Why the Spirit of Truth Teaches Redeeming Love: Part 1 - By the Obedience of One

From an essay on why all those who are led by the Comforter are led to teach redeeming love. [pdf copy]

By the Obedience of One Shall Many Be Made Righteous

Therefore, as by the offense of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Christ] the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:18,19)

From the scriptures we learn that our first parents became separated from the love of God by disobeying His command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.[1] Their separation from God’s love was revealed by God preventing them from partaking of the tree of life, a representation of the love of God.[2]

God placed cherubim and a flaming sword at the tree of life to keep Adam and Eve from its fruit.[3] The cherubim were sent by the Lord of Hosts as heralds and guardians of His decree.[4] The flaming sword represented the word that God had spoken – as a consuming fire[5] – when He declared that if they ate of the forbidden fruit they would surely die.[6]

God did not lie[7] in telling our first parents they would die if they partook of this forbidden fruit; for He is the God of truth.[8] Satan, on the other hand, did lie to them in telling them they would not die.[9] For, according to His word, God passed judgment upon Adam and Eve and they were cut off from the tree of life (His love), without which they could not live eternally.

Adam’s and Eve’s transgression[10] against God’s commandment did not affect just them. It impacted all future generations. It meant the whole human family would be born into a fallen and finite condition.[11] In the words of Paul, because Adam transgressed, “sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”[12]

To repair this broken relationship between God and mankind, Jesus atoned for the sins of the world.[13] He satisfied the demands of divine justice to make peace between God and those He had created in His image.[14] In so doing, Jesus opened the way for divine mercy to claim all truly penitent souls and bring them back into the presence and love of their God.[15]

Through His obedience in atoning for the sins of the whole world, Jesus fulfilled His heavenly Father’s will to be the way prepared from the fall of mankind by which all people might be restored to God and partake of the tree of life everlastingly.[16] In testifying of this truth, Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”[17]

By His atonement, Jesus saved the world from the first judgment pronounced upon Adam by which our first parents were shut out from the tree of life.[18] Had He not redeemed the world, all of us – from Adam to the last person born into his family – would have remained under that first judgment and thus powerless to come to God to abide in the provisions of His love.[19]

By His shed blood, Jesus purchased “every living creature, both men, women and children, who belong to the family of Adam.”[20] Had He not bought us by shedding His precious blood,[21] all the world would have remained eternally subject to the devil – that same being who tempted and beguiled our first parents that he might captivate them at his will.[22]

But praise be to His glorious name, the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, prevailed over that first judgment through obedience to His heavenly Father.[23] By gaining victory over the devil, death, and the grave, Jesus now has power to make intercession for us.[24] He now has power to raise all the people of the earth from death to give each one an eternal reward.[25]

Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world.[26] He did not come into the world to condemn it; rather He came to save whosoever believes on His name from the wrath to come upon all disobedience,[27] i.e. upon all who do wickedly, upon liars, hypocrites, murderers, etc.[28] Now, to His honor and glory, all who repent and come to Christ will obtain mercy unto salvation.[29]

According to the commandment of the Father, Jesus laid down His own life by the power of His redemption and took it up again by the power of His resurrection.[30] And because Jesus prevailed on our behalf, all the world has become subject unto Him and will now give an accounting of their lives to Him for their deeds done in the body.[31]

In honor to God’s justice and mercy, each of us will now be judged by Jesus for his or her own choices and decisions, not for the sin of Adam.[32] Those who obey Him as the Word of God will enter into eternal life, while those who remain in disobedience and rebellion will remain as if no redemption had been made[33] and will therefore remain separated from God’s love.[34]

Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men; for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith, Repent, and I will receive you; Yea, he saith, Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire; For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn. (Alma 3:57-60)