Still speaking to members of the church, Alma now questions those who have been born again. These important questions show that although a person may be born again, he or she may lose their cleansed status of redemption. It also shows that the rebirth experience does not save a person. Alma then outlines what must be done to “retain a remission of your sins.” King Benjamin had also taught this principle (Mosiah 4:12).
Alma asks three pertinent questions the answers to which would determine if those questioned were “keeping themselves blameless before God” in case they “were called to die at this time” (Alma 5:27). This verse is not talking about deathbed repentance, but about their conduct since being born again. No one knows when they will pass into the next phase of their life, which is called death, but as Ecclesiastes states: there is “A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). In modern revelation we are told that if we are sick and have faith, we “shall pray for and [have the elders] lay their hands upon them in [Christ’s] name” and is “not appointed unto death, shall be healed” (D&C 42:44–47; italics added). Again, no one knows when that time of death will come.
The first question, concerning being “sufficiently humble” (Alma 5:27), is expounded upon later by Alma in the same speech. Alma defines the humble as those who “humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance” (v. 54a). Later, as Mormon abridges the record, he describes the humble: “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35). Therefore, the sufficiently humble are those who honor their priesthood, follow the Spirit, and yield their hearts to God.
The second question, regarding being “stripped of pride” (Alma 5:28), is also later expounded upon by Alma. “And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches? Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another” (Alma 5:53–54). Jacob, brother of Nephi also equated pride with “persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they” (Jacob 2:13). The kingdom of heaven being “close at hand” (Alma 5:28) has reference to the first coming of Christ.
In the third question concerning being “stripped of envy” and if not so, you are “not prepared” (v. 29), is likewise expounded upon by Alma but not in the same words. “Yea, and will ye persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?” (Alma 5:55). Withholding substance from the poor rather than being “free with your substance” (Jacob 2:17) is offensive to God.
Those who mock their brothers or persecute them are warned again (Alma 5:30–31, see also v. 54). We cannot say we love God if we hate our brothers. The Apostle John wrote: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20). Before changing the subject, Alma calls all workers of iniquity to repent (Alma 5:32).