What Does the Atonement of Jesus Christ Do for Us?

In this episode of Gospel First, join Joe Cirillo as he explores the profound relevance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in navigating life's myriad struggles. Discover how understanding and applying the Atonement can bring solace and strength amidst trials, from cleansing away sins to finding empathy, empowerment, and transformative conversion. Explore four key aspects of the Atonement—its cleansing, understanding, strengthening, and converting powers—and learn how they offer practical solutions to everyday challenges. Gain insights into how reliance on the Atonement can bring peace, healing, and profound personal growth in our daily lives.

In addition to the inevitable challenges of death and sin, we confront various other struggles throughout our lives. Although these challenges may differ for each individual, finding solace lies in comprehending the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its relevance in our everyday experiences.

To understand the Atonement, we must first grasp the meaning of the term. Essentially, to atone is to make something right or reconcile it. Jacob 4:11 in the Book of Mormon teaches that the primary purpose and meaning of the Atonement is to reconcile us with God, or to "be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Jesus Christ."

To understand this concept, it's important to consider the story of Adam and Eve. When they ate the forbidden fruit, they were cast out of the garden and both physical death (mortality) and spiritual death (sin) entered the world. As descendants of Adam and Eve, we all inherit the effects of the Fall. We all experience spiritual death, which means being separated from the presence of God, and we are all subject to temporal death, which is the death of the physical body.

To reach the ultimate goal of living with or becoming like God, we must possess two essential qualities: being sinless and immortal, just like Him. However, we face a dilemma since we lack the ability to purify ourselves from sin or resurrect on our own. This is where the Atonement of Jesus Christ plays a vital role. Jesus, being sinless and perfect, is the only one capable of achieving what is necessary for our reconciliation. Given our limitations, we depend on His help to be reconciled because we cannot accomplish it independently.

Among all individuals, Jesus possessed the unique capability to triumph over death. He acquired the capacity to experience mortality from His earthly mother, Mary, while simultaneously inheriting from His Heavenly Father the power to resurrect and conquer death.

Due to this extraordinary combination of attributes, Jesus stood as the sole qualified individual to aid us in overcoming sin and death. Motivated by His love for us and the Father, He exemplified His love by willingly enduring profound suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. He paid the price for our sins to satisfy the demands of justice, surpassing our comprehension.

According to Doctrine and Covenants 19:18, Jesus experienced such intense suffering that it caused Him to tremble due to the pain, bleed from every pore, and endure suffering in both body and spirit.

Furthermore, Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to the Roman soldiers and was crucified, giving up His life for our sake. However, on the third day, He triumphantly rose again, breaking the chains of death for all of God's children and bestowing upon them the gift of resurrection.

Thanks to Jesus' loving Atonement, we can overcome sin and death, and realize our potential as children of God to become like Him and live with Him once again. If not for Jesus, we would remain in a lost and fallen state eternally, and the plan of salvation would be futile. We appreciate Jesus and His sacrifice, as it has given us hope and the possibility of eternal life.

But what would happen to us if there had been NO Atonement? We would have remained dead in our sins forever. The Book of Mormon, specifically 2 Nephi 9:8-9, explains that; “... our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself;...”

Fortunately, the most significant occurrence in the world's history did take place, - The Atonement of Jesus Christ - and we can benefit from it every day.

President Boyd K. Packer taught, “For some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life. . . . It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life. When we are...burdened with grief, He can heal us.”

Let’s take a look at how four aspects of the Atonement that can help each of us daily:

• The understanding power of the Atonement.

• The strengthening power of the Atonement.

• The converting power of the Atonement.

• The cleansing power of the Atonement.

1. The Cleansing Power of the Atonement: Perhaps when we think of the Atonement we most often think of the power of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from sin. This is indeed a vital aspect of the Savior’s sacrifice.

According to Alma 7:13 in The Book of Mormon, Alma testified, “The Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance.” Additionally, Alma further testified in Alma 34:8, “I do know that Christ’ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”

The Atonement is essential for everyone, regardless of the severity of their sins. It is comparable to dirty clothing, where even a few stains can prevent entry into heaven because Jesus said in Doctrine and Covenant 1:31,

“I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.”

Those who believe they don’t need the cleansing power of the Atonement need to realize that according to Romans 3:23 “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” However, we should not be discouraged because even the "best" people require the cleansing power of the Atonement.

