Alma expected his son to no longer deny the role of justice. Corianton had been led to believe that God would not punish people, thus there was no need for repentance. That is a sinner’s vain hope—an infinitely merciful God who does not apply the laws of justice, and therefore there is no point in repentance. They talk themselves into believing in a God who will just beat us with a few stripes and all will be well. As Nephi prophesied,
And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark. (2 Nephi 28:8–9).
Corianton had probably learned that from Korihor and the Nehorites (see also the discussion above of Alma 39:17). Alma, on the other hand, clearly hoped and expected that Corianton would understand that justice and mercy go hand-in-hand together, and that repentance is a necessary component of God’s plan of mercy, redemption, restoration, and of eternal salvation and happiness.
As we will see in the rest of the book of Alma, Corianton apparently took his father’s advice and remained in good standing (Alma 42:31; 43:1–2; 63:10). What ways occur to you in which you can internalize more deeply the very core of Alma’s explanation that God can be, and indeed must be, both just and merciful?