Abinadi is intent on teaching about the role of the coming Messiah, so he emphasizes that without the Messiah’s intervention, all mankind would be lost. This is certainly not God’s plan, but that is the point he is making. Without the part of the plan where the Messiah provides redemption, all would necessarily be lost and become as the devil. The choices we make are rarely all positive and correct, and any sin would separate us from the spirit of God. Without repentance, we would have no means to reconcile ourselves and learn from our mistakes.
Nevertheless, agency is still operative. Although a redemption will come, in verse 5 Abinadi makes it clear that all still have their agency. If a man or woman persists in choosing their carnal nature, as opposed to their spiritual nature, they are still in that fallen state.
The phrase is used that such an one is “an enemy to God.” The intent of the phrase is to indicate one who is the opposite of God. Abinadi contrasts carnal with spiritual, and, therefore, enemy with one who loves God. The language is intended to describe the two opposite possible poles of experience. The reality of mortal life is that it is rarely so completely divided into the two polar opposites. By using the polar opposites, Abinadi can focus on the importance of the redemption without delving into the details of how such things are worked out through our lives. Nevertheless, he did give us the clue that we would be judged on what kind of person we become. Repentance opens the possibility of becoming better, regardless of any mistakes we might have made in mortality.