Throughout this month
salvation will be a buzz word in our churches as in the Lent we meditate on the
salvific plan of God through Christ.
However, in order to fully realize the value of salvation, it is
necessary to understand what it cost. In consequence of limited ideas of the
sufferings of Christ, many place a low estimate upon the great work of the
atonement. The glorious plan of our salvation was brought about through the
infinite love of God. In this divine plan is seen the most marvelous
manifestation of the love of God to our fallen race. Such love as is manifested
in the gift of God's beloved Son amazed the holy angels. "God so loved the
world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life." This Saviour was the
brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person. He
possessed divine majesty, perfection, and excellence. He was equal with God.
"It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell."
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a
man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross."
In Christ were united
the human and the divine. His mission was to reconcile God and human, to unite
the finite with the infinite. This was the only way in which fallen human could
be exalted through the merits of the blood of Christ to be partakers of the
divine nature. Taking human nature fitted Christ to understand human's trials
and sorrows. Angels who were unacquainted with sin could not sympathize with human
beings in their peculiar trials. Christ condescended to take human's nature and
was tempted in all points like as we, that He might know how to succor all who
should be tempted.
Our Saviour identified
Himself with our needs and weaknesses; He was a man of sorrows and acquainted
with grief. Who can comprehend the love
displayed at Calvary! The angelic host beheld Him with wonder and grief who had
been the Majesty of heaven, and who had worn the crown of glory, now wearing
the crown of thorns, a bleeding victim to the rage of an infuriated mob, fired
to insane madness by the wrath of Satan. Behold the patient Sufferer! Upon His
head is the thorny crown. His lifeblood flows from every lacerated vein. All
this in consequence of sin! Nothing could have induced Christ to leave His honor
and majesty in heaven, and come to a sinful world, to be neglected, despised,
and rejected by those He came to save, and finally to suffer upon the cross,
but eternal, redeeming love, which will ever remain a mystery.
Jesus did not yield up
His life till He had accomplished the work which He came to do, and exclaimed
with His departing breath: "It is finished." Satan was then defeated.
He knew that his kingdom was lost. Angels rejoiced as the words were uttered:
"It is finished." The great plan of redemption, which was dependent
on the death of Christ, had been thus far carried out. And there was joy in
heaven that the sons of Adam could, through a life of obedience, be finally
exalted to the throne of God. Oh, what love! What amazing love that brought the
Son of God to earth to be made sin for us, that we might be reconciled to God,
and elevated to a life with Him in His mansions in glory. Oh, what is man that
such a price should be paid for his redemption!
Christ has shown that
His love was stronger than death. He was accomplishing our salvation; and
although He had the most fearful conflict with the powers of darkness, yet,
amid it all, His love grew stronger and stronger. Let us remember that our hope
as Christians is our future glory – Christ’s glory. There is no sharing in Christ’s glory unless
there is sharing in His suffering.
Kasta Dip
