To Answer the Ends of the Law

                                                       2 NEPHI 2:4-8

2 Nephi 2:4

And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.

God is the same. His laws don't change, His blessings and punishments don't change. We can look to the people in the Old Testament to see how punishments to the laws were fulfilled before Christ came and fulfilled the law. He is the reason we don't still stone adulterers and murderers.

2 Nephi 2:5

And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.

There is a lot of information in this scripture alone. 

1. We are instructed sufficiently that we know good from evil. 

2. We know good from evil.  We all have the Spirit of Christ, that we may to know good from evil. Moroni 7:16:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore,  I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

3. By the law no flesh is justified; or by the law men are cut off. 

We are held accountable for the things we do that are contrary to God's law. We know what He's laws are and we are accountable for them.

4. This is both a temporal and a spiritual withdrawal from God.

2 Nephi 2:6

Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

Our only hope is in our Savior. He came and redeemed us from the law.

2 Nephi 2:7

Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

He is it! He is the ONLY way. He offered Himself as the sacrifice that we needed.

We need to come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit to allow His sacrifice to work for us.  A broken heart and contrite spirit means that we are willing to do anything and everything that God asks us to do, without resistance and without resentment.

If we do not accept His sacrifice, then we are going to be required to suffer for our own sins. (Law of Moses-eye for an eye)

2 Nephi 2:8

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

God in His infinite love and mercy provided a way for us to return to Him. He sent His Son to earth to die for each of us.