Lessons of the Atonement

Today, my lesson in Sunday school was focused on the atonement. I realized something that I had known but didn't understand quite in the same way. As we discussed the five steps of repentance, I saw how it could be applied to both repentance and forgiveness and how the atonement takes care of both. The first step is to recognize something is wrong, that you've sinned, that a change is required or desired, that you've been hurt or offended. Step 2 is to feel godly sorrow. This is different from feeling bad about being caught. This is desiring a change and suffering from the wrong or consequence of the action. That feeling leads us to God in prayer or pride in ignoring the sorrow, taking revenge, or wallowing in self pity, guilt, shame, etc. Satan wants us to believe that We are not worthy of being healed or forgiven. We can choose to turn to God and the healing power of the Atonement or continue in suffering the consequences. The 3rd step is praying to God and confessing the sin, acknowledging the pain of offense, recognizing in prayer that we are helpless to overcome the weakness on our own. We ask for help to overcome that weakness. We pray for forgiveness or help to forgive. Step 4 is restitution. We make it right as much as we can. Apologize if appropriate. Forgive if appropriate. Pay for damage done if possible. While trying to make it right, we need to recognize that we may never be able to fully make restitution. In fact rarely will we be able to do so. That is where the miracle of the atonement happens. Christ lends us the mercy of forgiveness. We are filled with his love and the burden is lifted and we are cleansed from sin. The offended finds justice because Christ can heal us from the grievous sins and offenses of others. He is the one who makes us whole again.  In this way both offended and offender are freed from the burden of the offense. The last step 5 is to forsake the sin. For the offended, this is letting it go. Not to dwell on the offense any longer or rehash it or bring it back up. For the offender its making your best effort to let go of the bad habit and replace it with a good habit. It's no longer feeling the desire to sin again. Both parties involved in this process feel the mercy and love of God. We are told that God will forgive whom he will forgive, but of us it is required to forgive all men. That is because the process for both parties is personal. An offender may choose to repent or not. An offended may choose to forgive or not. Each is entitled to choose their own path to happiness and peace that comes with the healing power of the atonement. If we truly want to be happy we will be quick to repent and quick to forgive. Then we may abound in the love of God always and ultimately return to live with God again in His presence.