The atonement in real time

[laronius]

Recently in pondering over how to make the process of repentance more heartfelt and efficacious I changed how I view the atonement of Jesus Christ and consequently my approach to repenting of my sins. Previously, with Jesus' atonement having taken place about 2000 years ago I kind of viewed it as something in the past that created this wealth of grace that I sought to draw upon as I repented. But as I thought about it, there is much about it that we don't understand, especially in relation to suffering for sins not yet committed. Then I considered how to God there really isn't a past or future, just one eternal now. And while I don't quite comprehend that principle I figured it allowed some leeway in how we view how Christ was able to do what He did.

As such when I pray for forgiveness now I view the atonement of Jesus Christ in real time. I pray that Christ may suffer for my sins as though it had not happened yet. And I must say this approach has really added a depth of sorrow and regret to my repentance that wasn't there before. I have also found myself thinking during the day that I need to be careful because any misstep on my part comes with a price that Jesus will yet have to pay for. For me it has made it all even more real and meaningful. Maybe this is old news for some but for me it has been most enlightening.

[zil2]

I can still remember a visual (sitting in the room where we had Sacrament meeting in Moscow, when I was in my early 20s) when I realized some things:

1. I would never again have the chance to keep that Sabbath day holy.  (We often seem to think, "well, I can do it later." But not really.)

2. Every sin I don't commit is a sin Christ doesn't have to suffer.  Because while I don't think the Atonement was a checklist of each individual sin everyone had or would commit, I do think that Christ (and all the Godhead, perhaps even all those in the celestial kingdom) suffers whenever one of us sins - perhaps not in atoning for it in real time so much as being saddened by it.  And therefore the inverse must be true: when we do good, Christ rejoices or experiences with us the positives of that good choice.

3. And, the verse which says that whatever we have done to "the least of these" we have done to Christ - it's literal, not figurative.  Because he suffered, or suffers, what each of us goes through, anything we inflict upon another, we literally inflict upon Christ.  And anything we do to lift or cheer another, we do to Christ.

They were sobering thoughts. Obviously, I have yet to fully integrate any of them, but I believe they have changed me, and continue to do so.

I like your hyper-responsible approach, essentially owning and confronting the full extent of what we have done or are doing.  Sometimes perspective makes a world of difference.

[askandanswer]

6 minutes ago, zil2 said:

3. And, the verse which says that whatever we have done to "the least of these" we have done to Christ - it's literal, not figurative.  Because he suffered, or suffers, what each of us goes through, anything we inflict upon another, we literally inflict upon Christ.  And anything we do to lift or cheer another, we do to Christ.

Its an unrelated tangent, but it seems to me as if this might be how a collective hive mind would work.

[laronius]

2 hours ago, zil2 said:

3. And, the verse which says that whatever we have done to "the least of these" we have done to Christ - it's literal, not figurative.  Because he suffered, or suffers, what each of us goes through, anything we inflict upon another, we literally inflict upon Christ.  And anything we do to lift or cheer another, we do to Christ.

I appreciate this thought. There must be opposition in all things. If our sinful actions bring Him pain then acts of obedience, especially those involving helping others, must bring Him a feeling opposite of suffering.