Jesus Christ is our ROCK and our Redeemer, and through Him we can overcome anything, even the worst of sins. Christ is like a rock in various ways. He is our rock and foundation of this gospel, if you are founded upon Him, then you will not fall when the storms of life come against you (Matt. 7:25). As long as the church is built upon Him, then "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18), and it applies the same to us, if we are built upon Him then we shall never fall (D&C 50:44). Jesus Christ and this gospel are so entwined that they are both considered a rock in our lives (D&C 11:24); and we need them both in our lives in order to stay strong amongst all the evils of this world. There is so much evil prevalent in our world today, so much sin amongst us. Despite all of the evil around us, Jesus Christ is what brings us HOPE. He promises that even though we will be tempted by the devil, we will not be tempted above what we are able, and along with that, He has also created a means of escape from both temptation and sin (1 Cor. 10:13). Jesus Christ is that means of escape; He created that escape through His atoning blood and sacrifice. He was the only one capable of making this sacrifice because He kept Himself free from sin (D&C 20:22). Christ bore the sins of all, along with all of our pains, temptations, and infirmities, He bore it all for our sake. Christ has made it possible for us to "blot out [our] transgressions according to the power of his deliverance" (Alma 7:13).
D&C 19 provides an incredible account of our beloved Savior's Atonement as He emphasizes for us to repent or else we must suffer even as He suffered and how exquisite that suffering is, verses 15-18 put it straightly from the mouth of God when He said,
"Therefore I command you to repent-repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore-how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-"
Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ love us. That is why our Father gave His only Begotten Son as a sacrifice in order to save us all from our sins. He is what brings us hope and light in this increasingly darker world. And if we are humble and have faith, and remain steadfast with Jesus Christ as our foundation, then we will be able to withstand temptation much more readily and overcome sin all together. Pray continually to God so that you may not be "tempted above that which ye can bear" (Alma 13:28). Let God forever be your rock and your guide so that you can return back to live with Him someday, as He yearns for nothing more than your safe arrival back into His arms.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your testimony. (I'm in your religion class)
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