The Infinite Atonement

Let's do some math: Start counting positive integers up from zero...

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 , 11, 12, 13, 14, 15...

Tired yet? How long would you have to count before you reached the 'end'? (That's the end of the numbers, not the end of your life...) You wouldn't reach the end, of course, because there is no end; the counting numbers are infinite.

That's an interesting word: infinite. Let's expand on the concept of infinity further. Suppose I wanted to make things easier for you and said instead of having to count every number, you could count only the even numbers. Let's try that...

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22...

Okay, so now how long would you have to count before you reached the end? What, still infinite, you say? Even though I just took out every other number? It's true, though, counting up by two's is still infinite even though I just reduced the total number of integers from the first set by 50%.

Let's take it one step further: this time, only count numbers that end in 63...

63, 163, 263, 363, 463, 563, 663, 763, 863...

Still infinite? Looks like it...even though we've now reduced the total number of integers from the first group by 99%!

Let's see if we can apply this mathematical model to something spiritually significant, like the Atonement.

Let's create a new unit of measurement, called a Righteousness Unit (RU). Let's suppose God has created a master mapping chart, where each and every sin that could possibly be committed by mankind is given a point value--bigger sins getting a larger value--where the value equals the loss of RU for committing that sin. Suppose when each person is standing before the judgment bar of God, they receive a detailed printout of each sin they've committed in their lifetime along with the total, which represents your exact 'debt' of Righteousness Units--in other words, how much RU you owe God in order to be judged perfect.

One day, Jim is brought to judgment and his printout says he's committed 67,975 RU worth of sins and has to make up that total before he can be cleared for entry into heaven. John, his brother, was a little less righteous during his earth life and has amassed a debt of 129,368 RU. What are Jim and John to do? Being a good guy, Jim would like to help John, as well as his other family members, but Jim has a debt of his own. In other words, Jim has a finite amount of RU on the scale of his soul, and a finite amount of 'empty space' where RU should be. Jim could theoretically give John the RU he needs to pay off his debt, and maybe help some others too, but the problem is, Jim could only help a certain number of people before he 'ran out', and then what? Jim has nothing left and is himself barred from entering heaven. Isn't there any other way to help Jim and John and everyone else?

In Alma 34, we read:

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement 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 which it is expedient should be made.

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.

12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

Using this concept of an infinite atonement, let's see if we can't find a better solution using our mathematical model. If Jesus Christ is a perfect person, then he has no RU debt of his own, and if he then performs an infinite atonement for mankind, then he's in a much better position to help people become perfect themselves.

Jim owes 67,975 RU, so Christ gives him elements 1-67,975 on his personal scale. Now, Jim is perfected, but how has this act changed Christ's scale of righteousness? Christ had an infinite amount to start with, so by reducing his total by 67,975 has anything changed? No, as per the mathematical discussion above, infinite is still infinite. Christ can then give John his missing 129,368 RU by allocating him elements 67,976 through 197,343 on His personal scale. Now John is perfect, but is Jesus Christ still infinite? Looks like it...

Using this model, we can see exactly why it required an 'infinite and eternal sacrifice' in order to atone for the sins of mankind. We can also see why Jesus was the only one who was qualified to perform this atonement. If he was imperfect himself, he would have only had a finite number of RU to share with others, and thus couldn't save everyone including himself. But since he was perfect, he can atone for all the sins of mankind regardless of 1) how many people there are to atone for, or 2) how serious of sins they've committed. It doesn't matter how much you take out of an infinite sum, it's still infinite.

The atonement is still one of the more difficult gospel principles to comprehend. How exactly does One atone for the sins of the world? Hopefully, this mathematical model will help us conceptualize exactly how the atonement could be performed, and why Jesus Christ is the only one who could have done it for us.