Atonement: Remission of Sins and then Reconciliation

We have hope through the Atonement of Christ to be raised unto life eternal.

Jesus's atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. In Gethsemane He submitted to the will of the Father and began to take upon Himself the sins of all people. He has revealed some of what He experienced as He paid the price for our sins:

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

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

“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—

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

See Atonement of Jesus Christ, Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Scripture References

Isaiah 49:13-16;  53 
Matthew 26;  27;  28 
Mark 14;  15;  16 
Luke 22;  23;  24 
John 10:14-15;  11:25-26;  14:6;  15:13;  19;  20 
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 
Hebrews 4:14-16 
1 John 1:7 
1 Nephi 10:6 
2 Nephi 2:1-10;  9;  25:23-26 
Jacob 4:12 
Mosiah 3:1-19 
Alma 22:14;  34:5-18;  42 
Helaman 5:9-12;  14:13-19 
3 Nephi 9:14-22;  27:13-22 
Mormon 9:10-14 
Ether 12:27, 41 
Moroni 8:5-26;  10:32-33 
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-12;  19:15-24;  20:17-34;  45:3-5;  76:40-43 
Moses 1:39

"BEHOLD, I AM JESUS CHRIST"

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name (3 Nephi 9:15).

And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world (3 Nephi 11:10).

Jesus literally introduces himself when He said, ‘Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” You can get any more clear than this. He wanted the people to know who He was, and that He was indeed Christ, the Son of God. He even invited the people to come unto Him, feel the prints of the nails in His hands, wrists, feet, and to thrust their hands into His side to know for a more surety that He was who He said He was. During this time, the Holy Ghost bore witness to the people that it truly was Jesus Christ as He had introduced himself.

JESUS: AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH

“...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

--Hebrews 12:1-2

We are all involved deeply in the race of life, not a race where we try to outdo others, but to compete against ourselves, to strive to live better today that we did yesterday. We seek a nobler character. We are also racing against sin and satan, trying to outdo him and show him that we will not fall for his traps and subtly. We can win the race of life if we have faith in Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith, if we but perform righteous works with an eye single to His glory. Jesus endured the cruel cross where He died for us so that we may  have eternal life if we merit such a blessed reward and honor. If we honor our covenants then He will honor us, even with exaltation and everlasting life in the presence of God the Father and the Son and our families and loved ones.

JESUS CHRIST: GAVE HIS OWN LIFE

The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

1. Behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer;

2 The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;

3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;

4 And blessed are you because you have believed;

5 And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel—

6 To lift up your voice as with the sound of a trump, both long and loud, and cry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation, preparing the way of the Lord for his second coming.

--Doctrine and Covenants 34:3

Jesus,  the Son of God:
Jesus, the Son of God, suffered, bled, and gave His own life to death to answer the ends of the Father’s will and purposes for an infinite atonement. Jesus is the light and life of the world. He shines in darkness, but evil and proud people do not see Him, nor do they desire to see and know Him except when they find themselves in extreme difficult situations, in dire need situations.

Preach My Gospel:
We are instructed to preach His gospel with the sound of a trumpet, loudly and boldly. Happy is the man or woman who believes in Christ, lives His gospel, and preaches His gospel, even the Good News of Life, preparing the way for the Savior’s Second Coming which will be a great and dreadful day-Great for those persons prepared for it through their righteous living, and dreadful for those not prepared to see Christ.

Jesus’ Resurrection:
Jesus resurrected himself. He received this power from His father. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, and by so doing, everyone will have the blessing of being resurrected, all those that had a physical body in mortality.

JESUS CHRIST: THE ULTIMATE OFFER

Jesus Offered Up Himself

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

--Hebrews 7:27

Jesus is the Great I AM. He sacrificed himself up, upon the cross, to atone for our sins. He didn’t atone for His own sins, for He had none, but He atoned for the sins of everyone who  was and is capable of sinning. Little children cannot sin, but they are guiltless because of Christ’s loving atonement. Others, under certain circumstances, cannot sin and are not held accountable for they know not right from wrong. Without Christ, no one would be able to be resurrected and live forever in the resurrected state. His atonement makes salvation possible and brings people back into the presence of God the Father to live forever with Him, those who earn eternal life. Others will dwell in a lesser degree of glory predicated upon the choices they made here in mortality.

