctification. If a believer must perfectly align their life with God's will before their faith can be 'perfect and fruitful,' then grace is nullified, and salvation becomes a wage earned by righteous living rather than a free gift received by trusting a merciful God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Unchangeable Character of God
Assertion
God is eternal, unchangeable, merciful, truthful, impartial, and loving. He was God before the world was created and remains the same.
Evidence from Text
First, That he was God before the world was created, and the same God that he was, after it was created... Thirdly, That he changes not, neither is there variableness with him
Evangelical Comparison
Interestingly, Lecture 3 presents a highly orthodox, classical view of Theology Proper. It affirms God's eternal nature, His immutability, His omnipresent mercy, and His truthfulness. It explicitly states He was God 'before the world was created.' This aligns perfectly with Evangelical theology (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). However, it is vital to note that this orthodox presentation of God contradicts later Mormon theology developed by Joseph Smith (such as the King Follett Discourse and D&C 130), which teaches that God was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood and is a being of flesh and bone. The classical theism presented in Lecture 3 is a primary reason the LDS Church removed the Lectures on Faith from their canon in 1921.
Epistemology of Revelation
Assertion
Knowledge of God's existence and character cannot be discovered by human searching but comes exclusively through divine revelation.
Evidence from Text
because without the revelations which he has given to us, no man by searching could find out God.
Evangelical Comparison
The text asserts that all knowledge of God comes through revelation, citing Job 11 and 1 Corinthians 2. Evangelicals strongly affirm the necessity of Special Revelation (the Bible) to understand God's redemptive plan and specific character attributes. However, Evangelical theology, drawing on Romans 1:19-20 and Psalm 19, also affirms General Revelation—that the created order itself provides sufficient evidence of God's existence and eternal power to leave humanity without excuse, even before Special Revelation is received. Furthermore, while Evangelicals limit Special Revelation to the closed canon of the 66-book Bible, this text elevates the 'Book of Commandments' to the same revelatory status.
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
While the text's Theology Proper (attributes of God) is surprisingly orthodox, its Soteriology is fundamentally works-based. It requires a believer to have 'actual knowledge' that their life is perfectly aligned with God's will before their faith can be productive for salvation.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap in Lecture 3 lies not in its description of God, but in its mechanics of faith. Evangelical theology, rooted in Sola Fide, teaches that faith is the empty hand that receives the grace of God. Faith is efficacious precisely because it relies on the alien righteousness of Christ rather than the inherent righteousness of the believer (Philippians 3:9). Assurance of salvation comes from looking outward to the cross. Lecture 3, however, turns faith inward. By establishing the 'Third Prerequisite'—that a person must have 'actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will'—the text makes justification entirely dependent on sanctification. If a believer sins, or even doubts their own behavioral perfection, their faith becomes 'imperfect and unproductive.' This creates a theological system of works-righteousness where the burden of salvation rests squarely on the believer's ability to maintain a perfect course of life, directly violating Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 4:4-5.
For All Ages
Imagine you owe a billion dollars to a bank, and a rich king offers to pay it all for you if you just trust him. That's the Evangelical view of faith—trusting Jesus to pay our debt because we can't. But this text says you can't truly trust the king unless you first prove you are living perfectly by the bank's rules. It says your faith won't work unless you know for a fact that your behavior is exactly what God wants. This makes salvation about how good you are, rather than how good Jesus is.
Friction Points
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Requires perfect behavioral alignment ('actual knowledge that the course of life... is according to his will') as a prerequisite for faith to be productive for salvation.
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Elevates the 'Book of Commandments' to the same authoritative, revelatory level as the Bible.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Faith"
In This Text
A principle of power that only becomes perfect and productive for salvation when combined with absolute certainty that one's personal behavior is aligned with God's will.
In Evangelicalism
A complete trust and reliance on the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ, exercised by the ungodly who cannot justify themselves by their own course of life (Romans 4:5).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Obtaining 'life and salvation' or 'eternal life' (Paragraph 23).
How Attained: By exercising perfect faith, which is only possible if one knows God's character and knows their own life is perfectly aligned with God's will.
Basis of Assurance: Self-evaluation. Assurance is based on the 'actual knowledge' that one's course of life is pleasing to God.
Comparison to Sola Fide: Directly opposes Sola Fide. While it uses the word 'faith,' it redefines faith to include the prerequisite of righteous living. Romans 4:5 states God justifies the *ungodly* who believe; Lecture 3 states faith is unproductive unless you know your life is godly.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- Pursue a course of life that is according to God's will.
- Obtain an actual knowledge of God's character, perfections, and attributes.
Implicit Obligations
- Eliminate all doubt regarding one's standing before God.
- Study the revelations (Bible and Book of Commandments) to understand God's nature.
- Maintain constant vigilance over one's behavior to ensure faith remains productive.
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- Lecture 3 says that for faith to be productive, you must have 'actual knowledge that the course of life which you are pursuing is according to His will.' Do you ever struggle with doubt about whether your life is perfectly aligned with God's will?
- If our faith is 'imperfect and unproductive' whenever our course of life falls short, how can anyone have true assurance of salvation?
- I noticed Lecture 3 describes God as being God 'before the world was created' and being completely unchangeable. How does this fit with the teaching that God the Father was once a mortal man who progressed to exaltation?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
God's Merciful Character Eliminating Doubt
The text rightly identifies that human weakness causes doubt, and that God's mercy is the cure. We can bridge this to the Gospel by showing that God's ultimate mercy was providing Jesus to live the perfect 'course of life' on our behalf, completely eliminating our doubt.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
The believer is placed under the crushing weight of needing to maintain a perfect 'course of life' to validate their faith. Any sin or failure renders their faith 'imperfect and unproductive,' leading to a constant treadmill of works-righteousness.
Because human beings are inherently flawed, requiring 'actual knowledge' of one's own righteousness breeds deep internal doubt and anxiety. The believer can never truly rest in grace because their standing is always contingent on their current performance.