The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-26
THE DEATH OF CHRIST.

THE PHYSICAL FACT.-That JESUS
yielded up his spirit" may mean simply
that he expired. But he willingly gave his
life in testimony to the truth, even though
he may not have voluntarily surrendered It,
Certainly death occurred in an unusually
short time,-less than six hours. But the
sensitiveness of his refined nature and the
distressing experiences and cru elites whlcn
he had previously endured may be sufhcient
to account for his death so soon after beng
crucifed. Thirty-six hours was the shortest
period at which death was expected to occur
on the cross. The soldiers spear demon
strated the fact of JESUS death, and also that
his death was caused by rupture OF the
heart, shown by the bloody clot and watery
serum blood and water) which flowed from
the pierced pericardium. The compassion
ate and sorrowful Saviour literally died of
broken heart.
IT'S SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE.-The
death of JESUS is a perpetual testimony OF
the compassionate love of COP for MANKIND,
his sinful children, "Who commended his
own love toward us, in that while we were
vet sinners, CHRIST died for us" (Romans v.
81. "God so loved the world 1.-THE sinful per-
ishing world that He gave His only begotten
SOM John iii. 15). COP gave JESUS as
testimony of His love for mankind. Jesus
gave himself for us, having loved US" (Ephe-
slams, v. y. When revealing the Father to
His earthly children, and the way of their
communion with and obedience to Him, he
was put to death by wicked hands. he
suffered the righteous for the unrighteous,
that he might bring us to Cop" Il Peter Ill.
49,. "He tasted death for every man
Hebrews ii. 81. He died for all. Whatever
may be the exact function of the death OF
CHRIST in the s'plan of salvation" it is plain
that it applies to all, both as to purpose and
efficacy. "And I, if be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto myself" (John
xii. 32). To be drawn to CHRIST is to be in
fiuenced by his truth and life, and thus be
brought TO GoD by him. His death upon
the cross is the manifestation of the love OF
COP for all, even sinners. " All have sinned
and come short of the glory of GoD" Gro
mans iii. 23). The disposition of COP to-
ward His sinful children is revealed in the
death of His Son. The knowledge OF his COM
passionate love is the reconciling power in
the work of redemption. "We are reconciled
to GOD by the death of His Son; being recon-
ciled we shall be saved by his life" (Romans
v. 10Y. This appears to be the plan of saliva
ton, the true theory of the Atone ment.
The compassionate love of GoD, revealed in
the death of His Son, reconciles the rebel
lious heart to His divine authority, and wins
to His service; when salvation deliverance
from sin 10 wrought by making the perfectly
obedient and holy life of JESUS the example
and inspiration of our lives. The power of
the cross and the example of JESUS are for
ever efficacions. The final effect upon all
souls is contingent, not alone upon the finite
will and agency of man, but upon the Infin-
tie will of GoD and the efficient grace of His
Son JESUS CHRIST. "He humbled himself,
becoming obedient unto the death of the cross
wherefore COP highly exalted him and gave
that in the name of JESUS every knee should
/ bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth,
and things under the earth, and that every
tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST ia
Lord, to the glory of GoD the Father" (Phil-
| ippians ii. SID. "To this end CHRIST died
and lived again, that he might be Lord OF
both the dead and the living" (Romans xiv,
| 81. "For it was the good pleasure of the
Father that in Him should all the fitness
dwell; and having made peace through the
blood of the cross to reconcile all things unto
himself, whether things upon the earth, OF
things in the heavens" (Colossians i. 10, 20)
Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver
up the kingdom to GGD, even the Father.
that COP may be All in alp Il Corinthi-
ans Nv. 24-2S).