patriarchs and prophets-第11部分

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sinner。　In　all　the　universe　there　was　but　one　who　could；　in　behalf　of　man；
satisfy　its　claims。　Since　the　divine　law　is　as　sacred　as　God　Himself；　only
one　equal　with　God　could　make　atonement　for　its　transgression。　None　but
Christ　could　redeem　fallen　man　from　the　curse　of　the　law　and　bring　him　again
into　harmony　with　Heaven。　Christ　would　take　upon　Himself　the　guilt　and　shame
of　sinsin　so　offensive　to　a　holy　God　that　it　must　separate　the　Father　and
His　Son。　Christ　would　reach　to　the　depths　of　misery　to　rescue　the　ruined
race。

Before　the　Father　He　pleaded　in　the　sinner's　behalf；　while　the　host　of
heaven　awaited　the　result　with　an　intensity　of　interest　that　words　cannot
express。　Long　continued　was　that　mysterious　communing〃the　counsel　of
peace〃　（Zechariah　6：13）　for　the　fallen　sons　of　men。　The　plan　of　salvation
had　been　laid　before　the　creation　of　the　earth；　for　Christ　is　〃the　Lamb
slain　from　the　foundation　of　the　world〃　（Revelation　13：8）；　yet　it　was　a
struggle；　even　with　the　King　of　the　universe；　to　yield　up　His　Son　to　die　for
the　guilty　race。　But　〃God　so　loved　the　world；　that　He　gave　His　only…begotten
Son；　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　everlasting
life。〃　John　3：16。　Oh；　the　mystery　of

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redemption！　the　love　of　God　for　a　world　that　did　not　love　Him！　Who　can　know
the　depths　of　that　love　which　〃passeth　knowledge〃？　Through　endless　ages
immortal　minds；　seeking　to　comprehend　the　mystery　of　that　incomprehensible
love；　will　wonder　and　adore。

God　was　to　be　manifest　in　Christ；　〃reconciling　the　world　unto　Himself。〃　2
Corinthians　5：19。　Man　had　become　so　degraded　by　sin　that　it　was　impossible
for　him；　in　himself；　to　come　into　harmony　with　Him　whose　nature　is　purity
and　goodness。　But　Christ；　after　having　redeemed　man　from　the　condemnation　of
the　law；　could　impart　divine　power　to　unite　with　human　effort。　Thus　by
repentance　toward　God　and　faith　in　Christ　the　fallen　children　of　Adam　might
once　more　become　〃sons　of　God。〃　1　John　3：2。

The　plan　by　which　alone　man's　salvation　could　be　secured；　involved　all
heaven　in　its　infinite　sacrifice。　The　angels　could　not　rejoice　as　Christ
opened　before　them　the　plan　of　redemption；　for　they　saw　that　man's　salvation
must　cost　their　loved　Commander　unutterable　woe。　In　grief　and　wonder　they
listened　to　His　words　as　He　told　them　how　He　must　descend　from　heaven's
purity　and　peace；　its　joy　and　glory　and　immortal　life；　and　come　in　contact
with　the　degradation　of　earth；　to　endure　its　sorrow；　shame；　and　death。　He
was　to　stand　between　the　sinner　and　the　penalty　of　sin；　yet　few　would
receive　Him　as　the　Son　of　God。　He　would　leave　His　high　position　as　the
Majesty　of　heaven；　appear　upon　earth　and　humble　Himself　as　a　man；　and　by　His
own　experience　become　acquainted　with　the　sorrows　and　temptations　which　man
would　have　to　endure。　All　this　would　be　necessary　in　order　that　He　might　be
able　to　succor　them　that　should　be　tempted。　Hebrews　2：18。　When　His　mission
as　a　teacher　should　be　ended；　He　must　be　delivered　into　the　hands　of　wicked
men　and　be　subjected　to　every　insult　and　torture　that　Satan　could　inspire
them　to　inflict。　He　must　die　the　cruelest　of　deaths；　lifted　up　between　the
heavens　and　the　earth　as　a　guilty　sinner。　He　must　pass　long　hours　of　agony
so　terrible　that　angels　could　not　look　upon　it；　but　would　veil　their　faces
from　the　sight。　He　must　endure　anguish　of　soul；　the　hiding　of　His　Father's
face；　while　the　guilt　of　transgression　the　weight　of　the　sins　of　the　whole
worldshould　be　upon　Him。

