Emulate Jesus Christ -- Post 21: You Can Feel Hopeful In Spite of Imperfections.
- judyrix
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
By Judy Rix...
Do you sometimes feel hopeless in your sins and imperfections? Have you ever felt so wretched and inadequate that you believe you're beyond even Christ's help? I suppose we all do from time to time.
When we think like this, we have a false perception of Christ. We negate the power of His atonement. We do not believe that He can really do what He says He can do.
Many believe in Jesus' identity as the Son of God; they believe in Christ. But we must also believe Christ when he says, "Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Bible, Isaiah 1:18)
How Is That Even Possible?
Stephen E. Robinson summarizes the atonement in his book, "Believing Christ," with this "merger" analogy: You take a small bankrupt firm that’s about ready to go under and merge it with a corporate giant. What happens? Their assets and liabilities flow together, and the new entity that is created is solvent. He does for you what you cannot do for yourself.
We Cannot Save Ourselves.
We often attempt to save ourselves, keeping the atonement of Jesus Christ at a distance and thinking, “Once I'm perfect, once I’ve made myself worthy, then I’ll be deserving of the atonement."
But you can't do it alone. Only Christ has that power. This is why He says, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Bible, Matthew 11:28)
What heavier burden is there than this demand for perfection, that you must do it all, that you must make yourself perfect in this life before you can have any hope in the next?
Russell M. Nelson, past President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints, famously taught that "perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life." In his 1995 address, "Perfection Pending," he encouraged members to be patient with themselves and focus on daily improvement rather than demanding immediate unreasonable perfection.
Through the atonement, Christ swallows up our imperfections and sins with His unlimited grace. "Behold, I have come unto the world...to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life and have taken it up again; therefore repent and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved." (BOM, 3 Nephi 9:21 - 22)
Does the Atonement Apply to Everyone, Even Me? Even You?
Our wise Heavenly Father prepared the merciful atonement to save His children from death and sin. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Bible, John 3:16)
The Fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death (separation of the body and spirit) and spiritual death (separation from God). The atonement provides an UNCONDITIONAL universal resurrection from physical death for everyone who ever lived.
However, being saved from spiritual death (returning to God's presence) is CONDITIONAL. "And He shall come into the world to redeem His people; and He shall take upon Him the transgressions of those who believe on His name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else." (BOM, Alma 11:40)
Christ Himself has told us that as we believe on His name (believe his teachings, repent daily, and obey His commandments), He will compensate for our shortcomings. Jesus is called the Savior because through His atonement, He is able to save us.
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Go to the Source -- What Do the Scriptures and Respected Teachers Say?
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
(Bible, Romans 3:23)
"No unclean thing can dwell with God..."
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."