3.092 The One Thing About the Atonment of Christ
Show Notes
Allen Roberds delves into the profound question of "the one thing" about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in this episode of Savory Salt, revealing its rich, multifaceted nature. Drawing insights from Mosiah 4, particularly verse 10, he emphasizes that the Atonement encompasses obedience, covenant-keeping, repentance, and forgiveness, rather than being reducible to a single concept. This reflection encourages a deeper understanding of Christ's all-encompassing sacrifice and how it calls us to live as His followers.
Key Points
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not a singular concept, but rather an expansive act that integrates all aspects of Christ's life, teachings, and path to redemption.
- Through an analogy with Victor Hugo's contrasting stories, the episode highlights the profound capacity for forgiveness and redemption that lies at the core of the Atonement.
- Mosiah 4, specifically verse 10, serves as a scriptural anchor, urging believers to repent, humble themselves, seek forgiveness from God, and actively put these beliefs into practice.
- Understanding the Atonement means embracing its comprehensive nature, which includes Christ's obedience, covenant-making, performing miracles, and setting an example for all believers to follow.
- Followers of Christ are called to embody the many facets of the Atonement in their daily lives, demonstrating their belief through actions and treatment of others.
My friends, the beauty, the majesty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that the one thing about the Atonement is that it was never about one thing. It's about all things that lead us to Him.
Scripture References
- Matthew 5
- Mosiah 4
- Mosiah 4:10
Full Transcript
In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, reminding us that our lives are meant to preserve, illuminate, and point others to Him. This season on Savory Salt, we'll walk through the Old Testament, one verse and one thought each day. Perhaps these moments will add greater savor and brighter light to our lives as we seek to truly live as savory salt.
Hello, my friends. It's a new day with new opportunities. Choose ye this day whom you will serve.
Two stories, 30 years apart, same author, two completely different experiences. This has me reflecting as recently I went with my wife to see the play "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", written by Victor Hugo, written early on in his life. A story of loss, of hatred, of religious bigotry, a story of misunderstanding each other and not finding forgiveness in any way, shape or form.
Fast forward 30 years and we have the story of a prisoner who right out of prison attempts to steal, receives forgiveness. How could an author write two stories 30 years apart? One seemingly with no chance or hope of redemption, and then another one focused entirely on the redemptive act of forgiving another?
This has me thinking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I see regularly an attempt to try to whittle things down to the one thing. The one thing about this here, the one thing about that there.
And as I sat pondering on the idea of the one thing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I decided on this. It came from an experience I had at a conference. I won't share that experience right now, but here's the one thing I've decided about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The one thing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that it's not simplified in one thing. You see, the Atonement of Jesus Christ doesn't just show us love, for example. It doesn't just show us joy.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ includes all of the path of Jesus Christ. It was about Him choosing to believe in and follow His Heavenly Father. It was about His obedience to the commandments of a living God.
It was about Christ making and keeping covenants with that God, being an example to others of the believers. It was about performing miracles, helping others. It was about repentance and forgiveness.
All of these are aspects of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And so, as we tend to oversimplify in our lives, and even non tend to oversimplify and say, "How can you act like this or do this? If you are a follower of Christ, you must just simply love." My friends, I landed for our reading for the day inside of Mosiah chapter 4.
I would encourage you to read all of Mosiah chapter 4 today if you get a chance as King Benjamin talks about salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's not a list per se, it's more of a result that comes through your belief in repentance and the power of the Atonement in your life. So I'll choose one verse here, one that I think hopefully shares just a little bit of all of these other verses.
In verse 10, it says, "And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God, and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you. And now, if ye believe all these things, see that ye do them." My friends, perhaps the experiences that Victor Hugo had in writing one story of utter failure of humanity to forgive each other, and then 30 years later to write a story that is often quoted in General Conference. Perhaps as we focus on this Easter season and as we focus on being followers of Jesus Christ, we don't focus on one thing, but perhaps take into account that as followers of Jesus Christ, there are many things.
Perhaps we could believe those things and then see that ye do them. I hope that as a follower of Christ, I live that example. I hope that it's seen in the way that I treat others, but I hope that it's also seen in the way that I practice my own life one-to-one with me.
I hope that it's seen in my desires inside, the way my heart goes, and I hope that you can see those as well. My friends, the beauty, the majesty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that the one thing about the Atonement is that it was never about one thing. It's about all things that lead us to Him.
May we follow those things. May we follow His example, is my hope and prayer for today. That's all for today, my friends.
You and I have come here for such a time as this. Step forward in faith and let's be savory salt. We will be here tomorrow and we hope you are too.
This transcript was generated using AI and may contain errors. I do my best to review and edit them when I can.