The principles of the gospel—those things which allow us to partake of the powers of the atoning sacrifice—perhaps elucidaded here in 3 Nephi 27 more than in any other passage of scripture, include faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, resurrection and eternal judgment (see Teachings, p. 149).
“That I Might Draw All Men Unto Me”
If Jesus had not met the demands of justice and provided mercy through his atonement, the principles of faith, repentance, baptism, and so forth, would have had no power to draw us to him and back to the Father.
Because he has fulfilled the Father’s will, Christ has the power to draw us—to entice or invite us—to those principles and powers that enable us to return to the Father. Eternal life is not imposed upon us against our will but is held out to us as a spiritual enticement and blessing.
We accept the Atonement and obtain the blessing of eternal life only through our own agency. We are drawn unto Christ, not dragged.