Chapter 18: Salvation Through Union with ChristAt-One-Ment and the Meaning of “Cleaving” to the Lord

In brief

How does Christ’s death actually save us? Seaich argues that images such as ransom, scapegoat, and penal substitution are “similitudes” taken from the Law of Moses, not the essential explanation. John’s Gospel goes deeper. Christ laid down his life and took it up again to show his power over death and to “draw all men” to himself. Through baptism and the Holy Ghost, believers “cleave” (Greek kollaō, Hebrew dabhaq) to him and become one Spirit with him. That is the literal sense of “at-one-ment.”

This page summarizes Chapter 18 of Understanding Mormonism: The Restored Gospel of Christ and Its Biblical Foundations in Latter-day Saint Belief by Eugene Seaich (2026 Annotated Edition, edited by Eric Hendrickson). The summary is quoted from the book’s “In brief” and is editorial material, not the author’s words. The full chapter, with its notes and argument, is in the book.

Independent scholarship by Eugene Seaich. Not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.