Standalone doctrinal study — independent of this week's Come Follow Me block.
Today's devotional centers on understanding the profound depth of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Today's doctrinal topic is the infinite and eternal nature of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We turn to Amulek's powerful discourse to the Zoramites:
Alma 34:9-16
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice. Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay. But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world. Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall be an end of the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/34.9-16?lang=eng#p9
This passage comes from Amulek's sermon to the apostate Zoramites in the land of Antionum, around 74 B.C. Having established the false tradition of the Rameumptom, the Zoramites were teaching that there would be no Christ. Amulek, a companion of Alma, testifies boldly of the coming of Christ and clarifies the absolute necessity of an infinite and eternal Atonement, building upon Alma's earlier teachings to these people. He emphasizes that the law of Moses, with its animal sacrifices, was a shadow pointing to this ultimate, perfect sacrifice of the Son of God.
Amulek's testimony powerfully illustrates that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not merely a remedy for sin but an all-encompassing, eternal act of divine love and justice. Because Christ's sacrifice is infinite and eternal, it fully satisfies the demands of justice, extending mercy and a path to redemption to all who exercise faith unto repentance. Today, let us demonstrate our gratitude and trust in this infinite Atonement by consciously seeking to repent and forgive others, mirroring Christ's own boundless mercy.
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