Question
Gramps,
Can you please explain how the Atonement of Jesus Christ works, especially as one man cannot atone for the sins of another?
Richard
Answer
Richard,
Thank you for this question. I’m afraid that this is a topic that we may not fully understand in mortality. Elder Bruce R. McConkie called it:
…the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur from Creation’s dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity. The Purifying Power of Gethsemane; April 1985 General Conference
So, when we cannot really understand it in a literal sense, we’re given symbolism to help us picture it. The symbolism that we are often given to begin to have an understanding of such power is that of ransom.
When we sin, we are imprisoned by the consequences of sin. The stain of sin makes us unclean and unable to dwell with our Father in Heaven. We now belong to the powers of hell. And we cannot pay for such sins on our own, no matter how small our sins or how great our desire to repent.
A ransom means that we’ve been taken captive. We cannot pay a ransom while in captivity. So, someone else who is not kept captive must intervene on our behalf, to save us from that imprisonment.
It was Jesus who gave us the ability to wash our garments in His blood.
And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. (3 Nephi 27:19)
This was what Jesus did in Gethsemane and on the cross. In the garden, he was visited by an angel.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. (Luke 22:43)
We suppose that it was the Archangel, Michael (Adam) who appeared to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane to further strengthen Him.
If I were a fly on a tree or rock in that garden, I might see them embracing each other and looking into each other’s eyes with profound meaning and purpose. They’d come full circle. Two beings are inextricably intertwined throughout the Plan of Salvation.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25)
I imagine Michael offering his final words, “Hey, you got this!” as he sheds a tear, being compelled to leave the Savior to be completely and utterly alone.
Because Christ was completely without sin, He was able to pay a price to purchase us from hell. He alone was completely free from the powers of hell. That payment was His suffering and death. After the Atonement, we rightfully belong to the Christ. At this point, all of us have a choice to accept Christ’s Atonement or remain in hell (Sons of Perdition). If we accept His grace, we are enabled to withstand the glory of the Telestial Kingdom.
Because Christ paid the ransom, and we are under His rule and government. He sets the rules according to Eternal principles. Once we are freed from hell, and as Jesus has the right to our judgment, He provides us the potential to progress further in this life and the life to come. We have the potential to obtain either the Terrestrial or Celestial Kingdoms according to the light and knowledge we are willing to accept and obey.
If we are willing and able to abide by those eternal principles, we will progress as far as our choices can take us through this mortal probation. And in the end, we are subject to the judgment of He who ransomed us — Jesus the Christ.
I bear testimony of His divinity and His matchless power. And I am grateful to know that we are in His power forever.
Gramps
