Lehi tells Jacob that, "Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered." (2 Nephi 2:6-7, emphasis added)
Only those who have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit" can be saved from the punishment of the Law. This concept is repeated over and over in the scriptures. Nobody else is saved in this way. It seems obvious to me because the only way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is to be clean. We cannot be clean unless we repent, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
If we do not have a broken heart we have not repented, indeed, we cannot repent.
A "contrite spirit" is one who is humble, who sees himself in relation to God. He knows he is ignorant, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17) He knows that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. The proud and haughty don't see reality and cannot repent. If they don't repent, they can't be clean; and if they aren't clean they can't enter into the Kingdom of God.
A "contrite spirit" is one who is humble, who sees himself in relation to God. He knows he is ignorant, "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17) He knows that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. The proud and haughty don't see reality and cannot repent. If they don't repent, they can't be clean; and if they aren't clean they can't enter into the Kingdom of God.
The four ways
There are four types of salvation found in the Scriptures: 1) salvation from physical death, or resurrection, 2) salvation from suffering for sins, 3) salvation in the Kingdom of God, and 4) Eternal Life. Each is a gift, but the Messiah doesn't save everyone from everything. There are contingencies on every gift -- we must receive, or accept them.
The first gift of salvation, immortality, is given to all those who "kept their first estate" so there is no further requirement of those who come to their "second estate." In other words, if we are born on Earth it means we were faithful in our previous life and will keep our bodies. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22) Everyone receives salvation from physical death, no matter what!
All other blessings depend upon repentance and faithfulness. Salvation from the consequences of sin is offered only to those who repent and forsake all their sins. This is what Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross: "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; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit." (D&C 19:16-18) We don't have to suffer if we repent. The Messiah offers this salvation freely to all.
Salvation in the Kingdom of Heaven is offered to all those who receive Christ in baptism, covenant with Him, and remain faithful to their covenants. Those who refuse the covenants of baptism may repent and be saved from suffering, but they do not enter into the mansions of the Father. Only those who are "valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ” merit this Kingdom. "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) The second part is to be "Born of the Spirit." After baptism we must "Receive the Holy Ghost" in order to be "born again." Both are required for salvation in the Kingdom of God. The Messiah refuses no one who desires to be His covenant children."
The highest meaning of salvation, exaltation, is reserved for those who make the ultimate sacrifice of all things in the world. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as many others, including the prophets, who were "faithful in all things" receive this salvation. These become the rulers in Heaven, who are "joint heirs with Christ," and sit on the throne of God -- even at His right hand. "All things," means all things. They follow the Messiah into the depths of humility and "submit to all things whatsoever the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [them]." They have no hypocrisy and no guile. As they are faithful in all things so they receive all things of Him, even Eternal Life.
It is interesting to note that even those who receive the "more sure word of prophecy" or their "calling and election made sure" have a single contingency of remaining faithful -- if they "altogether turn" from their covenants and deny the Holy Ghost they are cast out of Heaven forever, receiving of Christ only the salvation from physical death. Though they deny Him to His face, yet He saves them in the only way He can.
Jesus is the Messiah
Christ is the way in all cases because only through Him can any form of salvation be given. He is the Messiah, the Anointed One; there are not two. There is no other way. Each is a gift; we cannot earn any part of it; we can only receive salvation by "relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save." (2 Nephi 31:19) "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth." (2 Nephi 2:6) Jesus is the Messiah.
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