Tuesday 17 April 2018

The Atonement and Grace



The Atonement and Grace
 
The word atone means to reconcile, or to restore to harmony. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be reconciled to our Heavenly father. We can ultimately dwell in His presence forever, having been made perfect through Jesus.
Have you ever wondered why the atonement had to happen? 
There is more to it then, because we are all sinners and without it we would not return to live with God after this life. The atonement was needed because if Jesus Christ did not do it everything would cease to be. You and I would not be here.
Even though Jesus Christ was prepared before this life do make this sacrifice for us he did not fully understand what it would require of him in the end. In Matthew 26:39 it says "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And verse 42 says, He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Jesus Christ knew this had to be done to save all mankind from destruction, but he asked our father in heaven if there was any other way. Some other way that he didn't have to suffer so much pain, but there was not. Our heavenly father to comfort his son sent an angels down to help him as he did this amazing thing for us. Luke 22:43-44 says And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
As I read these scriptures about the atonement I can picture it all happening in my mind. How it would be to see Jesus Christ the son of God calling out to our heavenly father for help, asking to have this thing he was about to do lifted from him and do something else in exchange. Not to compare our struggles and trials to what Jesus went through for us, but I'm sure all of us have asked at one time or another please let this stop, give me anything else to overcome but not this. Silently we know even as we say the words that just as Christ did there is no other way. Going back to my thing last week on lifting one another's burdens that is how we can overcome those things that we feel are too big for us to do alone. Jesus Christ needed someone to help lift his burden. That is why heavenly father sent an angel. 

i can’t even imagine what it was like to go through what Jesus Christ went through for us. But I'm so grateful he did.

2 Nephi 9:7-9 talks about what would become of us if we did not have the atonement, I'm not going to put the scripture in here but I would invite you to read what it says just to see. 

Moving on to Grace and how it works with the atonement. The definition of grace is unmerited help given to man by God. Or in other words help given to us by God even when we don't necessarily deserve it. 

After this life we will all return to God's presence, but how comfortable will you be when you are with him? That's kind of a hard question to answer sometimes I think, but I know that as we use the atonement in our life's daily and strive to overcome our weakness we will be just fine when we return home.

Comparing the atonement to piano lessons we could say mom pays the piano teacher and in return asks for us to practice. Mom does not get payed back through our practice, neither does the piano teacher. Us practicing is how we show our appreciation for the gift mom is giving to us, it's how we take advantage of that opportunity given to live our lives on a higher level. 

Just like the atonement given to us, we are expected to use it because we all are going to fall on this life. We could never pay back the sacrifice made for all of us, but we can show our appreciation to Jesus Christ through practicing or using the atonement in our life's making it possible to overcome our mistakes, and being able become a better person because of it.

When we sin we will all suffer some sort of consequence. This is not out of punishment or "payment", its purpose is for change. If we never felt bad or had some sort of consequence after doing something wrong then why would be stop doing it? These feeling we feel after we make mistakes are there to help us want to be better and ask for forgiveness. 

There is a question I heard in a talk once and it said "have you been saved by grace?" the reply was "Yes, we have all been saved by grace. But have you been changed by grace?" we sometimes think too much of if we are saved, and forget what comes next; change. 

The atonement was done not just so we could live after we die, but so that we could live more abundantly. 

The atonement is something that takes time and effort on our part to be used, just like a piano. If we want to learn how to play the piano we are going to make a few mistakes as we go along but the more we practice and correct ourselves, and keep taking lessons we will all eventually become pianists. When you hit a wrong note on the piano mom doesn't say "stop you’re not good enough to keep playing" she's says "keep practicing, you'll get it eventually" we all want perfection, but that takes work and we have to be willing to put that work in. 

The atonement requires practice, and we are blessed to have Christ's grace to help us along out lifelong piano lesson.

Never think when you have hit a wrong note you can't go back and practice the song again and try to get it right. Just like what was said this conference "God will give us as many test re writes as it takes to get us where we want to be" God wants to be on your side. Let him help you when you need it, and use the atonement in your life's. 

Grace is not achieved, it is received. Right here, right now. Take advantage of this amazing gift given to you. Become clean, and worthy to live with God again. Never give up! And never give in to the lies from the adversary saying you’re not worthy to use the atonement. It's not for perfect people, it's for people trying to be perfect. 

God loves you. I know the atonement will work miracles in your life. I have seen it work in my life, and I have seen it work in many others out here on my mission. The change is amazing. Please use the atonement in your life, it will change your life for the Better, and you will find peace once again. 

 

 

 

Quotes from fast and testimony meeting yesterday. Seems like most of my topics I pick on fast and testimony week go with all the testimonies so that’s nice! 

 

*We don't have the right to do wrong. We have the opportunity to do wrong, but we don't have a right. 

 

*It’s your reaction time that counts. Don't fail yourself.

 

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