“But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God….

Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.”

Abindai points out that the state of the wicked is truly self inflicted. After having been taught the commandments of God and been told of the redemption of Christ, they nevertheless continue in sin and rebellion because they love their sins more than God.

If we love our carnal nature more than we love God, then the atonement cannot work to redeem us. For God’s arms of mercy are always open to each of us, but we must make a conscious choice to depart from sin and call upon the lord.

He will warn us. He will call to us. But he will never compel us to come unto him. We have the agency to chose between the devil or God, but we cannot have it both ways. If we persist in our sin and rebel against God, the devil will have all power over us. Ultimately, we must yield or carnal nature and be reconciled to God, or we will be subject to the devil forever.



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