REDEEMING
Power
What
does it mean to be Saved?
To
better see the effects of the fall and the redemptive power of the atonement, we
will list the pros and cons of man’s condition in each phase of existence, and
our ultimate goal, that of returning to and being like God.
God
is:
1. Immortal
2. Perfect
3. All
Knowing
4. Eternal
Increase of Children
Man’s
Conditions in the Garden of Eden:
1. Immortal
(+) Genesis 2:17
2. Lived
in God’s Presence (+) Genesis 3:8, Moses 4:14
3. Innocent
(-) 2 Nephi 2:22-23
4. Childless
(-) 2 Nephi 2:23
When
Adam and Even chose to partake of the forbidden fruit, they became mortal and
capable of dying and bearing children, received knowledge and were cast out of
God’s presence.
Conditions
of Post-Fall Earth Life are::
1. Mortality
(-) Genesis 2:17
2. Spiritual
Death (-)
a. 1st SD
(Physically separated from God) D&C 29:41, 2 Nephi 9:6, Helaman 14:16
b. 2nd
SD (Spiritually separated from God because of individual sin) 1 Nephi 10:6, Alma
12:16; 42:9
3. Knowledge
of Good and Evil (+) Genesis 3:5, Alma 42:3
4. Power
to Procreate (+) 2 Nephi 2:25, Moses 5:11
Did you notice how the pros in the Garden
became the Cons in mortality, and the cons in the Garden became the pros in
mortality?
The
Atonement overcomes mortality, the first spiritual death, and if we are
faithful, the second spiritual death.
Conditions
after death through the atonement:
1. Immortality
through Resurrection (+)
a. Unconditional
for all (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Alma 11:42)
2. Overcame
Spiritual Death (+)
a. First
Spiritual Death. Unconditional gift for all, for all will be brought back to
God’s presence to be judged. (2 Nephi 2:10; 9:38, Alma 12:15; 42:23, Helaman
14:15-18, Mormon 9:12-14)
b. Second
Spiritual Death. Conditional gift, since this death is brought on by our own
sins, it is overcome as we apply the atonement and repent of our sins. (Helaman
14:15-18, Moroni 9:12-14)
3. Unlimited
Knowledge of Good and Evil (+)
a. Conditional,
only for the Exalted. (John 14:26)
4. Children
forever (+)
a. Conditional,
only for the Exalted. (D&C 132:19)
Now
did you notice that all the conditions are turned to pros? That’s the power of
Christ’s Atonement. (all of the above was taken from Infinite Atonement, the, Tad R. Callister, p. 50)
How
can you show your gratitude to Christ for all He has given you?
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