Power in the Atonement: Faith and Hope

I have thought a lot lately about the power of the atonement and how to have faith that I will overcome my weaknesses and be able to be cleansed and forgiven through Jesus Christ.

In Alma 11:32-37. Amulek makes it clear to Zeezrom that we cannot be saved IN our sins. Later on we are told, "And also remember the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins" (Helaman 5:10). In other words, we have to repent and change our behavior, minds, and hearts, before the atonement can come and cleanse us. Mercy cannot rob justice (Alma 42:13-15, 25).

Alma 24 and the example shared there of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies explains this very well.

So, I am convinced that Jesus Christ will not save us in our sins. Filthiness cannot live w/ Him. That is the whole purpose of mortality, to become as He is and thus, enjoy the life that He enjoys. After we have changed, our natures have changed, then the power of the atonement can pay the price of our sins. Jesus Christ can satisfy the demands of justice and liberate us from captivity and death. Then the Spirit of fire comes into our minds and hearts and purges out all that was evil. It would be reasonable to think that if God remembers our sins no more, then eventually we can obtain that same blessing.

So, how do we continue in this life when we make mistakes over and over again? I believe the answer is our faith and hope in Jesus Christ and our desire to persist and endure to the end. We know we fall short over and over. If we have a strong hope that we can eventually overcome and hope that Christ will step forward and His atonement will satisfy justice so He can extend mercy, then we will continue to work at overcoming our weaknesses and sins. With this hope we can endure. We have this faith and hope and thus we continue to work out our salvation. He will heal us in every way if we keep going and eventually change. This hope allows us to endure and keep going even though we feel totally inadequate at times.