Rooted in atonement theology is the idea that Christ suffered and died in a way that enables mortals to overcome the negative situations we encounter. Christ’s atonement is discussed in various ways, but perhaps an underappreciated facet of the atonement is Christ’s ability to compensate for the unfairness of life and the weaknesses of imperfect people.
Introduction
The atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite in its scope and ways to apply in our lives. The most commonly discussed applications of atonement are sin and death, along with others, such as Christ’s ability to heal suffering and sorrow (Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 53: 4-5, Alma 7: 11-12) and strengthen us (Mosiah 24:15, 1 Nephi 7:17; Isaiah 41:10).
While there are various underpinnings of atonement theology, some of the most popular revolve around the law of justice. The law of justice is a principle of equity that requires that people only receive what they earn, regardless of if the reward is good or bad. However, what if something happens to you that you did not deserve? What role does the law of justice play in these situations?
We can all think of numerous ways in which unfairness resonates throughout humanity.
Consider these questions:
- Why does God let bad things happen to good people?
- Is it fair that some people are born into less advantageous situations than others?
- What about people who are born into cultures or homes that seem to perpetuate sin?
There are also situations where unfairness does not necessarily come from the natural world or the randomness of life, but rather is caused by the inherent weaknesses of mankind.
For example, what about times when you desire a blessing or miracle, but feel that you do not have the faith to bring it to pass? Each human is born into a fallen world where imperfections are hallmarks. While we did not ask for these weaknesses, they significantly impact our lives.
The path that leads us to God also keeps us from Him.
Interestingly, the Book of Mormon teaches us that living in a fallen world is essential to our growth (2 Nephi 2: 22-25). In this way, mortality is a paradox. That is, God sent us to earth to learn to become like Him, which requires living in a fallen world. This life allows us to learn, grown, develop Christlike attributes, and gain experience.
But it also brings disease, divorce, heartache, natural disasters, inadvertently hurting others, and sin. Thus, paradoxically, the path that leads us to God also keeps us from Him.
Much of the negative facets of mortality come from sin, but there are others that are simply an artifact of living in mortality. For example, as we attempt to become Christlike parents, we are going to make mistakes that impact our children. These learning experiences are essentially to our growth, however, they may negatively impact those under our stewardship.
Maybe you have asked questions such as these about how your weaknesses will impact you and those you love:
- How do my weaknesses impact how God sees me?
- How do my imperfections impact those under my stewardship, such as my kids?
- What if my faith is not sufficient for the miracles I pray for?
- Can I still have blessings even if I don’t earn them through perfect obedience?
All of these questions, and the questions presented in the bullet points previously, represent times where Christ’s compensating power can apply.
The term compensate means to offer recompense for a loss or something unfair. His atonement applies to all of life’s situations to bridge the gap between the ideal and the harsh realities of life.
But, how exactly does this compensation happen? I believe this compensation can come in three ways.
1. Christ Compensates for the Unfairness and Randomness of Life
Many of the vicissitudes of life are simply an artifact of living in a fallen world. Some of the negative aspects of life are from events like natural disasters and some are from people hurting others. Regardless of the cause of our heartache, Jesus Christ is the antidote.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson has said:
The Savior makes all things right. No injustice in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores life again. No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy.
D. Todd Christofferson, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Christ offers compensation because the law of justice demands it, and Christ came to meet the demands of justice (Alma 42:15).
The law of justice requires that fairness be applied to life’s situations. As Preach my Gospel states, “All that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ.”
He can apply mercy to us.
Because Christ fulfilled the law of justice and the law of mercy, He can apply mercy to us. This compensation can come in the ways of compensatory blessings, more merciful judgment for things beyond our control that contributed to our choices, reducing the pain of negative situations—and a host of other ways, both in this life and the next.
For example, consider redemption for the dead. After Christ’s crucifixion, His thoughts turned to those who were not able accept the gospel in mortality, much of which was not their fault. The Savior provided means to compensate for those things beyond their control (see Doctrine and Covenants 138).
Similarly, Joseph Smith learned that if people would have accepted the gospel, but did not have a chance due to conditions beyond their control, they “shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God” (137:7).
Having faith in God includes a belief that God is not only all-knowing, but also that He operates in all fairness. While our mortal and finite minds can only see a small sliver of our eternal journey, God sees an eternal plan that provides for eternal equality.
2. Christ Compensates for the Blessings We Struggle to Earn on Our Own
In Mark 9, there is a story of a man who comes to the Christ and asks the Savior to heal the man’s son. Christ replies to him with these words, “All things are possible to Him that believeth (9:23).” The man “cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (9:24).”
In this situation, the man seems to realize that his faith alone is not sufficient for what is required. However, he also understands that Christ has the ability to compensate for what he lacks. He understood that his faith was not sufficient, but that Christ is sufficient. In the end, Christ heals the son through His power, despite the weaknesses of the father.
Christ can offer us the miracles we seek despite our imperfections.
This is a salient application of Moroni’s words in Ether 12:27, “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men.” Christ can offer us the miracles we seek despite our imperfections.
Similarly, there may be other blessings in our life that we desire but are unable to earn on our own merit. In these situations, Christ pays the amount that justice demands so that he can shower us with His mercy.
For example, consider what the Lord told the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1831:
Seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do.
Doctrine & Covenants 46:8–9 (emphasis added)
Right before reading this scripture, Jeffrey R. Holland stated that “with the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the strength of heaven to help us, we can improve, and the great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don’t always succeed.”
3. Christ Compensates for Our Weaknesses in Our Stewardships
Leaders, parents, ministers, and anyone with a stewardship over others has a great opportunity to learn to lead like the Savior. However, because we are mortals, we will make mistakes during our leadership tenure. Even if we do not make obvious errors, we are likely to do our jobs less that optimally because we are imperfect.
How are those under a stewardship compensated for what their leaders lack?
To answer this, consider the story of Christ feeding the five thousand.
After a long day of preaching, Christ asks Philip, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5). Philip responds, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little” (John 6:7).
In other words, Philip, along with all the disciples, did not feel that they had sufficient resources to offer the people what Christ asked them to. The Savior then has them gather what they can—fives loaves and two fishes from a young boy—and then makes it sufficient to feed the people.
Christ makes our efforts enough.
This story is a potent example for anyone serving in a calling they feel inadequate for or a parent who is worried about how their weaknesses will impact their children.
Christ’s compensating power can bless those under a leader’s stewardship beyond what they can offer. For example, consider a parent who feels that they lack the gospel understand to teach their children; the Lord has said, “the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith” (2 Nephi 3:21).
Despite our best intentions, mortals are weak and imperfect, but Christ makes our efforts enough.
Conclusion
Christ’s ability to right the wrong of life can take many forms, whether that is compensating for how our weaknesses impact others or how the inadequacies of life impact us. In all instances, the great infinite atonement fills gaps that come with living in a fallen world by fulfilling both the law of justice and mercy. He offers to us what justice demands when we are hurt, and He can offer mercy to us beyond what we deserve.
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About the Author
B.J. Allen is a Marketing Professor at Brigham Young University. In addition to his numerous professional publications, Allen is also the author of The Compensating Power of Christ: How Christ’s Atonement Rights the Wrongs of an Unfair World and Imperfect People. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Learn more. Click here for a copy of Allen’s book about Christ’s compensating power.