Relief Society Lesson -- Redemption

Redemption

By Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

April 2013 General Conference

Among the most significant of Jesus Christ’s descriptive titles is Redeemer.

The word redeem means to pay off an obligation or a debt.

Redeem can also mean to rescue or set free as by paying a ransom.

Dictionary definition of Redemption by Jesus Christ through His Atonement --“to deliver from sin and its penalties, as by a sacrifice made for the sinner”

The Savior’s Redemption has two parts:

1-Overcoming the direct effects of the Fall—physical death and spiritual death.

 

universal and without condition

2-Overcoming the indirect consequences of the Fall – our own sins.

Conditional - repentance

 “Wherefore, teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence” --Moses 6:57

The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent.

The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure.

The greatest service we can provide to others in this life, beginning with those of our own family, is to bring them to Christ through faith and repentance so they may experience His Redemption—peace and joy now and immortality and eternal life in the world to come.

We can also assist in the Lord’s redemption of those beyond the grave. With the benefit of vicarious rites we offer them in the temples of God, even those who died in bondage to sin can be freed.

While the most important aspects of redemption have to do with repentance and forgiveness, there is a very significant temporal aspect as well. This kind of redemptive work means helping people with their problems. Much of our redemptive work on earth is to help others grow and achieve their just hopes and aspirations.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we ought to do all we can to redeem others from suffering and burdens.  Even so, our greatest redemptive service will be to lead them to Christ.

Without His Redemption from death and from sin, we have only a gospel of social justice.  That may provide some help and reconciliation in the present, but it has no power to draw down from heaven perfect justice and infinite mercy.

Ultimate redemption is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.