Nephi makes a contrast between keeping the law for the sake of the commandments and looking to the Atoning Messiah for salvation. While the Nephites keep the law’s commandments, their hope in salvation comes through the Atoning Messiah. Nevertheless, this approach may be difficult for some of Nephi’s people to understand, which would account for Nephi’s emphasis on the teaching of Christ. Perhaps because they do continue to obey the law of Moses, it is easier for them to fall back into the position that obedience to the law saves rather than the future Messiah. The Nephite emphasis on Christ is to overcome that tendency.