As Abinadi continues to preach to King Noah and his wicked high priests, he testifies of Jesus Christ’s role as the Redeemer. Christ is often referred to as both the Son and the Father. I believe (and Mormons believe) that God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings. To me it makes logical sense, and I believe the scriptures as a whole teach this. But there are many confusing passages of scripture—such as here in Mosiah 15—that talk about the Father and Son being one. This means one in purpose, in desire, in righteousness. They are totally unified, and in many ways Jesus Christ can be called a Father because of his sacred role and accomplishments in doing the will of God the Father. To summarize the ways that Jesus Christ is a Father, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church said:
“As Abinadi taught, Christ was ‘conceived by the power of God’ (Mosiah 15:3) and therefore has the powers of the Father within him. In addition to that divine lineal relationship, Christ also acts as the Father in that he is the Creator of heaven and earth [see John 1:1-3 and Hebrews 1:1-2], is the father of our spiritual rebirth and salvation, and is faithful in honoring—and therefore claiming the power of—the will of his Father above that of his own will” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 183–84).
Abinadi also teaches important principles about the
Atonement of Jesus Christ in this chapter. Christ suffered for every sin of
every person who has lived and will ever live. His pain was so great that he
bled from every pore (Luke 22:40-44
and D&C
19:18-19). Why would he do this?—and how could it possibly be worth it to
him? Abinadi tells us in vs. 10 that, “when his soul has been made an
offering for sin he shall see his seed.” In other words, when I choose to
actually USE his sacrifice to repent and follow him, Christ sees results that
make his sacrifice worth it to Him. Abinadi describes the people who will “be
His seed”—or those who make Christ’s sacrifice worthwhile:
Abinadi also teaches about the resurrection in vs. 20-26. Those who are "his seed" will also qualify for the first resurrection. The scriptures teach that everyone will be resurrected some day, but it will happen in batches -- the righteous first, and the rebellious much much later.11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions.
Abinadi prophecies of the day when all mankind will know the
truth of the Lord, and at that day the wicked will be cast out. Notice he says
it will be those who “would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord”, not those
who did not know about the Lord, who will be cast out (vs. 1-2).
This chapter describes more qualities
of those who will not qualify for the first resurrection. These are worth pondering, because they sound bad but really anyone could fall into these behaviors:
- Persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God (v 5)
- Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires (v 12)
- Having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not (v 12)
- They being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them (v12)
- They were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent (v 12)
But on a happier note, because of the resurrection of
Christ, all mankind will be resurrected and brought to stand before God to be
judged. His gift of resurrection is a gift to all.
7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil.
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