After explaining the consequences of sin, Christ told the
multitude He does this to show the Father will fulfill all His words.
He tells them no unclean thing can enter into God’s presence.
“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot
deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom
of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of
heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins” (Alma 11:37)
Only those who enter into His rest will have had their
garments washed in His blood. “But they hardened their hearts and could not
endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was
kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in
the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory” (D&C 84:24).
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5).
“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).
“And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge
thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith
in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood” (3 Nephi 4:12).
“I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be
saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea,
his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through
the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to
redeem his people from their sins” (Alma 5:21).
Because of their faith and repentance will be forgiven.
“Importantly, in these passages the person’s garments
symbolize the person himself or herself, and the Lamb’s blood refers directly
to Jesus Christ’s atonement and his power to cleanse those who demonstrate
faith in Jesus, repent, and remain faithful (see 1 Nephi 12:11; 3 Nephi
27:19).”[1]
We are commanded to repent, be baptized, and receive the
Holy Ghost. “Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and
believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs
shall follow them that believe in my name” (Ether 4:18).
“And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come
unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved”
(Moroni 7:34).
If we do this, we will stand spotless before Him. “Who shall
also confirm [GR strengthen] you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the
day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).
“Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that
ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand
blameless before God at the last day” (D&C 4:2).
Christ told the multitude His words were to be His gospel, “And
in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my
salvation” (1 Nephi 13:36). They know what they must do in the church. They
have seen His works and they are to do the same.
“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye
shall be lifted up at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:22).
“To help guide us we have the words of God and of His Son
found in our holy scriptures. We have the counsel and teachings of God’s
prophets. Of paramount importance, we have been provided with a perfect example
to follow—even the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and we have
been instructed to follow that example. Said the Savior Himself: ‘Come, follow
me.’ ‘The works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.’ He posed the
question, ‘What manner of men ought ye to be?’ And then He answered, ‘Verily I
say unto you, even as I am.’ ‘He marked the path and led the way.’”[2]
[1] Service
and Temple in King Benjamin’s Speech, Donald W. Parry, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16/2 (2007):47.
[2] Ponder
the Path of Thy Feet, President Thomas S. Monson, October 2014 General
Conference.
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