THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

1 Peter 1:18-20

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Apostle Neil A. Maxwell

Neil A. Maxwell delivered a tremendous discourse about "Applying the Atoning Blood of Christ." See it here in detail.

Jesus Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be our Savior, Redeemer and Mediator. He is the Firstborn of the Father in the pre-mortal life and the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. Redemption comes through the shedding of Christ’s precious blood, and not by worldly things like silver and gold. Jesus overcame the world.

In the pre-mortal life, Jesus volunteered to be our Savior, and the Father selected Him; whereupon, satan rebelled. Here is where the war in heaven occurred between Michael (Adam) joined by other righteous spirits and the dragon, known as the Devil and Satan, along with other evil spirits. Because of satan’s rebellion, satan and one third of the hosts of heaven were cast out of heaven down to the earth as evil spirits (See Revelation 12:7-11 for the War in Heaven).

Jesus lives, and He loves. He stands at the door of our souls and knocks. It is up to up to open and let Him enter into our lives.

Jesus Christ: Lamb of God

John 1:29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. Just like followers of the Law of Moses sacrificed lambs on the altar of sacrifice, God sacrificed His only Begotten Son on the Altar of Sacrifice, the cross. Jesus became the sacrificial lamb, for He was without blemish and without spot. He was the firstborn and perfect in every way. His atonement, the shedding of His blood and giving of His life, takes away sins of the world as we repent. We apply the power of the Atonement by repenting. We access the Power of the Atonement through faith in Christ and repenting. We feel the power of the Atonement as we repent and improve, as we love and serve.  

Jesus Christ: The Lamb of God the Eternal Father

1 Nephi 13:40

“The Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.”

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God the Eternal Father. He is God the Father’s Son, His Only Begotten Son in the flesh. He is the one Lamb that followed His shepherd, God the Eternal Father, perfectly. He is the Savior of this world and all worlds created without number. Our finite numbering system isn’t capable of calculating the large number of worlds that have been created. The only mathematical concept that comes close to counting the number of worlds God has created is the idea of infinity: never-ending. Jesus’ atonement was infinite. The Great Atoner’s  influence reaches into infinity, endless.

Jesus is the model, the exemplar for all of us to follow and pattern our lives after. He is supreme. Seeking to improve our lives is to become more like Christ. As we are in the process of becoming more as Christ is, then we are coming unto Christ. We are coming closer to the standard of living that the Christ-like life reflects. Coming unto Christ brings us nearer the goal of eternal life, being saved. “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do” (See 2 Nephi 25:23). The grace of Christ finally saves us. Grace is God’s help, His divine assistance. Without Him, the Lamb of God, we could not make it back home to live in His and the Father’s presence.