Jesus Our Redeemer

Novmber 27, 2015

Helaman 5:9 “Jesus, the Only Sure foundation”

The only way we can be saved in one of God’s kingdoms forever is through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and our constant repentance. There is no other way.

Jesus is the only life foundation upon which we can build and have a sure and dependable foundation. We cannot fall or fail if we build our lives upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Knowing Jesus and obeying His teachings and commandments is like building a house upon a rock. The winds,, waves, and the rains may come, but the house will not fall. Christ is the rock upon which we must build; otherwise, we are built upon sand.

November 26, 2015

Alma 42:23  “The Atonement of Jesus Christ”

The atonement of Jesus Christ allows the Law of Mercy to be in effect. God is a just and a merciful being; however, justice cannot rob mercy, and mercy cannot substitute for justice when each has its place in the Lord’s purposes. His purposes, ways, and works are always right and true.

Jesus’ atonement brings men back into the presence of God. Jesus’ infinite atonement saves us from sin and death. The atoning blood of Christ is applied to us as we repent. His blood cleanses and sanctifies us. If we continue to repent always, we can become spotless, clean, pure, and white, cleansed from the blood and sins of this generation.

The atonement reconciles us to God the Father, since Jesus is our Mediator between us and the father. Christ’s atonement started in Gethsemane, continued on the cross, and culminated with His resurrection.

November 24, 2015

Alma 34:14 “Jesus Christ, the Great and Last Sacrifice”

A great and last sacrifice was essential for the salvation and exaltation of all living people and things. Jesus sacrificed himself as the greatest sacrifice ever-He was the sacrifice, and it was the last sacrifice that required the shedding of blood. Jesus’ great and last sacrifice was the ultimate sacrifice, the pinnacle sacrifice, the zenith and apex of all sacrifices, the final sacrifice of blood. Now the Law of Moses was fulfilled insomuch that the sacrificing of blood terminated. All sacrifices and the entire Law of Moses pointed to the savior and His great and last sacrifice. His was the sacrifice of all sacrifices.

Jesus was without blemish. There was no sin in Him; hence, he was the only person qualified to make this great and last sacrifice possible. No person or thing could substitute in His behalf. He was the only person who could give His life for the sins of another. Besides Him, there is no other Savior.

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: HIS NEVER-ENDING INFLUENCE

Mosiah 15:10-11

10 And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?

11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.

God the Eternal Father sacrificed His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for all the sins of the world, and Jesus humbly and willingly accepted this sacrifice, the infinite and eternal sacrifice. He is the only one qualified to make such an never-ending sacrifice whose influence would stretch beyond no boundaries. Jesus is the Great Atoner, the Holy One of Israel. As we learn the Savior’s gospel and heed His teachings, we become His sons and daughters, His seed forever as long as we obey all His commandments. We become heirs of His kingdom everlasting. Eternal life is the greatest gift that God the Father can grant unto us as His children, for we are His spirit offspring, and Jesus is our Brother, for He too is a Son of God.

JESUS CHRIST: HE ATONED

Ephesians 1:7

We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

We are redeemed through the shedded blood of Jesus Christ. His atoning blood gives Christ power to forgive us of our sins and imperfections. Jesus’ blood atoneth for us; we just need to apply the atoning blood of Christ into our lives through obedience to the commandments and ordinances in order for the power of the atonement to take effect in us; otherwise, we remain in our sins and fall short of the glory of God.

Jesus’ grace makes us feel rich. As we are forgiven of our sins, we become reconciled to God, and we feel peace. The peace of Christ makes us feel rich toward God, and growing rich toward God is the only true form of being rich, for herein we have potential to experience the riches of eternity in the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, family and friends. This is exaltation, living forever in the hereafter the life that God lives now. It is all possible because of the infinite blood atonement and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know this is true.

Jesus Christ: To Whom be Glory Forever

Galations 1:4

3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever.

Jesus worked and lived under the direction of God the Father. Jesus and His Father are two separate and distinct individuals that are united as one in purpose, plans, objectives, motives, and perfection. Jesus obeyed His Father in all that He did.

Jesus gave himself for the sins of the world so that the sinner wouldn’t have to suffer like He suffered. Sin brings bondage; whereas, obedience to God’s commandments brings peace, happiness, and freedom. Peace in this life and eternal life in the hereafter are readily available to those who follow Christ and thus qualify for His grace, His divine assistance and help.

We live in an evil, cruel, and unfair world where so many call evil good and good evil, where society has gotten to the point that nothing anymore is right or wrong. We are getting closer to the Second Coming of the Savior because the world increases in sins more by the minute, especially in Federal judges who, in most cases, are servants of satan and sin. Beware! Follow Christ in spite of some of the worldly leaders. Leaders of the world will suffer and be accountable for the evil decisions they make that enable so many others to sin. Jesus Christ and His Gospel are still our guide and standard we are to abide by. Endure faithfully to the end in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the first principle is to have faith in Jesus Christ, and to whom we give glory to forever and forever.

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.

The Sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father

Moses 5:5-7

5 And he (The Lord-See verse 6) gave unto them (Adam and Eve) commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

God the Father sacrificed Jesus, His Firstborn spirit child and His Only Begotten Son in the flesh, as an infinite and eternal sacrifice for all mankind. Just like Adam and Eve offered sacrifices on the altar, God the Father offered Jesus as a sacrifice on Jesus’ altar of sacrifice--the Cross. The blood of animals was shed and sacrifices on the altar, and this was a similitude of Jesus shedding His blood on His altar of sacrifice. It pleased the Father to sacrifice His Son Jesus in fulfillment of the requirement for all mankind to receive forgiveness of sins upon repentance and eventually gain exaltation, if they would endure faithfully to the end of mortality. Jesus’ blood was shed and His life was sacrificed for reconciliation and atonement for all the living and the dead and those who would yet be born into mortality. Jesus’ atonement was infinite in scope, neverending in its influence.

Jesus Offereth Himself a Sacrifice for Sin

2 Nephi 2:7

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

In the Law of Moss, people offered animals, fowl, and ox as sacrifices, symbolic of the future ultimate sacrifice that Christ would make. They would kill it, sacrifice it on the altar, and then they would sprinkle it's blood on the altar for reconciliation and atonement for the sins of the people.

Jesus offered HIMSELF as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. He didn't sacrifice animals, fowl or ox, but he sacrificed HIMSELF, His life and blood, willingly and humbly to do the Father's will for humankind. He chose to die at the moment he gave up the ghost. He suffered until His time was up. The Law of Moses sacrifices were finite and short-lived, but Jesus' sacrifice was Infinite and eternal.

The cross was Jesus's altar of sacrifice.