PUZZLE #23 - On His Name

Consider Alma 11:40-41 (Page 236-237)

Verse 40 explains that Christ would be coming to earth to provide eternal life for those who "believe on his name". The last part of that verse tells us that salvation
and eternal life are not going to be had by all people. It says; "these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else."

Verse 41 then tells us about those who are not saved and do not gain eternal life. It refers to them as "the wicked" and it says they will "remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death." The only effect that Christ will have on these people is that they will resurrect, "loosing of the bands of death", but they are not among those who get salvation and eternal life.

The passage divides humanity into two groups, the saved and the wicked; those who gain eternal life and those who will only be resurrected. The dividing line is also stated clearly. Those who will be saved and gain eternal life are those who "believe on his name".

There are millions who do not believe on Him. The entire muslim world knows all about Him, but they also believe that to die while murdering Christians will take them straight to heaven. They do not believe on His name, and neither do the vast peoples of the rest of the world.

This passage correctly teaches that those who "believe on his name" are no longer wicked; they are redeemed, and that is because He has taken upon Him "the transgressions of those who believe on his name". At the point in time when they believed "on his name", He took their transgressions from them, and they no longer have them. He came "into the world to redeem his people", and He did just that for all those who "believe on his name".

Now the PUZZLE here is that this is not what Mormonism teaches.

Redemption is an act of payment. Christ came to earth "to redeem his people" by making the payment for their sin. It does not say that He came to redeem all people, although He makes that offer to all of us. It says that He came to redeem "his people", and those who do not believe on Him are not His people. He wants us all to become His people by believing on His name, but sadly, multiplied millions do not; and multiplied millions will not believe on His name. They will not be redeemed, but will be those which this verse calls "the wicked". What's in store for them?

Only "the wicked" will stand before God and be judged according to their works. When God looks at the redeemed, He sees no sin because their sin was taken from them. It is no longer a burden for them. Christ carried it to the cross and paid the price for it. He paid for all the sin of all humanity. He invites all of us to
"believe on his name", be saved and receive eternal life.