The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-05-27

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slain before the
foundation Of the world was one day
| slain before the eyes of the world. Not
only by direct prophetic ptterance, as
in Isaiah SO, but in type and symbol
| there Is foreshadowing and fore
telling so comprehensive and yet so de-
tailed as to exceed every other sub
| ject of the Old Testament revelation,
except that of "the glories that should
| follow"
The sacrifices OF the Old Testament
economy were but shadows, neverthe-
less they imaged forth the substance
in outline so clear that the spiritually
enlightened of all ages have found
sound spiritual instruction and COM
fort in them. 1T is not possible that
the blood of bulls and of goats should
take away SINS" but it is possible for
those sacrifices to show the exceeding
sinfulness of sin and the truth of sub
stitution, the innocent suffering for the
guilty.
Everything in the sacrifcial system
of the Old Testament compels the be-
lief that the offering of a life substi-
tuted for sinners is according to Gods
appointment and that the offered sac
rifice expiates sin and cancels the
death penalty incurred through sin.
The language of Isaiah 90 points UNI
mistakably TO this same conclusion:
The chastlsement of our peace was
upon him :" "the Lord hath laid on him
the niquity of us all :" sit pleased the
Lord to brulse him." she shall bear
their inlquities :" for the transgres-
sion of my people was he stricken"
All these prophetic types and utter
ances found fulfillment at the place
called Calvary.
II. The place called Calvary is the
! place of pardon. "Be it known unto
you men and brethren that through
this man." this crucified and risen
man, sis preached unto you the for
giveness Of sins" This was the apos-
tolic message, and it is the message
for today. The cross is timeless in
its effects. 1t avails now as it did for
the dying thief or for the self-righteous
Pharisee, who after his conversion
wrote: "We have redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of
SINS" In the words of the old Gospel
hymn, Jesus hath died and there is
remission" he died for our sins, giving
himself to suffer so as to secure our
exemption lawfully.
III. The place called Calvary is the
place of peace. "He made peace
through the blood of his cross" Con-
corning the mercy seat God said to
Moses: There will meet with thee
and / will commune with thee from
above the mercy seat" The place
called Calvary Is our mercy seat, the
appointed meeting place between God
and man. By faith we are made the
recipients of the reconciling work of
Christ which includes peace. This
peace is a condition into which we
enter through believing what God says
concerning his Son. 1t is the peace
of sins forgiven, the peace of q
cleansed conscience, the peace Of
restful heart.
~. The place called Calvary is the
place Of power-spiritual power. For
giveness is the necessary beginning of
holiness, for Christ is not only our
substitute, but our representative. We
not only believe in him, but we believe
into him. When sinner believes In
the Savior, he Is united to that Savior
This union is so real and vital that
the believer can say, have been cruel.
fled with Christ and II Is no longer
that live. but Christ liveth in me. This
means power. the power of the divine
indwelling, "Christ in you, the hope Of
glory" According TO Corinthians :1S
the Cross is the power of God to them
that are in the way Of salvation, those
who have been Christians perhaps for
years AS the Holy Spirit unfolds the
message and meaning of Calvary, the
believer finds the power that uplifts
and the power that separates. The up
lifting power of the Cross Is expressed
in the opening words of the familiar
hymn:
are- my God to thee,
Nearer to thee
Il m tho a. ha CrGsa