I had a little moment of clarity while I was driving to work this morning regarding the atonement. I read in 2 Nephi this morning and these thoughts came to me in a flood while stopped at a stoplight.
This is how I think of the way the Atonement works and how the principles of justice and mercy come into play.
I think of justice as an actual entity or being. He is an entity who is greedy. He cannot tolerate error or sinful behavior. Imagine that sin or transgression is something that you are penalized for and costs money…spiritual money. It is a drain on your spiritual bank account. Every time a sin is committed, justice MUST be paid for that sin. He says “Aha! I’ve got you! You’re mine. I OWN you.” As if we have suddenly become indebted to him. And in a very real sense, we depart from the metaphorical presence of Heavenly Father and are within the grasp of Satan. For God "...cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." (D&C 1:31)
The Savior came to the earth and suffered in Gethsemane and Golgotha in order to satisfy the demands of justice. His Atonement filled his own spiritual bank account with enough money to cover the cost of all the sin and spiritual debt that every living creature could or would ever commit in the entirety of this planet’s mortal existence. His ability to be merciful, by extending us spiritual credit (forgiveness), is limitless and infinite. By his suffering he filled his bank account to overflowing.
We come to earth and, as little children, are incapable of committing sin. We are innocent until we have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Once we reach an age where we understand the consequences of our decisions, then, when we commit an error, justice holds out his greedy hand, waiting for the price to be paid. That price is not automatically satisfied by the Savior instantly. Once I choose to repent (Mosiah 15:11-12) and turn away from that sin and follow the Savior’s example, will He pay justice for the price of my sin – He exercises His mercy. If I do not repent, justice’s hand remains outstretched, awaiting payment. The debt must be paid by someone at some point. If it is not paid by Christ in this life, it will be paid by me in the next life in the form of great suffering (D&C 19:16-17) “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;”
Paul, in speaking to the Hebrews (chapter 6:4-6) spoke of this when he said, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
If we deny His gift, we are, in effect, crucifying Christ again in the sense that WE will suffer unnecessarily. We will be in the same state as those who deny the Holy Ghost, who will have no part with the Savior and whose eternal progression will cease.
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