As a Child

In my last entry I discussed the law of justice which applies to all men, all that is with the exception of little children.  In Mosiah chapter 3 King Benjamin discusses how by the law men are fallen, but can be saved through Christ as they become as little children.  In this entry I’m going to break down King Benjamin’s sermon on the atonement and discuss why one should to strive to become as a child.  

Benjamin preaches that Christ, the son of God, will soon come amongst the children of men.  He will be a perfect example and leader, but be rejected and crucified by those he came to teach. Christ lived a perfect life and died for the sins of all man kind. Because of this great sacrifice all could be saved, but only through  repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It is impossible to be saved without him. 

Christ sent prophets to the Hebrew people to prepare the way for his coming.  All then could receive the blessings of Christ even if they died before his coming. Many were stiff-necked and did not understand the message of the prophets. Christ then had to give them the rigid code known as the Law of Moses. The law of Moses taught the Jews the importance of sacrifice in preparation for the great and last sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They failed to see however, that the Law of Moses itself was only an empty symbolic gesture if it’s ultimate sacrifice, the atonement of Jesus Christ, was not fulfilled.   The Jew’s practiced sacrifice as a form of atonement. An offering was given on behalf of the sins of the people.  Christ’s sacrifice was known as the final sacrifice because his life was an infinite and eternal sacrifice that ended all further need for such offerings. 

Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient to save all who repent.  All but little children have need of the redeeming power of the atonement.  While some may be concerned that unbaptized children will not be able to go to heaven Benjamin clarifies that little children are saved in Christ, while those that can not humble themselves to become as children are dammed. Such individuals Benjamin terms “natural men” who are an enemy to God.  Natural men are blinded by pride. They pursue carnal desires and value that which the world desires.  Putting off the natural man entails saying no to the things of the world. It is denying the counterfeit virtues that entice the hearts of man, and as King Benjamin says that one, “putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” 

King Benjamin does not mean that we should become simple and naive, but rather to put off pride and the enticings of the world freely choosing to follow Christ. In becoming like a child one freely submits their will to Christ, and in doing so gains ultimate freedom.  It is pride and the endless pursuit of trying to please the world that one finds themselves in the bonds of captivity.  Christ’s grace is sufficient to save all of those who become as children and follow him thus breaking the bonds of the world and leading men towards eternal life.