The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-09-04

| between IOu anu lliIl, tle MAN CuflSL
Jesus. who gave Himself Ransom
for all. to be testified in due time
Many wonder why God does not for
give sin freely without requiring the
J death Of Christ as a basis for recOncil-
| iatiOn. We are to forgive those who
trespass against us. because we do not
occupy the place Of Creator and Judge
towards our fellows. and because we
ourselves are sinners like others. For
| the Creator to forgive sin and remit
its penalty uncondtionally would be
TO admit either that the Law and pen
atty We're too severe or that man was
imperfect in his creation and unable
to keep perfect law.
Justice Cannot Admit Either Premise.
Divine Justice cannot admit either
premise. Man was created very
gOod;" and the Law was reasonable.
and the penalty just. For God to have
overridden the justice of His own de-
cree would have opened the door for
transgressions on the part of angels.
for each creature might justly claim
the privilege Of sin and forgiveness
This would vitiate justice. Instead.
God manifested His love by providing
satisfaction for mans sin, substi
tute under the penalty-Jesus.
The LOgOs was made flesh. and died
willingly: "for the JOY that was set be-
fore Him He endured the cross" The
joy included the work mentioned in
our text and also His own eXaltation
to the right hand Of Divine Majesty.
Thus the Man Christ Jesus laid down
an unfOrfeited human life and received
the divine nature and glory far above
angels. The human life laid down is
to be II ransom for all. to be testified
in due time" q Timothy ii. g. But
that due time has not yet come nor has
that sacrifice been appropriated for
mankind. Hence 1.-The sin of the world"
is not vet taken away. although as the
Mediator Jesus has laid the price Of
human redemption in the hands Of Di-
vine Justice.
Jesus awaits the gathering of the
Church. over whom He is Head. He
with the Church. His Body. will con
stitute the great Mediator. who will in
augurate the New Covenant. after com
pleting His better sacrifices" Ole
brews tx. 23) The first of these was
His own flesh: the remainder is the
flesh Of His Church: thus He said to
Saul of Tarsus. II am Jesus whom
thou persecutest." See also Ephesians
v. 1882.
When the foreordained number of
His members shall have passed to Him
beyond the veil. then the great Medi-
ator will be completed. Then blood
atonement will be applied on behalf Of
the world. and Divine Justice will ac-
cept that ransom-price. Thereafter the
world will be free from the death sen
tence Forthwith Christ will establish
His Kingdom for restoring all that was
lost in Adam
No longer will it be true that the
world lies in the Wicked One: thence
forth the world will be under Mcssiah'S
Kingdom. Satan will be bound. The
knowledge Of the Lord will Till the
earth. and every creature will have op-
portunity Of return to the Gathers
House. The wilfully disobedient will
be destroyed in the Second Death.
I'VE Have an Advocate"
1t will be observed that the Church
is separate and distinct from the world
and developed as the Body Of the Medi
utor. The Church is called to become
partuker of her Redeemer's sulferingS
and His divine nature. She was. by
nature. children of wrath even as 9th
ers." hence needs Divine mercy also.
The invitation of this Age is to suf
fer with Christ. to sacrifice earthly in
terests and hopes. to he dead to the
world with Him. and thus to be made
sharers with Him in His heavenly
glory and Kingdom.
But none is worthy to offer sacrifice
nor could God accept imperfect Sacri-
fees: hence the Divine provision is
that we present our bodies to the High
Priest for sacrifice. He then becomes
our Advocate. and. in harmony with
the Divine will, accepts us as His
flesh" and sacrifices us as such, imput
ing to us Of His own merit to cover
our blemiShes. Thus the Church is
"accepted in the Beloved" Thus SUI
feriny with Him rs His members. we
receive also Il share with Him in His
reward as members of the Body of
Messiah the Mediator. Prophet. Priest
aud King. through whom Gods bless
inSS are soon to be dispensed to the en-
tire grooming creation. under the terms
Of the New Covenant. An appretia
ton of the Divine arrangement helps
us greatly to estimate our privilege of
suffering with Him. that we may also
reign with Him.