Alma 34:1-17
Amulek picks up the baton in this chapter as a second witness to the people of the Zoramites. In the first seven verses he is summarizing what had already been shared by Alma. I appreciate this approach to teaching that is often employed by master teachers which helps me to understand the significance of what others have taught.
Then in verse 8, Amulek adds his testimony. Amulek talks of Christ both taking upon him the transgressions of his people, and atoning for the sins of the world. Why this distinction?
The footnotes on transgression point to Redeemer. There is a distinction between those that want Christ to be their God, and those who do not. The reality is that Christ atoned for the sins of the world. Everyone. But only those who will accept him as their God does the real redemption come. The door is always opened. But only those who will walk through it and claim the Lord's redeeming help, to them is revealed the full scope of his redemptive power.
It's not a check box, but a relationship with the Christ! Job's statement is layered and rich in meaning: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" (Job 19:25)
Yesterday after my studies had ended, I came to realize or remember that Christ can heal anything: any disease, infirmity, weakness, complex, anxiety, disorder, addiction, hardship, or sickness.
We learn a couple of additional salient truths here:
It may seem harsh to some that repentance and faith are required to access the plan. Yet, the alternative is pride and fear, which have neither the power or internal changing capacity to teach us humility, mercy, meekness, or any other Christlike characteristic.
Amulek picks up the baton in this chapter as a second witness to the people of the Zoramites. In the first seven verses he is summarizing what had already been shared by Alma. I appreciate this approach to teaching that is often employed by master teachers which helps me to understand the significance of what others have taught.
Then in verse 8, Amulek adds his testimony. Amulek talks of Christ both taking upon him the transgressions of his people, and atoning for the sins of the world. Why this distinction?
The footnotes on transgression point to Redeemer. There is a distinction between those that want Christ to be their God, and those who do not. The reality is that Christ atoned for the sins of the world. Everyone. But only those who will accept him as their God does the real redemption come. The door is always opened. But only those who will walk through it and claim the Lord's redeeming help, to them is revealed the full scope of his redemptive power.
It's not a check box, but a relationship with the Christ! Job's statement is layered and rich in meaning: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" (Job 19:25)
Yesterday after my studies had ended, I came to realize or remember that Christ can heal anything: any disease, infirmity, weakness, complex, anxiety, disorder, addiction, hardship, or sickness.
We learn a couple of additional salient truths here:
- "according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish;" (vs. 9)
- "the intent of this last sacrifice [is] to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance." (vs. 15)
It may seem harsh to some that repentance and faith are required to access the plan. Yet, the alternative is pride and fear, which have neither the power or internal changing capacity to teach us humility, mercy, meekness, or any other Christlike characteristic.
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