I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite. Outside of the unforgivable sin, there is no sin the Atonement cannot cover. There is no hole Jesus cannot mend. There is no stain He cannot cleanse. There is no sin too serious, mistakes too severe, stains too dark and deep that the Atonement of Jesus Christ can not cleanse.

Isaiah 1:18 teaches, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

To be redeemed by Christ, it is crucial to have faith in Him and repent every day, no matter the seriousness of our sins. President Henry B. Eyring said, “One of the questions we must ask our Heavenly Father in private prayer is this: ‘What have I done today, or not done, which displeases Thee? If I can only know, I will repent with all my heart without delay.’ That humble prayer will be answered.”

As we follow these impressions, repent, and make daily changes for the better, we will feel the cleansing power of the Atonement in our lives.

2. The Understanding Power of the Atonement: Another way to experience the power of the Atonement in our lives is by realizing that Jesus comprehends every aspect of our lives because He has personally gone through it. He understands our struggles and challenges because He has personally endured them.

In Isaiah 53:4, it is stated that Christ "has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." So, if we ever feel that nobody can truly understand our situation, we are mistaken because Christ does. When we turn to Him during difficult times, we can feel His love and understanding. We can apply this aspect of the Atonement in our lives, knowing that whatever problems, hardships, frustrations, or sadness we have experienced, the Savior has also experienced them.

So, why did the Savior do all of this? In the Book of Mormon, Alma explained in Alma 7:12 that Christ did all of this to experience compassion in his mortal form, so that he could understand how to help his people in their weaknesses and difficulties.

3. The Strengthening Power of the Atonement: The Atonement of Jesus Christ serves not only as a means to help us overcome sin, but it also provides us with the power to strengthen ourselves to achieve good things that we couldn't accomplish alone.

The Bible Dictionary describes this power as "grace," which allows us to receive divine help or strength, also referred to as the enabling power of the Atonement. This power enables us to go beyond our natural capacity and accomplish things that we wouldn't have been able to do on our own.

The enabling power of the Atonement has been demonstrated in various instances, such as Peter walking on water and people being healed from illnesses and afflictions. This same power can also be given to us in our daily lives to help us improve in all aspects of our lives. When we are facing challenging situations at work or home or trying to overcome bad habits, we can rely on the power of the Atonement. By praying for the strength of the Lord, we can achieve these things.

In Alma 31:31 in the Book of Mormon, Alma faced a difficult challenge, and when he prayed, he asked the Lord for strength rather than for his trials to go away. The Lord answered his prayer, and Alma received the strength to overcome that challenge.

4. The Converting Power of the Atonement: The power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can change our very character. President Gordon B. Hinckley once said that “the gospel, centered on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, can change our very natures.” Through the Atonement, bad people can become good, good people can become great, and great people can become true saints. The purpose of this life is to gain Christlike attributes and become more like God, and we can accomplish this through the Atonement of Christ the Lord.

By seeking Christ's atoning assistance daily, we can be transformed, changed, and made holy. As Mosiah 5:2 in the Book of Mormon teaches, we can be so converted that we no longer have a disposition to do evil but to do good continually.

The Atonement is not only for those who have committed serious sins or those who have passed away. It is not only for the young or the old. We do not need it occasionally or even every hour. As we come to understand and rely more fully on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we realize how it can bless every aspect of our lives, and how we need Jesus Christ every minute of every day.

God deeply cares about every individual, and during times of feeling overwhelmed or lost, He is ready with open arms to help us if we but just call on Him.

This concludes our lesson in this section of ACT 2. The next lesson, in ACT 2, will focus on how we are connected to Christ through covenants.

If you have any questions about the gospel, please feel free to leave a message in the comments section below, and don't forget to subscribe and share so that we can spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ together.

• Our Savior's Atonement: M. Russell Ballard

• Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Dallin H. Oaks

• Repentance and Conversion: Russell M. Nelson

• Jacob 4:11

• Doctrine and Covenants 19:18

• Alma 7:7

• 2 Nephi 9:9

• Alma 7:13

• Doctrine and Covenants 1:31

• Isaiah 1:18

• Alma 7:11-12

• Alma 31:31

• Mosiah 5:2

• Exodus 33:12

• Jeremiah 31:3

• Hebrews 13:5

• John 14:18

• 2 Nephi 2:8

• 2 Nephi 10:24

• 2 Nephi 25:23

• Mark 16:16

• 2 Nephi 9:7

• Alma 34:12

• Genesis 2:24

• Mosiah 5:8-9

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