I was asked to give this talk in my new church ward. Here it is.
Why do we need a Savior?
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters. I’ve been asked to give my perspective on the question “Why do we need a Savior?” this morning for my talk. I started by asking myself what is a savior. A savior is a person who saves something or someone from danger, or one who brings salvation.
President Henry B. Eyring said “Our Heavenly Father loves us. He sent His Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. He knew that in mortality we would be in grave danger, the worst of it from the temptations of a terrible adversary. That is one of the reasons why the Savior has provided priesthood keys so that those with ears to hear and faith to obey could go to places of safety.”
After Adam and Eve broke God’s commandment not to eat from the tree of knowledge and were forced from the garden of Eden and cut off from God’s presence forever we’ve been in danger. We inherited their exile.
President Ezra Taft Benson said “When our Heavenly Father placed Adam and Eve on this earth, He did so with the purpose in mind of teaching them how to regain His presence. Our Father promised a Savior to redeem them from their fallen condition.”
We are cut off from our Heavenly Father’s presence, but thankfully, He knew this was going to happen as he knows all things, and He had a plan, He gave us a Savior. Articles of Faith 1:3 – “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”
Elder Dalin Oaks said “The world needs a Savior. All people need to be cleansed from the effects of sin and to return to the presence of God.”
We are full of flaws, born of imperfections, and God knew this and he knew we would sin again and again. Heavenly Father knew we’d need to be clean to live with Him again, so He sent a Savior to sacrifice himself for our sins, for our mistakes. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
I know the pain of my own mistakes. The hurt I feel when I make those mistakes and break God’s commandments is painful. I couldn’t imagine feeling what our Savior felt; all the pain, all the hurt, all the sins of every person that will ever exist all at the same time and doing so willingly to fulfill the plan of salvation, to be our Savior. “For it is expedient that an atonement should be made … , or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement … an infinite and eternal sacrifice” (Alma 34:9–10).
Jesus gave his life for all of us not only to do Heavenly Father’s will for the plan of salvation but I think to culminate his teachings around universal love, tolerance, forgiveness, and pacifism. We need Jesus as our Savior so we can be saved and return to live with Heavenly Father. 1 Nephi 13:1 – “…that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.”
Elder David A. Bednar said “The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us.”
He willingly and passively gave up His life without resisting or fighting His killers. He told the truth and exposed corruption and evil, but did not resist or fight it physically, as He had advised many times in his teachings. “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus lived His entire life by example, including His death. His very death is His final lesson on achieving salvation through sacrifice. Jesus purpose as our Savior was to bind up the brokenhearted, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27; to intercede for us with God so we could return to our Heavenly Father, John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”; and He is to give rest to our weary souls. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
C.S. Lewis said “He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
Our individual salvation is not something that is a one-time deal; like boom you’re saved and DONE! Our individual salvation is and will be an ongoing process until we die because we will continue to fall and sin until we die. This is why there is the process of repentance. "You may in time of trouble think that you are not worth saving because you have made mistakes, big or little, and you think you are now lost. That is never true! Only repentance can heal what hurts. But repentance can heal what hurts, no matter what it is." - President Boyd K. Packer
Even President Henry Eyring said “Death is not the end; it is but one more step in a great forward march made possible by the redemption wrought by the Savior. This is the spirit of true science - constant and eternal seeking.”
Salvation doesn’t have to be some huge moment, it is a journey. Most of us will move towards it slowly, day by day, moment by moment. Elder Randall K. Bennett said “We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward.” We need to learn to listen to our hearts instead of our egos, to choose love over hate, or when we sacrifice instead of take, or when we our selfless instead of consumed by our own desires, when we choose the right without hesitating that is when our on-going journey towards Salvation takes a step forward. The more we focus on doing what is good and right the easier it will become to do good and make right. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.... But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6, 8)
Also President Boyd K. Packer stated, “The mercy and grace of Jesus Christ are not limited to those who commit sins either of commission or omission, but they encompass the promise of everlasting peace to all who will accept and follow Him and His teachings. His mercy is the mighty healer, even to the wounded innocent.”
My last Sunday with the 2nd Pickerington Ward I was asked to sub in the primary for one of the 6 year old classes and the kids were learning a song for the Easter sacrament meeting. I was truly moved by the Spirit as they sung Gethsemane, Jesus Loves me. They sung with such a solemn reverence that only such little honest innocent hearts can do. This song simply puts so many reasons as to why Jesus was our Savior and why we so desperately needed him.
Song
Jesus climbed the hill to the garden still.
His steps were heavy and slow.
Love and a prayer took Him there
To the place only He could go.
Gethsemane. Jesus loves me.
So He went willingly, to Gethsemane.
He felt all that was sad, wicked, or bad
All the pain we would ever know.
While His friends were asleep He fought to keep
His promise made long ago.
The hardest thing that ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus, the Fight was won by Jesus.
Gethsemane, Jesus loves me.
So He gave His gift to me, in Gethsemane .
I’d like to close with my testimony, I know this church is true, studying for this talk, searching the scriptures, the doctrine, and the ensign; I was enriched by the word of God and it brought me comfort and peace. I know the scriptures are true. I know Jesus is our Savior.
I leave this with you humbly in the name of God’s son and our savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
