The Atonement: Reconciliation and Eternal Life

The Savior’s gift of immortality comes to all who have ever lived. But His gift of eternal life requires repentance and obedience to specific ordinances and covenants. Essential ordinances of the gospel symbolize the Atonement. Baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Redeemer. Partaking of the sacrament renews baptismal covenants and also renews our memory of the Savior’s broken flesh and of the blood He shed for us. Ordinances of the temple symbolize our reconciliation with the Lord and seal families together forever. Obedience to the sacred covenants made in temples qualifies us for eternal life—the greatest gift of God to man —the “object and end of our existence.” 

^{The Atonement, by Elder Russell M. Nelson}

JESUS CHRIST: NEWNESS OF LIFE

Jesus provides us another birth, a new beginning

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

--Romans 6:3-4

When we are baptized unto repentance, it is like our being buried unto death. Coming up out of the water immediately following our baptism is like being resurrected, obtain a newness of life. Christ bring a newness of life to our souls  because through Him we are born again.

JESUS CHRIST: THE HOLY ONE

Jesus is the only name whereby salvation comes

If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.

--Moses 6:52

Jesus Christ taught faith in Him and repentance for remission of sins. He is full of grace and truth and in the Only Begotten Son of God the Father in the flesh. Regardless of what the world teaches, there is no other name under heaven through which salvation can come to a person that through the name of Christ. No person can or will ever change this doctrine in spite of the thoughts, philosophies, and learning of man, for this absolute truth is constant, never-changing. When one repents and is baptized unto Christ into the true church, he/she then can receive the Holy Ghost, the testator of all truth.

JESUS CHRIST: HIS RIGHTEOUS EXAMPLE

Faith in Christ-Repentance-Baptism-Holy Ghost

27 And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name.

28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.

---Book of Mormon Alma 9:27-28

The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, Repentance. Third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Fourth, laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Jesus taught the path to heaven and that was to believe in Him, that He is our Savior and Redeemer. Repent of our wrongs, to change our way, our minds and our perspective on life. Then we need to be baptized by one holding the proper authority to do so. Not just anyone can baptize and it be recognized by God.

Everybody will be judged and rewarded according to their thoughts, motives, actions, deeds, and works. God will not be mocked. The righteous will receive a glorious reward. The wicked who don’t repent will reap damnation for their consequences resulting from the devil and his evil influence. Jesus is the master example for us to pattern our lives after. He said, “Come, Follow Me.” We follow Him by striving to be like Him in righteousness and perfection.

Jesus Christ: Supreme Lovingkindness

Isaiah 63:7-9

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Jesus, our Redeemer, constantly demonstrated lovingkindness. His  supreme love and kindness came to a summit on two occasions in two places:

(1) While suffering and bleeding from every pore when in Gethsemane

(2) While bleeding and dying when on the cruel Cross

Jesus suffered, bled and died, sacrificing His life for all humankind and all living things. He shed His blood in the perfect atonement so that we might be forgiven of our sins and gain eternal life.

How do we gain access to the Power of the Atonement?

1. Put God first: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”
2. Exercise faith in Christ
3. Repent
4. Be worthily baptized by proper authority
5. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
6. Make and keep sacred covenants in the temple
7. Obey all God’s commandments
8. Be meek and humble
9. Pray 100% perfectly honest prayers
10. Praise the Lord with all our hearts
11. Be perfectly honest and upright at all times
12. Serve others with love
13. Acknowledge God’s hand in all things
14. Always be temple worthy

Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation through His perfect atonement

Jesus Christ: Taking His Name upon Ourselves

2 Nephi 31:13

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.

We take upon ourselves the name of Christ by baptism, by being baptized by a legal administrator with proper authority and under the auspices of ecclesiastical direction, witness and approval. “And no man taketh this honor unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron” (See Hebrews 5:4). When we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, who is our Lord and Savior, we are promising to strive to live as He lived, as perfect as possible. We need to seek a higher standard of living every day and every hour, to raise the bar of performance.

Self-Evaluation

1. Do you put God first in all that you do?
2. What is your current standard of living?
3. What are your current needs?
4. How can you improve?
5. What commandment are you having the most difficulty living?
6. What is the quality of your prayers?
7. What is the extent of your praise and gratitude to God?
8. What are you doing to build the Lord’s kingdom on earth? Do you magnify your callings?
9. How are you using your talents?
10. Can you, with perfect honesty, acknowledge God’s hand in all things?
11. Do you serve others selflessly? “When we serve others, we find Christ” (Harold Clyde)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a balm, like the balm of Gilead. Look to God and live, even the abundant life.