The　angels　prostrated　themselves　at　the　feet　of　their　Commander　and　offered
to　become　a　sacrifice　for　man。　But　an　angel's

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life　could　not　pay　the　debt；　only　He　who　created　man　had　power　to　redeem
him。　Yet　the　angels　were　to　have　a　part　to　act　in　the　plan　of　redemption。
Christ　was　to　be　made　〃a　little　lower　than　the　angels　for　the　suffering　of
death。〃　Hebrews　2：9。　As　He　should　take　human　nature　upon　Him；　His　strength
would　not　be　equal　to　theirs；　and　they　were　to　minister　to　Him；　to
strengthen　and　soothe　Him　under　His　sufferings。　They　were　also　to　be
ministering　spirits；　sent　forth　to　minister　for　them　who　should　be　heirs　of
salvation。　Hebrews　1：14。　They　would　guard　the　subjects　of　grace　from　the
power　of　evil　angels　and　from　the　darkness　constantly　thrown　around　them　by
Satan。

When　the　angels　should　witness　the　agony　and　humiliation　of　their　Lord；　they
would　be　filled　with　grief　and　indignation　and　would　wish　to　deliver　Him
from　His　murderers；　but　they　were　not　to　interpose　in　order　to　prevent
anything　which　they　should　behold。　It　was　a　part　of　the　plan　of　redemption
that　Christ　should　suffer　the　scorn　and　abuse　of　wicked　men；　and　He
consented　to　all　this　when　He　became　the　Redeemer　of　man。

Christ　assured　the　angels　that　by　His　death　He　would　ransom　many；　and　would
destroy　him　who　had　the　power　of　death。　He　would　recover　the　kingdom　which
man　had　lost　by　transgression；　and　the　redeemed　were　to　inherit　it　with　Him；
and　dwell　therein　forever。　Sin　and　sinners　would　be　blotted　out；　nevermore
to　disturb　the　peace　of　heaven　or　earth。　He　bade　the　angelic　host　to　be　in
accord　with　the　plan　that　His　Father　had　accepted；　and　rejoice　that；　through
His　death；　fallen　man　could　be　reconciled　to　God。

Then　joy；　inexpressible　joy；　filled　heaven。　The　glory　and　blessedness　of　a
world　redeemed；　outmeasured　even　the　anguish　and　sacrifice　of　the　Prince　of
life。　Through　the　celestial　courts　echoed　the　first　strains　of　that　song
which　was　to　ring　out　above　the　hills　of　Bethlehem〃Glory　to　God　in　the
highest；　and　on　earth　peace；　good　will　toward　men。〃　Luke　2：14。　With　a　deeper
gladness　now　than　in　the　rapture　of　the　new　creation；　〃the　morning　stars
sang　together；　and　all　the　sons　of　God　shouted　for　joy。〃　Job　38：7。

To　man　the　first　intimation　of　redemption　was　communicated　in　the　sentence
pronounced　upon　Satan　in　the　garden。　The　Lord　declared；　〃I　will　put　enmity
between　thee　and　the　woman；　and　between　thy　seed　and　her　seed；　it　shall
bruise　thy　head；　and　thou　shalt　bruise　his　heel。〃　Genesis　3：15。　This
sentence；　uttered　in　the

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hearing　of　our　first　parents；　was　to　them　a　promise。　While　it　foretold　war
between　man　and　Satan；　it　declared　that　the　power　of　the　great　adversary
would　finally　be　broken。　Adam　and　Eve　stood　as　criminals　before　the
righteous　Judge；　awaiting　the　sentence　which　transgression　had　incurred；　but
before　they　heard　of　the　life　of　toil　and　sorrow　which　must　be　their
portion；　or　of　the　decree　that　they　must　return　to　dust；　they　listened　to
words　that　could　not　fail　to　give　them　hope。　Though　they　must　suffer　from
the　power　of　their　mighty　foe；　they　could　look　forward　to　final　victory。

