God Will Come in the Flesh
Abinadi continued: 'I want you to understand this—God himself will come down and live among us. He will save his people. Because he will live in a mortal body, he’ll be called the Son of God. And because he’ll submit that body completely to the Father’s will, he is both Father and Son. 'He’s the Father because he was conceived by God’s power. He’s the Son because he took on flesh. In this way, he becomes Father and Son— one God, the eternal Father of heaven and earth.
'When his mortal body submits to the Spirit—when the Son yields to the Father—he remains one God. He will face temptation but never give in. Instead, he’ll let himself be mocked, beaten, thrown out, and rejected by his own people. After all that, after performing incredible miracles, he’ll be led away—just as Isaiah said—like a sheep silent before its shearers. He won’t say a word in his own defense. 'He’ll be led away, nailed to a cross, and killed. His body will die. The Son’s will completely absorbed into the Father’s will.
'And that’s how God breaks death’s grip. He conquers death, giving the Son power to speak on behalf of all people— after rising to heaven. His heart overflows with mercy. He’s full of compassion for us. He stands between us and justice itself. He’s broken death’s chains, taken our guilt and rebellion onto himself, freed us, and satisfied every demand justice could make.
Who Are His Children?
'Now let me ask you: Who can describe his family line? Listen—when his life becomes an offering for sin, he will see his children. So I’m asking you: Who are his children? I’ll tell you. Everyone who has listened to the prophets—all the holy prophets who spoke about the Lord’s coming—everyone who listened closely to their words and believed the Lord would save his people, everyone who looked forward to that day for forgiveness—those are his children. They’re the heirs of God’s kingdom. 'These are the ones whose sins he carried. These are the ones he died for—to free them from their wrongs. So aren’t they his children? And what about the prophets—every one who spoke God’s message and stayed faithful? I mean all the holy prophets since the world began. They’re his children too.
'These are the ones who announced peace, who brought good news, who proclaimed salvation, who told Zion: 'Your God reigns!' How beautiful on the mountains were their feet! 'And again: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who are still bringing that message of peace! And again: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who will keep announcing peace—from now until forever! 'And that’s not all. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings the good news himself—the founder of peace. I’m talking about the Lord, who has saved his people and given them salvation.
'Because without the rescue he planned before the world began, everyone would have been lost forever.
The First Resurrection
'But death’s chains will be broken! The Son rules over death itself. That’s why he can raise the dead. A resurrection is coming—the first resurrection. It includes everyone who lived and died before Christ’s own resurrection. That’s what we’ll call it—Christ’s resurrection. 'This first resurrection will include all the prophets and everyone who believed their words, everyone who kept God’s commands. They’ll be raised first. They’ll be raised to live with God, who saved them. Through Christ—who broke death’s chains—they have eternal life.
'There are also others in the first resurrection—those who died before Christ came and never heard about salvation. The Lord restores them too. They’re part of the first resurrection and have eternal life because the Lord has saved them. And little children have eternal life too.
A Warning to the Rebellious
'But now—fear! Tremble before God! You should tremble. Because the Lord doesn’t save anyone who rebels against him and dies in their sins. Everyone since the world began who has willfully turned against God, who knew his commands and refused to keep them—they have no part in the first resurrection. So shouldn’t you tremble? Salvation doesn’t come to people like that. The Lord hasn’t saved them and can’t save them. He can’t deny who he is, and he can’t deny justice when it makes its claim.
Salvation for All Nations
'But the time is coming when the Lord’s salvation will be announced to every nation, tribe, language, and people. Lord, your watchmen will raise their voices! They’ll sing together as one, because they’ll see clearly when you restore Zion. 'Burst into joyful song together, you ruined places of Jerusalem! The Lord has comforted his people. He has rescued Jerusalem. The Lord has shown his holy power before all nations. Everyone everywhere will see our God’s salvation.'
Influences
- 15:2 — Luke 1:35 (KJV)And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
- 15:2 — John 5:30 (KJV)I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
- 15:2 — 2 John 1:9 (KJV)Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
- 15:3 — Luke 2:21 (KJV)And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
- 15:3 — 1 Peter 1:5 (KJV)Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 15:8 — Revelation 15:2 (KJV)And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
- 15:9 — Acts 2:34 (KJV)For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
- 15:10 — Acts 5:38 (KJV)And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
- 15:11 — 2 Peter 3:2 (KJV)That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
- 15:11 — James 5:8 (KJV)Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
- 15:11 — James 2:5 (KJV)Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
- 15:13 — John 9:32 (KJV)Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
- 15:14 — Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
- 15:18 — Luke 1:68 (KJV)Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- 15:18 — Luke 1:77 (KJV)To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
- 15:21 — Acts 24:15 (KJV)And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
- 15:21 — Acts 2:31 (KJV)He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
- 15:22 — Revelation 20:6 (KJV)Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- 15:23 — Matthew 19:16 (KJV)And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
- 15:24 — Revelation 20:6 (KJV)Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- 15:26 — John 8:21 (KJV)Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
- 15:28 — John 16:4 (KJV)But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- 15:28 — Revelation 14:6 (KJV)And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
- 15:29 — Isaiah 52:8 (KJV)Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
- 15:30 — Isaiah 52:9 (KJV)Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
- 15:31 — Isaiah 52:10 (KJV)The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.