Not because of the atonement but because of Jesus Christ

Not because of the atonement but because of Jesus Christ. The word “atonement” describes what Jesus did. Jesus is who went through what we call the atonement. He chose to go through it. He was willing to do it even when he did not want to go through it (if there were any other way). He suffered. He allowed or willed His spirit to leave His body. He was resurrected. (See the sermon, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives” by Russell M Nelson.)

One might say that a piece of bread and water saved a starving man’s life. But how did the bread and water reach the starving man? Who crossed the blazing and burning desert to bring the bread and water?

“The redemption of man” may be considered a general or universal redemption. All mankind are redeemed in that they will resurrect and appear before God to be judged for their own lives, their own choices, works, and desires. Both spiritual and physical death are overcome. The body and spirit reunited eternally and all are brought back into God’s presence.

The possibility for a personal or individual redemption also exists through Jesus Christ. But we must choose that. The former is a “no matter what” sort of thing. It is in a word, mandatory, or sure. Personal redemption, though available to all through Jesus Christ, or we might say, through His atonement, has conditions or requirements. It is a matter of personal, individual choice.

(See the sermon, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives” by Russell M Nelson.)

Continue this thought: Read “The Fall and Our Falls.”