p. 15 | The Great Exchange by H. A. WEAVER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 22, 1913

The Great Exchange.

By H. A. WEAVER

H. A. WEAVER

When sin entered the world the sentence of death was pronounced upon all mankind. Rom. 5:12; Gen. 2:17. Immediately the plan of salvation was put in operation. John 3:16; Gen. 3:15. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” These words were spoken to Satan. This may properly be said to be the first gospel sermon ever preached in the world. It is comprehensive. Analyzed it is as follows: “The woman” represents humanity. “Her seed” represents one of the human family. The singular pronoun “it” shows the seed to be one person. The pronoun “his” indicates the gender and shows the seed to be a man. Both pronouns refer to Christ. “Thou shalt bruise his heel” represents that Satan will temporarily take the life of Christ. The heel is not a vital part of the body. “It shall bruise thy head” represents that finally through the death on the cross, as a penalty for sin, Christ shall destroy Satan entirely and forever. Heb. 2:14; Eze. 28:18.

The Stronger Overcomes the Weaker

It is not possible for a weak man to overcome a strong man. Contrarily, the stronger naturally always overcomes the weaker. Luke 11:21, 22. Man was created a little lower than the angels (Heb. 2:6, 7), and is therefore of a weaker order of beings than that from which Satan came. It follows then that no mortal man, simply as man, could overcome Satan and destroy him. Based on this principle it would require a being of a higher order than Satan to overcome him. This is manifestly true. But who is greater than Satan? Satan as Lucifer was the covering cherub on God’s throne. Eze. 28:14. Only two stood above him in power, God the Father and God the Son. But the promise in Gen. 3:15 provided that the seed of the woman, a human being, should overthrow Satan. Plainly then there is indicated a union of God with man in order to effect Satan’s destruction. This is precisely the plan.

Union of Divinity With Humanity

God the Son took our nature (Heb. 2:16) and was born of human flesh and blood (John 1:14; Gal. 4:4). In prophecy he was called “Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14. Among other titles given him are, “The mighty God, The everlasting Father.” Isa. 9:6. Immanuel means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23), a union of divinity and humanity.

The Relationship of Christ to Man

Christ was the Son of God. John 1:29, 34. He was God. He was also man. 1 Tim. 2:5. The manner by which he became God-Man is an unfathomable mystery. 1 Tim. 3:16. On the part of humanity a new birth is necessary. “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7), not born of earthly parents, but heavenly. “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6. Man must be born of the Holy Ghost into divinity, even as Christ was born of the woman into humanity. Again we are introduced to a great mystery. Col. 1:27.

The Mystery of Redemption Through Christ

This great mystery cannot be explained so as to be fully understood, but it can be experienced. John 3:8, 11. Through being born of woman Christ partook of humanity’s flesh and blood. Heb. 2:14. Through being born of the Holy Ghost man, in like manner, may partake of divinity. 2 Peter 1:3, 4. Once again, through this divine plan human beings may, as in the beginning, be the children of God, the “sons of God.” Luke 3:38; 1 John 3:1, 2; Mark 3:35; 2 Cor. 6:18; Heb. 2:11. Christ is called “the first-born among many brethren.” Rom. 8:29. He is therefore the elder brother of all Christians in the family of God. Jer. 31:1.