An infinite atonement – 2 Nephi 9:7 – Come, Follow Me Ponderize
Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.
What does an infinite atonement really mean? Neal A. Maxwell made this statement that is so profound.
His infinite atonement affected every age, every dispensation, and every person. (See 2 Ne. 9:7; 2 Ne. 25:16.) Hence the appropriate symbolism of His bleeding at each and every pore—not just some—in order that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22.)
There will be no end to the ripples of the Resurrection resulting from the infinite Atonement. There will be no end either to the posterity of those who receive eternal life—eventually more posterity than the stars in the heavens. (See Gen. 26:3–4.) How infinite indeed! (“Answer Me,” Neal A. Maxwell)
I never thought about Christ’s bleeding at every pore as being symbolic of an infinite atonement. It adds a whole new level of understanding for me. In another talk by Neal A. Maxwell, he expounded on the infinite atonement further:
Jesus, who performed the “infinite atonement,” thereby suffered infinitely and is a fully comprehending Savior, having “descended below all things” and “comprehended all things” 2 Ne. 9:7 D&C 88:6 (How choice a seer, Neal A. Maxwell)
The fact that he “descended below all things” and “comprehended all things” is so powerful, and yet at the same time, it can be a major crutch if we are not careful. Anytime something is so big, so deep, and so difficult to comprehend, many tend to chalk it up as being too big to understand, and when they do that, then they unintentionally make it impersonal. It’s not the fact that the atonement is impossible for mankind to comprehend that is dangerous, but rather, when we allow its incomprehensibility to rob us of its absolute personal involvement in our life.
We know at a basic gospel knowledge level that the atonement is for us if we repent, but, too often, we don’t try hard enough to make it personal. Our faith is strong that Christ can and does heal others, but because we have not made it personal, we suppose that He could heal us, but we may not believe that He would. We somehow are the exception to the rule, and this is where Satan sneaks in and uses our lack of belief to rob us of our faith. On one hand we have faith, but our belief does not allow that faith to operate in our life; therefore we are robbed of faith and its power and we are as if we had not faith.
We must make the atonement personal, we must believe, understand, comprehend, and feel in our hearts that Christ can and will heal us fully and completely.
Elder Shayne M. Bowen said, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you. That is what infinite means—total, complete, all, forever. President Boyd K. Packer has taught: “There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ” (“The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 20). (The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives, Elder Shayne M. Bowen)
I testify that if you will spend the necessary time, and exercise faith to make Christ’s atonement personal, you will see a bestowal of peace and power in your life unlike any level previously before experienced. As you make this sacrifice of love, you pave the way for the Savior to become your very personal Savior.
Craig
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