The INFINITE Atonment

Christian theory defines the Atonement as “the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ”.     Infinite means “limitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate.”   Jacob tells us the Atonement “must needs be an infinite atonement” (2 Nephi 9:7) and Amulek adds “..there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.”   (Alma 34:12) What does infinite mean when applied to Christ’s Atonement?


Christ’s Atonement is infinite is that it is limitless and endless.   Christ’s Atonement is truly infinite in:

• Power.    Christ’s Atonement has the power to conquer spiritual and physical death.  His is the truly the power of God, infinite and eternal.
• Time.   The Atonement reaches forward and backward through time.   The option it gives all of God’s children to be reconciled with Him extends backwards to the origins of creation and forwards to the Final Judgement.  Though the time for repentance is not is eternal, the effects of Christ’s Atonement are.
• Coverage.   All things, ALL, are blessed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
• Depth. Christ descended below all things, beneath “all sins, all transgressions, all ailments, and all temptations known to the human family.”  (Callister, pg 96) He knows the suffering caused by sin because he experienced it. He knows the loneliness of being single, the heartbreak caused by losing a child, the relentlessness of chronic pain and ALL other aspects of our human experience.  
• Suffering.   Christ suffered in both body and spirit.  (D&C 19:18) Not only did the Savior experience all aspects of the mortal experience, He took upon Himself ALL the suffering associated with ALL of mortality.  And He chose to do so as a mortal. “He took upon him infinite suffering, but chose to defend with only mortal faculties, with but one exception--his godhood was summoned to hold off unconsciousness and death….that would otherwise overpower a mere mortal when he reached his threshold of pain…. His divinity would be called upon, not to immunize him from pain, but to enlarge the receptacle that would hold it.   He simply brought a larger cup to hold the bitter drink.” (Callister, pg 119)
• Love.  “Greater love  hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  Christ, a divine Being, indeed the very Son of God, laid down His life for us. And He suffered, deeply, for us.   And why? Because He loves us. Infinitely

Today, on Easter Sunday, on this day that represents Christ’s resurrection, on the day when we celebrate our opportunity to be resurrected physically and reborn spiritually, I want to express my gratitude to Christ for His Infinite Atonement.  I thank my Heavenly Father for so loving the world “the He sent His Only Begotten Son” and I thank my Savior for being that Son.


*This post was significantly influenced by the book The Infinite Atonement, authored by  Callister, T. R. (2013). Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book.  

**Photo credits:  
https://www.maxpixel.net/Joy-Jesus-Easter-Christ-Sun-Resurrection-God-4138925 He is risen sign
http://pngimg.com/download/22911 Picture of Christ with open arms
https://www.pexels.com/photo/art-atonement-bronze-christ-415636/ bronze statue
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christus_statue_temple_square_salt_lake_city.jpg Christus statue

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