Forgiveness from sin requires forsaking of sin.1 The sacrifice of Jesus Christ provides a way for you to be forgiven of past sins and to begin to follow his example by keeping the Father’s commandment to live according to everything you know about him, all the time.2 While you continue to sin knowingly, you are ineligible for salvation.3
The merciful sacrifice of Christ makes possible forgiveness for your past transgressions while you learn a better way to live.4 Mercy provides extra opportunity to obey God,5 but it does not void his requirement for obedience to him.6
The blessing of God’s mercy is to be forgiven of past sins that you have forsaken7 and to be forgiven for the differences from him that you do not know about.8 God’s mercy will not forgive you for sins you continue to willingly commit.9 Because God’s mercy only absolves you for your past sins after you forsake them,10 you can’t experience a remission of sins while still sinning any more than you can experience remission of cancer while there are still tumors in your body. In both cases, all offending parts must be cut out to save the host.534 It isn’t enough to cut out some of it.535
Mercy is not some alternate path to heaven536 or an exception to justice.537 Even after God has forgiven you, his justice will still exact the penalty of doing less than your best in the future.538 The sacrifice of Jesus Christ does not atone for those who continue to sin against what they know.539 The price of receiving mercy from God for the past is to fully submit to him in the future.540 You will not remain forgiven of any past sins if you continue in any present sin.541 The penalties of sin return with the repeat of sin, and they return worse than before.542
Footnotes
- 1. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7) ↩
- 2. [He who has] repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness. These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil. Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved. (Alma 42:6-8) ↩
- 3. And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. (Helaman 5:10, italics added) ↩
- 4. 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; (D&C 19:15-17) ↩
- 5. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) ↩
- 6. But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy. (D&C 54:6) ↩
- 7. And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works. (Helaman 12:24) ↩
- 8. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. (Psalm 19:12) ↩
- 9. Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin: And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners. (Sirach 5:5-6) ↩
- 10. And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. (Helaman 5:11) Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. (Alma 42:13) ↩