Introduction to "The Full Atonement"

Who knows what the word Atonement means? In Romans 5:8-11 is talks about us being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, "by whom we have now received the atonement."  In the Old testament in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers we hear of the sacrifices preformed to "atone" for the peoples sins.

Since it is because of sin that we are no longer in harmony with the laws of our Father in Heaven and thus are separated from his presence, an atonement would have to do exactly what the word means. At-one-ment, it would have to bring us back to being at-one with God, or one with the will of God. Christ has made that atonement for us.

Now here is a question for the ages. How many parts are there to Christ's Atonement? When you break it down you'll find there are many different little parts to the Atonement. I want to keep it simpler than that. Because even though Christ does numerous things for us, I believe all the things He has done can be grouped together, and simplified that we might better understand and remember what it is he has done for us.

The Big Question I have now is how many groups can we narrow it down to? Fifty? Ten? Five? One? I have currently come up with about five groups we can use to break down the Atonement into. Only four of the five groups have to do with all that Christ has done for us. The last group is what Christ expects from us.

The First Three Groups are:
One: Christ's Suffering in the Garden
Two: Christ's Death on the Cross
Three: Christ's Resurrection on the Third Day

You will have to wait to figure out what the last group is. You are welcome to guess. There are no wrong answers. They just might not be what I am looking for. If you follow this closely I hope that I can show you the many things Christ did to Atone for our sins.

While you wait, think on what might be the other group.

Is Christ There: Footprints in the Sand

I am sure most of us are familiar with the popular poem "Footprints in the Sand". It always gives me encouragement when I am feeling a little down. I wanted to write a blog about it, but as I was thinking where I would go with it  and searching for some good pictures for the blog, I thought of a way to add more meaning and feeling to it. The Bulk of it will remain unchanged, but there is something more we sometimes forget.

One night a man had a dream. 

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with [Christ]. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to [Christ]. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

 

 

He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned [Christ] about it:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." 

 

 

[Christ] replied:

"My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you [with the cross I carried to Golgotha]

John 19:17-18 "And [He] bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified [Him], and two other with [Him], on either side one, and Jesus in the midst."

Let us not forget in the times we are struggling, Christ will carry me and He will carry you, until we have all made it back to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. And let us not forget Christ is our Shepard. He will leave the 99 to find the one. These things I know to be true.

The Spirital Engine of Our Lives

What are the "Big Three" problems that can prevent a car engine for running? There are a lot of little things that could be going on that can cause complications. However, if you have even one of the "Big Three" there is no way to get your engine to run until it is fixed.
 The "Big Three" are: 1) A bad fuel to air mix 2) No ignition spark and 3) No compression in the piston chamber.

In our lives we have a spiritual engine that keeps us going in times of trial.  There is also a "Big Three" that will keep our spiritual engine from running at full efficiency or at all.
The "Big Three" of our spiritual engines are:  1) We are not being nourished by the good word of God (not having scripture study, not attending church, etc. ) 2) We are not having our daily two-way communication with God, our Eternal Father, (No personal prayers in the morning or evening, and not having prayers as a family) and 3) We are not listening to the inspiration from God that comes to use through the Holy Ghost.

If any of these sound like you, it is time to visit the mechanic. When it come to car care, you always want to turn to the best with the best price. You may turn to friends and ask them how their experience went with the mechanic they use, or you might do all of your own research online, but no matter the method the mechanic you settle on is always one you feel you can trust will get the job done right for a good price. Why would it be any different with your spiritual well being?

Since you have already decided that you only want the best at the best price, it is time to find out who has the best price with the best service for your spiritual well being. You may be able to turn to a pastor, or even a childhood friend, and although the price is good and the service is okay, there is a spiritual mechanic that has perfect service with the best price in the universe.

Jesus Christ is the perfect Mechanic. With the knowledge He has been given from the Father, and His suffering for our sins, His perfect Atonement, make Him our advocate with the Father. It is now our chance to choose.

"27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator [Jesus Christ] of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." 2 Nephi 2:27

Let us choose Eternal Life through Christ our redeemer and keep our spiritual engines running smooth.