Question
Gramps,
Why do we have to follow the Ten Commandments if the atonement covers everything? Why is repenting the only thing we have to do in order to get back home? Is there a parable, an example or any talks from church leaders about this situation? Other people say why follow the laws if Christ died for me. I am free. God understands I’m weak. He will save me anyway. I don’t have to be perfect. It won’t matter because He died for me. What does being saved IN your sins and FROM your sins really mean?
Ed
Answer
Ed,
When we sin we become subject to the justice of the Almighty God and there is nothing we can do personally that will set that right. Christ’s atonement can meet all the demands of justice allowing His mercy to claim us. This allows Christ to stand as a mediator between us and justice.
Christ having done this sets His own standard to which we must live to meet His requirements for Him to apply the atonement for us personally. Christ requires us to exercise faith in Him, to repent, to be baptized, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to endure to the end. That is His price to stand as a mediator and satisfy justice for us personally.
In the manual “True to the Faith” starting on page 176 it says the following:
“The Ten Commandments are eternal gospel principles that are necessary for our exaltation. The Lord revealed them to Moses in ancient times (see Exodus 20:1–17), and He has restated them in latter-day revelations (see D&C 42:18–29; 59:5–13; 63:61–62). The Ten Commandments are a vital part of the gospel. Obedience to these commandments paves the way for obedience to other gospel principles.”
While none of our efforts can save us, our efforts to do what Christ requires can trigger Christ to be merciful to us. Thus those that make every effort to turn FROM their sins can get mercy, but those that choose to remain IN their sins because they would not exercise faith unto repentance do not get mercy.
Gramps
