The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-30

aud one Mediator between God and
men, the Man Christ Jesus. who gave
Himself Ransom for all. to be testi-
fed in due time" He said TO-.
Many fail to understand why q
Savior and redemptive work are nee
essary They ask. Why was il neces-
sary for Jesus to come into the world:
How did His death influence God to
the forgiveness of human sin? And
why was the better sacrifice Of Jesus
typitied by the sacrifice Of bulls and
goats under the Jewish Law Covenant?
A right understanding. a correct under
standing. of these matters is the very
essence Of true theology. and most
helpful to us all
The Divine arrangement proposes
that everything in accord with God
must be absolutely perfect. Both an
gels and men were created perfect. "in
Gods image" And the Divine Law.
in the interest of all. cuts off from fell
lowship and blessings all who delib
erately go into sin, and fellowships only
such as are perfect. Hence the sen
tence upon Father Adam for his dis
obedience cut him off from Divine fel
lowship and favor under the sentence.
Dying. thou shalt die" Genesis ii. III
mot. Going to eternal torment. thou
shalt roast"
True. Adams children were never
thus condemned. but. born in sin and
"shapen In iniquity" psalm II. 81. un
der the laws of heredity they never
were perfect. never were fully in the
image Of God. never were. therefore.
I'm harmony with God. but always shar
ed Father Adams alienation and con-
demnation. They were children of
wrath" (Ephesians Ii. 3l-justly Shar-
ing their Father Adams penalty Of
death. because imperfect-nOt worthy
Of life under the Divine arrangement.
Reconciliation a Necessity. .'
Whoever sees clearly these facts Of
Scripture must perceive that humanity
would have no hope of everlasting life
except through Divine mercy-forgive-
ness But some one will say, Why
should there be any necessity for the
Lagos to leave heavenly glory and be
made flesh and then to die. ''the Just
for the unjust" to make possible our
return to Divine favor? Why should
not God forgive the sins of. Adam and
his race even as we are directed to for.
give those who trespass against us?
Gods attitude towards sin very prop.
erly in different His work Is per-
feet deuteronomy xxxii. a. He
created Adam I'm His own image. We
sinners are not Gods creation direct.
but have merely come into existence
under laws of heredity. Justice is un-
der no obligation to us. All rights and
privileges granted to Father Adam
were forfeited and have been abrOgat-
ed From the Divine standpoint OF
justice our race is dead one. More
than this-the great Supreme Ruler
and Judge of the Universe, having con-
demned us as unfit for eternal life and
fellowship with Himself. could not
Justly set aside His own decree. God
could not. therefore. justly. righteous
ly. change His verdict. for that would
imply that our sentence was an unjust
one ...s.. .-.
The Divine Government refuses to
be thus compromised. hut instead has
provided salvation for humanity
through Jesus death. The method
adopted maintains the dignity of the
Divine Law to the full. and at the same
time reveals the fact that our Creator
is the very embodiment of sympathy
and love-qualities of His which never
would have been so fully appreciated
by either angels or men unless God
had permitted human sin. had prOvid-
ed the penalty He did. and then pro-
LOgOs-Iesus.
"Between God and Man."
A mediator Is one who stands be.
tween two parties who are at vari-
ance. for the purpose Of bringing
about reconciliation. The two parties
mentioned in our text are not God and
the Church. but God and the world
mankind in general. Man sinned.
God justly condemned the sinner. The
Mediator's first work In reconciliation
tice for Adams sin. Our text tells us
that the Man Christ Jesus did this
very thing-He gave Himself to he a
Ransom-price for all mankind He did
this when he reached perfect man
hood at thirty fears Of age. when He
consecrated His life to God-even un
to death. He finished this giving o
Himself on Calvary when He cried
at is finished" John xix. 3d. Th,
perfect. spOtless, uncOntaminated lif'
Of the Man Christ Jesus. thus lait
down voluntary sacrifice. constitute
a Rdnsonl-price for Adam and his race
The word Ransom in our text has ,
very strict meaning. namely. a CORES
bonding price. Adam In his perfection
was in Gods image-"very good" Th,
Man Jesus. who gave Himself cor
responding price, was In Gods imag'
very good" He correspondent ex
actly to the perfect man Adam. ant
His sacrifice of Himself in death cor
responded exactly to the penalt!
against Adam. which the entire rae,
has shared. This great transaction
accomplished nearly nineteen centu
ries ago. is not yet generally proclaim
ed. but will be testified to all In du,
time. our text declares. AS set ont
the few, guided by the Word and en-