Benjamin has changed the theme of his discourse at this point. His earlier focus was on atonement and sin, which yielded a communal repentance/forgiveness. Repentance and forgiveness clear the slate, but they provide only the ability to progress. They are not progression in and of themselves. Benjamin is now teaching (or reminding) his people of the difference between accepting the atonement and ultimate salvation. He uses the Messiah’s atonement as the transition.
Throughout his discourse, Benjamin has emphasized the Messiah. In the first speech, he emphasized the Messiah’s atoning blood—the aspect of the atonement that yields a remission of sins. Now he stresses that the name of Yahweh-Messiah is the only name by which salvation may be achieved. Although he does not make a formal theological division between the two, Benjamin uses blood as the image of atonement, and name as the image of salvation. (See commentary accompanying Mosiah 3:17 for more information on the Name.) The conditions for salvation are those Benjamin recited in verses 5 and 6.