When　Satan　heard　that　enmity　should　exist　between　himself　and　the　woman；　and
between　his　seed　and　her　seed；　he　knew　that　his　work　of　depraving　human
nature　would　be　interrupted；　that　by　some　means　man　would　be　enabled　to
resist　his　power。　Yet　as　the　plan　of　salvation　was　more　fully　unfolded；
Satan　rejoiced　with　his　angels　that；　having　caused　man's　fall；　he　could
bring　down　the　Son　of　God　from　His　exalted　position。　He　declared　that　his
plans　had　thus　far　been　successful　upon　the　earth；　and　that　when　Christ
should　take　upon　Himself　human　nature；　He　also　might　be　overcome；　and　thus
the　redemption　of　the　fallen　race　might　be　prevented。

Heavenly　angels　more　fully　opened　to　our　first　parents　the　plan　that　had
been　devised　for　their　salvation。　Adam　and　his　companion　were　assured　that
notwithstanding　their　great　sin；　they　were　not　to　be　abandoned　to　the
control　of　Satan。　The　Son　of　God　had　offered　to　atone；　with　His　own　life；
for　their　transgression。　A　period　of　probation　would　be　granted　them；　and
through　repentance　and　faith　in　Christ　they　might　again　become　the　children
of　God。

The　sacrifice　demanded　by　their　transgression　revealed　to　Adam　and　Eve　the
sacred　character　of　the　law　of　God；　and　they　saw；　as　they　had　never　seen
before；　the　guilt　of　sin　and　its　dire　results。　In　their　remorse　and　anguish
they　pleaded　that　the　penalty　might　not　fall　upon　Him　whose　love　had　been
the　source　of　all　their　joy；　rather　let　it　descend　upon　them　and　their
prosperity。

They　were　told　that　since　the　law　of　Jehovah　is　the　foundation　of　His
government　in　heaven　as　well　as　upon　the　earth；　even　the　life　of　an　angel
could　not　be　accepted　as　a　sacrifice　for　its　transgression。　Not　one　of　its
precepts　could　be　abrogated　or　changed　to　meet　man　in　his　fallen　condition；
but　the　Son　of　God；　who　had　created　man；　could　make　an　atonement　for　him。　As
Adam's

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transgression　had　brought　wretchedness　and　death；　so　the　sacrifice　of　Christ
would　bring　life　and　immortality。

Not　only　man　but　the　earth　had　by　sin　come　under　the　power　of　the　wicked
one；　and　was　to　be　restored　by　the　plan　of　redemption。　At　his　creation　Adam
was　placed　in　dominion　over　the　earth。　But　by　yielding　to　temptation；　he　was
brought　under　the　power　of　Satan。　〃Of　whom　a　man　is　overcome；　of　the　same　is
he　brought　in　bondage。〃　2　Peter　2：19。　When　man　became　Satan's　captive；　the
dominion　which　he　held；　passed　to　his　conqueror。　Thus　Satan　became　〃the　god
of　this　world。〃　2　Corinthians　4：4。　He　had　usurped　that　dominion　over　the
earth　which　had　been　originally　given　to　Adam。　But　Christ；　by　His　sacrifice
paying　the　penalty　of　sin；　would　not　only　redeem　man；　but　recover　the
dominion　which　he　had　forfeited。　All　that　was　lost　by　the　first　Adam　will　be
restored　by　the　second。　Says　the　prophet；　〃O　tower　of　the　flock；　the
stronghold　of　the　daughter　of　Zion；　unto　thee　shall　it　come；　even　the　first
dominion。〃　Micah　4：8。　And　the　apostle　Paul　points　forward　to　the　〃redemption
of　the　purchased　possession。〃　Ephesians　1：14。　God　created　the　earth　to　be
the　abode　of　holy；　happy　beings。　The　Lord　〃formed　the　earth　and　made　it；　He
hath　established　it；　He　created　it　not　in　vain；　He　formed　it　to　be
inhabited。〃　Isaiah　45：18。　That　purpose　will　be　fulfilled；　when；　renewed　by
the　power　of　God；　and　freed　from　sin　and　sorrow；　it　shall　become　the　eternal
abode　of　the　redeemed。　〃The　righteous　shall　inherit　the　land；　and　dwell
therein　forever。