Christ the Mediator

I mentioned previoiusly that in order to make full use of the atonement and to be freed of our bad choices and to be cleansed from them, Christ was sent by our heavenly Father as a mediator for us. As Mediator, He answers the demands of justice while also extending mercy to us. Justice demands that a violation of eternal law be punished. A lie violates eternal law. Murder does as well. If we commit any violation of any eternal law, justice demands that a punishment be paid.

Part of that punishment is simply the knowledge that we have violated a law: "Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness." 2 Nephi 9:14.

That guilt is inevitable when we understand fully, after we die, the gravity of our bad choices. Justice requires not only that we feel the guilt of violating the law, but that we suffer all the consequences of our choices.

Those without an understanding of the laws of happiness and goodness, such as young children, are not punished. The atonement answers for them. It would not be just for a person to be punished for a sin they don't understand is a sin. But for those of us who know we've done something wrong--whether an act of dishonesty or an explosion of temper--we cannot avoid the consequences. These princples are expressed in The Book of Mormon:

"Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!" 2 Nephi 9:25-27.

So the innocent are spared, according to the laws of justice, but the knowing are not.

Except that those who choose wrong over right can repent. This is where Christ as Mediator intercedes for us. An excellent article can be found here. Boyd K. Packer, a modern apostle, explains how Christ mediates for us and comes between us and punishment, not frustrating justice, but answering the demands of justice while extending mercy.

In brief summary, he compares a sinner to a debtor. A debtor borrows money from a man and promises to repay. But, foolishly, he wastes his time and when the loan is due, he doesn't pay his creditor. The creditor demands justice--payment or jail (debtor's prison). The debtor asks for mercy. The creditor demands justice. Neither one is satisfied. So the debtor goes to prison and the creditor gets his justice.

A friend of the debtor approaches and offers to pay the debtor's debt for the debtor. The creditor can't complain--he's getting justice (his payment). The debtor then agrees to pay back his friend according to his friend's specifications--it's far better than jail. Justice is satisfied, but the debtor's request for mercy is met as well. Mercy doesn't frustrate justice--both mercy and justice are satisfied.

Christ is the friend. He mediates for us. When we sin, justice demands that we pay the price. But we can't. Christ intervenes and pays the price. Justice is satisfied. But Christ also extends the mercy we hunger for when facing a moment of truth. We then agree to do things His way when we accept His payment. His way is to follow His commandments. Because He's selfless, the obedience is beneficial to us--it's obeying the laws that govern happiness. We willingly give ourselves over to Him.

That is the atonement. I'm grateful for the Savior's willingness to be punished despite His perfection and lack of guilt. I don't want Him to suffer for my errors and to pay my price, and yet that's the only way to be rescued from my own errors. I know He wants me to accept His offering. If I don't, His sacrifice was in vain for me. Through constant repentance, I can eventually free myself entirely from bad choices. I have experienced that cleansing process--it is real. And it's an essential part of the plan of salvation.