All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.
Peter quotes the first part of this verse and adds: “but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” (1 Peter 2:24–25). Paul wrote: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, see also 1 John 1:8). Thus all who lived on this earth have sinned except Christ who took upon him all of our sins.
Abinadi explains the relationship between Christ and the Father after he had completed his ministry: “Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice” (Mosiah 15:9).
This commentary sheds further light on the role of Jesus Christ as the Father and the Son. Having suffered for all humankind’s sins, Jesus Christ fulfilled the demands of justice in his role as the Father. His compassion to those who repent illustrates his role as the Son since his mercy satisfies the demands of justice. While the New Testament tells us that the Atonement was accomplished, we must turn to the Book of Mormon to enlarge our understanding of the roles of mercy and justice. Other passages of the Book of Mormon such as Amulek’s testimony to the apostate Zoramites (see Alma 34:15–16), and Alma’s instructions to his wayward son Corianton (see Alma 42) give us more enlightenment on these principles of mercy and justice. An analysis of these references will be left to another time.