Alma Ch5

The beginning of Alma's preaching to the church members is delivering the words of God which include how to gain salvation through repentance, baptism, humbling, and doing good. Anyone who does evil is of the devil and will not be counted with the righteous when they are numbered in the book of life. I think many people know this chapter because of the many questions Alma asks the people. It is fair to ask yourself these questions as a check to see if you are following the teachings of the church.
Starting in Zarahemla, being the capital and probably where he lived as the chief judge, he gives a sermon through the authority given to him by God as the head of the church on earth (v1-3). He starts with the early beginnings of the church started by his father Alma Sr. when Noah was around and the people were in bondage but were delivered by the Lord (v4-5). First in the series of questions in this chapter is a simple, do you remember all the blessings that your ancestors have had as they were converted and brought out of the grasp of the devil (v6-9)? The people were saved, but how, and how can you do so (v10-11)? The best answer there is for that, is by listening to the prophets and believing the words that lead men to follow the true and living God to have salvation (v12-13).
Now those were just warm up questions, the real ones you should ask yourself begin now. I set it up so the good questions are main, and the indented questions are sort of 'make you feel guilty if you know your not clean' questions. The double indented ones are sort of answers Alma gives.

1. Have ye spiritually been born of God and received him with full change of heart by exercising faith in the redemption  and ability to be raised in immortality (v14-15)? 
2. Can you imagine Christ saying "Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth" (v16)?
1. The anti-questions that follow that train of thought involve imagining yourself wanting to lie to the Lord after knowing your wickedness perfectly (v17-18)?
3. When you stand before God knowing all that you have done, if it were tomorrow, do you think you would feel clean (v19)?
1. On the other hand, what most of you have been doing...how can you possibly think you would not become subjects of the devil because of your unclean acts (v20-21)?
2. How do you think it will feel standing before God in filthiness and all the sins you've committed known and testifying of your guilt (v22-23)?
3. Do you really think you would be worthy to sit with the clean prophets of old or your Heavenly Father who is perfect (v24)? 
1. No, no you cant, in case you were wondering (v25).
4. If you've ever had a spiritual awakening/change of heart and were truly converted unto Christ, do you feel the same now? Or when you think about it can you still feel that desire you once possessed (v26)?
5. If it were your time to die, would you be ready and fully repented (v27)?
6. Have you gutted out the pride in your hearts (v28)?
1. If your haven't done so, do so. QUICKLY!
7. What about envy? Have you gotten rid of that in your life (v29)?
1. Again I urge to do so quickly if not already done.
8. Do you sometimes make fun of other people or persecute them because of their differences (v30)?

If you answered no to any of the main 8 questions, or your feeling guilty because thinking about these questions brought up some bad mojo, you may need you repent because times a ticking (v31-32). It is important to remember that it is all okay. We have repentance because no body is perfect here on earth, and Christ will always receive you if you come to him and repent (v33). He wants us to partake of the tree of life with Him and if we let Him, He will protect us from the fire to live with Him in righteousness (v34-36). 

All those vain people who have rejects the teachings of Christ should know that the Lord hasn't given up on them yet, He constantly calls for all to follow Him and join His fold to be protected (v37-38). If you are not of Christ's fold, you are of the devils because good comes from God and evil comes from the Devil; there is no middle ground, you cannot be Switzerland in this war (v39-41). So if you do good, you will be rewarded with blessings and receive 'payment' from the Lord, just as if you do bad you will get 'payment' for that which is death (v42).
Alma has taught all these things in plainness so he is fully understood just like Nephi often did with enthusiasm and simpleness being commanded by God (v43-44). Baring his testimony of the truth of what he has taught, Alma tells the people that through fasting and praying he received the knowledge by the Holy Spirit of God (v45-46). He continues by stating that he knows the prophets have spoken truth when preaching, that Jesus Christ will come to this earth, and that he was called as the prophet to do the same (v47-49). Alma's calling is to preach repentance, tell of the blessings of the kingdom of heaven that will be for all who repent, and warn those who do not repent of the consequences of dying in sin (v50-52).
Here's another question from v53-56: Can you still persist in your pride after knowing the truth of the transgression you are committing? All of the persecution, being vain, treasuring your riches and not helping those in need of help will only bring you misery when you are cast into the fire after death.
To those who will repent and forsake their sins, come join the righteous and be numbered among the Christians who will inherit all that God offers (v 57-58). Christ is our shepherd because like a shepherd, he cares about each and every one of his sheep and protects them from any wolf that might enter the flock (v59-60). All these words of Alma have been of the same words the Lord has told Alma, he is fulfilling a commandment that the Lord has given, and extends the Lord's invitation to "come and be baptized unto repentance" (v61-62).