"Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord. " - Alma 13:16
Alma tells us that in Christ we have a "remission" of sins. We know that Christ will take away the sin and stain from our lives if we come to him, but that does not prevent us from going back to our old ways. Not only will Christ take our sins, he will also take away our desire for sin; if we submit ourselves to him. When this change happens in our life we must be vigilant in following Christ. As we continue in the word of Christ, we will have the power given to us from him to stay clean from and avoid the captivity of sin. Keeping free of sin will enable us to one day enter into "the rest of the Lord."
It is also interesting that Alma says the ordinances of the gospel, a key ordinance being baptism by immersion, were given so that we might know how to "look forward on the Son of God." All ordinances given by the Lord to his people have been for this purpose, in addition to providing for his people an opportunity to make sacred covenants with him. Knowing this, it is no surprise that God provides us with so many opportunities to participate in sacred ordinances.
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