Jesus offered up himself, denying himself for the benefit of others.

JESUS CHRIST: GRANTS LIBERTY TO THE FAITHFUL

Jesus Christ visits the Spirit World

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who

had been faithful.

--Doctrine and Covenants 138:18

Following Jesus' crucifixion and buried in the tomb, His spirit descended into the Spirit World, where the spirits of all people go when they die. He went to organize His missionary troops so they, in return, could go and preach the gospel to all those who did not have the gospel. He opened the door for freedom to those who had been faithful on the earth and in the spirit world who did not have the opportnity to hear the gospel duing their mortal lives. Prior to their freedom they were in the chains of death. Jesus frees man from bondage through our faithfulness.  

JESUS CHRIST: THE SUFFERINGS OF

Jesus Christ Suffered Death in the Flesh

The Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

--Doctrine and Covenants 18:11

Jesus, our Redeemer, suffered pain and agony in the flesh, mind, and His spirit. He experienced excruciating pain and torment and affliction for all people and things, giving us the chance to repent, to change our ways and come closer to Him, to become His sons and daughters. He suffered torment from those who hated Him and persecuted Him, from those who scourged and crucified Him, from those who betrayed Him. Even those who didn’t believe Him or believe in Him, this caused great mental trauma in His soul. Jesus loves all people, regardless of their actions, although He doesn’t like one’s evil actions. Jesus is the great I AM.

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: SCOURAGED AND CRUCIFIED

Jesus Christ: Blood Atonement

I Cor. 15:3-4

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

Christ sacrificed His life and blood for our sins. He died on the cross, suffering the most cruel form of death known to man, because of His deep love for His Father and us. He suffered and bled from every pore so great was His pain and anguish of soul. He lived great, and He died great. He sealed His love and testimony through the shedding of His blood, His atoning blood in our behalf.

Jesus is the Savior of the world. He came in the meridian of time, and He will come again for His Second Coming, of this day no one knows except God the Father. The angels of heaven don’t even know the day when He will return to earth and reign for 1000 years. Jesus is the anointed one, the Great I AM.

We can attempt to pay Him back by obeying His commandments and loving Him and others, by seeking Him first and striving to make the world a better place to live and be. We can never completely repay Him for what He did for us, but we can at least obey  the best we can.

Jesus Christ: Our Utmost Redeemer

Luke 1:18

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.

Jesus, the Lord God of Israel, redeemed His people through His suffering in Gethsemane and His crucifixion on the Cross. The prints of the nails in His hands and feet evidence His infinite love for us all

. He opened the door for His people to enter into the path of life leading to eternal life, the life that God and Jesus Christ live, one of peace and everlasting joy, having spiritual offspring and being a God of many worlds.

Jesus descended below all things in order to rise above all things. He lifts us up when we are downtrodden, for His yoke is easy and His burden light. He knows our every thought and desire, our wants and needs. He knows all, for there isn’t anything He doesn’t know.

The prints of the nails in His hands and feel mark the way, for He is the way.

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: The Resurrected Redeemer

3 Nephi 11:14-15

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared a few times to the people in Jerusalem area. Then He appeared to the Nephites in America. He introduced himself to them, showed them the wound marks in His hands, wrists, feet, and side. One by one, the multitude went unto Jesus and felt His five special wound marks, and the Holy Ghost bore witness that He was indeed Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the resurrected one. About 2500 people were in attendance and saw and felt His crucifixion marks. They realized that He was truly the Son of God and had been resurrected as was prophesied by all true prophets.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Salvation is found in Him. He Saves. He suffered death in the flesh so that all mankind would have the blessing of being forgiven for their sins predicated upon repentance, and then after death be resurrected with a glorified body of flesh, bone, and spirit with no blood.

Note the inspirational LDS hymn “I Stand All Amazed” by Charles Gabriel

• 1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
• Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
• I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
• That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
• (Chorus)
• Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
  Enough to die for me!
• Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
• 2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
• To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
• That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
• Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
• 3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
• Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
• No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
• Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
• Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856-1932

Video of “I Stand All Amazed”

Jesus is the great I AM. We all stand amazed at His love and devotion for each of us. May we love Him, praise Him, obey Him, and “come let us adore Him Christ the Lord.”

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.