Christ was Slain for the Sins of the World

Nov. 28, 2015

3 Nephi 11:14

Whenever people do wrong, we think they need to be punished, that we cannot and should not be punished for them. We actually don't want to be punished in their behalf because they did wrong and therefore they deserve to pay the penalty. It is true that "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression." However, in the case of Christ and His atonement, He did suffer for the wrongs and sins of others, not for just a few people, but for the sins of ALL people--those who have lived in the past, those who do live in the present, and those  will yet  be born and live in the future. Jesus was slain for every individual and specific sin.

When we commit one sin, it hurts. Christ, being sinless, hurt and felt the pain of ALL sins, and this thought staggers the imagination. Our finite minds cannot think deeply enough or stretch widely enough to even begin to comprehend the suffering of Jesus.

Jesus said, (D&C 19:16-19)

 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

“Coming to understand this great gift (the Atonement) is an individual pursuit for each child of God.”M. Russell Ballard

“The Atonement and the Value of One Soul” Ensign, May 2004, 84

JESUS CHRIST: REPENTANCE MADE POSSIBLE

The Suffering of Jesus

"Glory be to the Father"

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

--Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19

Jesus suffered for all, giving us the opportunity and freedom to repent if we choose to do so; otherwise, we must suffer as He suffered. One of the sufferings we will experience if we don’t repent is that His Spirit will withdraw from us. Jesus’ suffering was so great that it caused Him to tremble because of pain, to bleed at every pore. He suffered both body and spirit to fulfill the will of the Father and bring about the Father’s desire of providing a Savior for all.

Jesus is that Savior who glorified the Father from the beginning. We to can glorify God by repenting and following our Savior in righteousness; herein, is peace and happiness and joy.

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: What Manner of Men Ought Ye to Be?

The Great I AM

Mosiah 16:15

Redemption cometh through Christ the Lord.

Jesus said, "What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say, 'Even as I Am.' " (See 3 Nephi 27:27) 

Redemption, freedom from sin, comes through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He was foreordained in the councils of heaven before this world was created to come down and be the Savior of all mankind. He is the Firstborn of Heavenly Father in the pre-earth life, and is the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. Jesus removes our every sin and spot from our hearts and lives as we turn to Him through  prayer and repentance.

Repentance means to improve. To repent means to feel or express sincere regret or remorse for one’s wrongdoing or sin, to feel humble and contrite over  one’s misconduct against God’s laws. Repentance is a gift from Almighty God. As we are improving, we are repenting. Our goal is to become Christlike. We should constantly be in a state of improving ourselves in becoming more like Christ. As we do, then we are in the spirit of repentance always, and this is pleasing to God and Jesus.

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: Access the Power of Christ's Atonement

How to Access 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: 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: His Atoning Influence

What is the most important commandment?

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus is our Advocate (Helper, Comforter, Intercessor) with the Father. All have sinned and continue to sin. Disobedience to God’s commandments distances us from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Thus, we must constantly repent and improve our souls by obeying all God’s laws and statutes and especially work on those that we are having trouble living with exactness.

President Harold B. Lee said, “The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you're having the most difficulty keeping today. If it's one of dishonesty, if it's one of unchastity, if it's one of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for you to work on that until you've been able to conquer that weakness. Then you start on the next one that's most difficult for you to keep.”  (President Harold B. Lee, Church News, May 5, 1973, p. 3)

Our disobedience separates us from the presence of God, and Jesus, the mediator, reconciles us to the Father, restores God’s peace to our hearts, since He is our Advocate. Jesus propitiates (calms and soothes) us as we repent of our wrongs. This applies to all people through the entire world and the countless worlds beyond this mortal earth. For this earth is only one of the worlds without number Jesus has created under the direction of the Father. His atonement is infinite, which means there are no ends to His atoning influence.

Seek to sin not.

Christ Atoned for Our Sins

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Book of Mormon, Alma 34:8

8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

To atone--to pay for, to reconcile, to make right.
Atonement--payment

Christ came into the world to take upon himself the sins and transgressions of all people, and to atone, to pay for, the sins of the world. According to the justice of the Father, when one sinned, there must be a punishment. In Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus suffered the punishment  and paid the penalty for everyone’s sins. Our responsibility is to exercise faith in Christ, repent of our sins, and stop sinning.

Life is a constant process of repenting, being forgiven, and striving to cease sinning. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (I Philippians 4:13). By the grace and power of Christ, we can do it.  Grace is divine assistance, heavenly help, divine intervention.

Jesus said, (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19)16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

Therefore, come unto Christ and partake of His salvation.