July 15, 1893
The Plan of Salvation the Same in
All Ages.
Mrs.
E. G. White.
When the plan of salvation was
revealed to the angels, joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven. The glory
and blessedness of a world redeemed, out-measured even the anguish of the
Prince of life. Through the celestial courts echoed the first strain of
that song that angels sang above the hills of Bethlehem: "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." And
the lost pair in the garden of Eden, standing as criminals before the
righteous Judge, waiting the sentence their transgression merited, heard
the first notes of the divine promise. Before the life of toil and sorrow
which sin had brought upon them was depicted before them, before the
decree that the wages of sin is death was pronounced, they heard the
promise of redemption. Though they must suffer from the power of their
mighty foe, still through the
merits of Christ they could look forward to victory. The mystery of
the gospel was spoken in Eden when God said to the serpent: "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." If Satan
could have touched the Head with his specious temptations, the human
family would be lost; but the Lord had made known the purpose and plan of
the mystery of grace, declaring that Christ should bruise the serpent under
his feet. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 1}
Not only had man come under the
power of the deceiver, but the earth itself, the dominion of man, was
usurped by the enemy. Through the plan of salvation, through the
sacrifice of Christ, not only man, but his dominion, was to be redeemed. Because of the merits of Christ, all
that man lost through sin was to be restored. The time would come
when there should be no more curse, but the throne of God should be in
the earth renewed, and his servants should serve Him. The promise would
be fulfilled, "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell
therein forever." {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 2}
Through the plan of salvation, a
larger purpose is to be wrought out even than the salvation of man and
the redemption of the earth. Through
the revelation of the character of God in Christ, the beneficence of the
divine government will be manifested before the universe, the charge of
Satan against God refuted, the nature and result of sin made plain, and
the perpetuity of the law fully demonstrated. Satan had declared that
the law of God was faulty, and that the good of the universe demanded a
change in its requirements. In attacking the law, he thought to overthrow
the authority of its Author, and gain for himself the supreme allegiance.
But through the plan of salvation,
the precepts of the law were to be proved perfect and immutable, that at
last one tide of glory and love might go up throughout the universe,
ascribing glory and honour and praise to Him that sitteth upon the
throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par.
3}
The inhabitants of all worlds will
be convinced of the justice of the law in the overthrow of rebellion and
the eradication of sin. When man, beguiled by Satan's power, disobeyed
the divine law, God could not, even to save the lost race, change that
law. God is love, and to change the law would be to deny Himself, to
overthrow those principles with which are bound up the good of the
universe. The working out of the
plan of salvation reveals not only to men, but to angels, the character
of God, and through the ages of eternity the malignant character of
sin will be understood by the cost to the Father and the Son of the
redemption of a rebel race. In Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world, all worlds will behold the marks of the curse, and angels
as well as men will ascribe honour and glory to the Redeemer, through
whom they are all made secure from apostasy. The efficiency of the cross
guards the redeemed race from the danger of a second fall. The life and
death of Christ effectually unveils the deceptions of Satan, and refutes
his claims. The sacrifice of Christ
for a fallen world draws not only men, but angels, unto Him in bonds of
indissoluble union. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 4}
Through
the plan of salvation the justice and mercy of God are fully vindicated,
and to all eternity rebellion will never again arise, affliction never
again touch the universe of God. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 5}
To fallen man was revealed the plan
of infinite sacrifice through which salvation was to be provided. Nothing
but the death of God's dear Son could expiate man's sin, and Adam
marvelled at the goodness of God in providing such a ransom for the
sinner. Through the love of God, a
star of hope illumined the terrible future that spreads before the
transgressor. Through the institution of the typical system of
sacrifice, the death of Christ was ever to be kept before guilty man,
that he might better comprehend the nature of sin, the results of
transgression, and the merit of the
divine offering. Had there been no sin, man would never have known
death. But in the innocent victim slain by his own hand, he beheld the
fruits of sin,--the death of the Son of God in his behalf. He sees the
immutable character of the law he has transgressed, and confessing his
sin, relies upon the merits of the "Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world." {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 6}
The
plan of saving sinners through Christ alone was the same in the days of
Adam, Noah, Abraham, and in every successive generation living before the
advent of Christ, as it is in our day. Patriarchs, prophets, and
martyrs from righteous Abel, looked forward to a coming Saviour, and they
showed their faith in Him by sacrifices and offerings. The sacrifice of
beasts shadowed forth the sinless offering of God's dear Son, and pointed
forward to his death upon the cross. But at the crucifixion type met
antitype, and the typical system ceased. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 7}
The Son of God is the centre of the
great plan of redemption, which covers all dispensations. He is the
"Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." He is the
Redeemer of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam in all ages of human probation.
"Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other
name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Christ
is the substance, or body, which casts its shadow back into former
dispensations. When Christ died, the shadow ceased. At the death of
Christ, the typical system was done away; but the law of God, whose
violation had made the plan of salvation necessary, was magnified and
made honourable. The gospel was good tidings of great joy to Adam, Noah,
Abraham, and Moses; for it presented to them a coming Saviour. A more
clear and glorious light now shines upon the Christian. We look forward
to an entrance into Eden, which Adam lost. Those who lived before the
coming of Christ, looked forward by faith to his coming; but what had to
be grasped by faith by them, is assurance to us; for we know that Christ
has come, as foretold by the prophets. It is just as essential for us to
have faith in our Redeemer who came to earth and died our sacrifice, as
it was for the ancients to believe in a Redeemer to come, represented by
their offerings and sacrifices. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 8}
In becoming man's substitute, in
bearing the curse which should fall upon man, Christ has pledged Himself
in behalf of the race to maintain the sacred and exalted honour of his
Father's law. He came to convince men of sin, which is the transgression
of the law, and through divine mediation, bring them back to obedience to
God's commandments. God has given the world into the hands of Christ,
that He may completely vindicate the binding claims of the law, and make
manifest the holiness of every principle. Christ was the Father's
"appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the
worlds." He was the "brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person." And He upheld "all things by the word of
his power." He possessed divine excellence and greatness; and it
pleased the Father that in Him all fulness should dwell. Christ exchanged the throne of light
and glory which He had with the Father, counting it not a thing to be
desired to be equal with God while man was lost in sin and misery. He
came from heaven to earth, clothed his divinity with humanity, and bore
the curse as surety for the fallen race. He was not compelled to do this;
but He chose to bear the results of man's transgression, that man might
escape eternal death. {BEcho, July 15, 1893 par. 9}
Chap. 1 - "In Heavenly Places"--Our Exalted
Privilege
But God, who is rich in mercy, for
his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Eph. 2:4-6. {HP 7.1}
As God raised Christ from the dead,
that He might bring life and immortality to light through the gospel, and
thus save His people from their sins, so Christ has raised fallen human
beings to spiritual life, quickening them with His life, filling their
hearts with hope and joy. {HP 7.2}
Christ gave Himself for the
redemption of the race, that all who believe in Him may have everlasting
life. Those who appreciate this great sacrifice receive from the Saviour
that most precious of all gifts --a clean heart. They gain an experience
that is more valuable than gold or silver or precious stones. They sit
together in heavenly places in Christ, enjoying in communion with Him the
joy and peace that He alone can give. They love Him with heart and mind
and soul and strength, realizing that they are His blood-bought heritage.
Their spiritual eyesight is not dimmed by worldly policy or worldly aims.
They are one with Christ as He is one with the Father. {HP 7.3}
Christ "gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). He made an
offering so complete that through His grace every one may reach the
standard of perfection. Of those who receive His grace and follow His
example it will be written in the book of life, "Complete in
Him--without spot or stain." {HP 7.4}
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
. . . "who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). What is there left for us to ask, that
is not included in this merciful, abundant provision? Through the merits
of Christ we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ. It is our privilege to draw nigh to God, to breathe in the
atmosphere of His presence. . . . Nothing short of abiding in the
presence of Christ will bring peace, freedom, courage, and power. {HP
7.5}
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