Scripture of the Day: “And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses” (Mosiah 13:28).
The “law of Moses” is a name for the sacrifices, rituals, and ordinances practiced by the ancient Israelites. The purpose of this law was to help people look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ.
But over the centuries, the Israelites forgot the meaning of the law and started to focus on the details of it. As if the law itself, and not the Savior, would save them!
Abinadi tried to help people understand the truth about the law. He taught the wicked King Noah that yes, keeping the law of Moses was a commandment. But that doesn’t mean that obeying the law of Moses would, on its own, save you.
As he points out in today’s verse, if it hadn’t been for the Savior’s Atonement, even people who faithfully kept the Mosaic law could not be saved.
The same is true for us. No matter how faithful we are in living the gospel, none of it would matter if the Savior hadn’t atoned for our sins!
Every hope we have is because of Jesus Christ. Commandments are important, but only because they point us to Him!