God's Wonderful Gift by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 27, 1908

God's Wonderful Gift

By C. M. S.

What good thing is there for us that is not in the gift of Christ? It is wonderful in its comprehensiveness. When we stop to consider what there is in it, we are lost in wonder and admiration. The whole gospel is in the gift itself, and grew out of the gift.

In that gift we see first the loyalty and love of Christ, as he arose to the great emergency. The universe, because of Satan's defection, must learn through pain and sorrow the lesson of sin. The gift was made when the revolt occurred, and there began the struggle of loyalty against disobedience, love against hate, life against death.

In that gift there is everything given that is necessary for the salvation of man and the triumph of righteousness over iniquity. The apostle asks this question: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8: 32. “How shall he not?” is the question, as if it would be an impossibility for him not to do it—and it would, for all is included in the gift. God could not give Christ to us and for us, and then withhold from us the lesser things that are for our good.

In that gift we find that the gift of everlasting life is included and involved; for we read: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” He “became poor” that we might have unfailing riches; he submitted to death that we might not be holden of it. In that giving he took what we merited—death—that we might take what he merited—life; he submitted to be bound by the shackles of death, that he might burst those shackles from every soul willing to be free. In the triumph of life there is involved the victory over death, the death of Death itself; so that we can say, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

God is the fountain of life and love. Death is not in his purpose. He has no pleasure in it. We read: “I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Eze. 18: 32. Life, endless, sinless life—that is his purpose and pleasure. It is not his purpose of a day or of a thousand years, but for all eternity. That is why Christ was given to bring back to liberty and life that which had sold itself into bondage and death to the opposer of God's purpose. All his works are to that one end, the triumph of life and love, and that triumph is in the gift of Christ.

In that gift is included and involved the forgiveness of our sins. The prophet Isaiah declares: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. . . . And Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. . . . He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due. . . . He poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.” Isaiah 53. We read in Heb. 9: 28 that Christ was “once offered to bear the sins of many.” And he declares of himself, “I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12: 47. All that was done that God's purpose should not be thwarted, and all that was included in the gift of Christ.

Man, through sin, has been estranged from God. Christ gave himself that he might “draw all men” unto himself, and so unto God, out of whose arms man had flung himself. There needed to be a reconciliation—on man's part; and the bringing of that about is also in the gift of Christ; for we read: “All things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” 2 Cor. 5: 18, 19.

We were in darkness. Christ came as the light of the world, and not only

to be a light himself, but to give us light for our darkness, and make us lights to bring his light and joy and life to others, so bringing them also out of darkness and unto him, making us one with him, and so at one again with the Father. All this he has done—all this he has given in the one gift of himself. There is love in the place of hate; joy in the place of sorrow; hope in the place of fear; peace in the place of turmoil; loyalty in the place of disobedience; forgiveness in the place of judgment; righteousness in the place of sinfulness; liberty in the place of bondage; reconciliation in the place of estrangement; an everlasting habitation with the Father in the place of an everlasting tomb in the earth; eternal life in the place of unending death. All this is in the gift of Christ, and it is there for every son and daughter of Adam who wills to have it so. Wonderful Saviour! Wonderful gift!

C. M. S.