The Law vs God (Alma 42)

[_Gunnar]

Alma 42

This chapter ponders the question of why the atonement was necessary. I mean surely God has the authority and power to "forgive mankind", correct? Or is God subject to the Law? Is the Law what was created by God or what created God?

Certainly we can all agree that God can not lie...this is an impossible for position for God and is utterly and completely contrary to His very nature and character.
So, when reading Alma 42 we are confronted with the Law of Justice and the Law of Mercy. Their resolution is relatively simple and explains why exactly Christ had to perform the act He performed. The atonement was not a requirement of God but of the Law, a requirement God was unable to transcend as it is that very Law which defines Him. This is, for example, why we view the 10 commandments as eternal and why they can not be "repealed". The requirement for an atonement could not be averted, could not be mitigated, could not be denied nor ignored...simply put - it had to be fulfilled. God was bound by the Law for the atonement for there was no other option for Him. Some of you may claim that He simply fell upon His own sword; which would be an interesting argument if one can present it as such - but i contend that God was, by His nature and character, unable to act in any other way and that His love was manifest by the sacrifice which serves us all.

based on this reasoning, the notion i propose is this:
The Law can not be circumvented, even by God.

I bring this topic up, because i consider it as illuminating towards the flaws inherent in Sola Gratia.

Interesting...

I would say in answer to one of your many rhetorical questions...

The notion I propose is, Moses and various Mosi, Modern Moseses, invented and reinvented the concept of God, to convince other not so clever intelligence's, that the 10 / 13, most important things that were the cause of antisocial behavior amongst their community should be established and as they were just men trying to rule, compass and square the people into their way of thinking.
and so I put it to you that God, Justice, mercy, Law and Alma are all concepts concocted by mankind for mankind so that the men at the top of the pyramid could take early retirement and shag all the women.

In the name of Cheese and Rice... AMEN!

Great answer!