God’s Plan in Salvation by H. F. GRAF

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 23, 1908

God’s Plan in Salvation

By H. F. GRAF

H. F. GRAF

JESUS is the Redeemer of sinners in all the ages of human probation. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

When all was lost in Adam, the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ was immediately instituted; hence he is represented as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13:8. In the patriarchal and Jewish age, Christ was slain in figure. In the Christian age he is slain in fact. The Bible reveals but one plan by which fallen men may be saved. It is true that in the development of the plan of grace through Christ, there has been in each dispensation an increase of light. But there is no intimation in all the Scripture of three plans, one for the patriarchal age, one for the Jewish, and one for the Christian age.

In the name of revelation and reason we protest against the vague heresy that the law of the Father and the gospel of the Son are opposed to each other,—the one designed to take the place of the other,—as if the men of the former dispensation were saved by the law without the gospel, and those of the present dispensation are saved by the gospel while disregarding the moral law. It is not possible for sinful man to secure a fitness for the inheritance of the saints in light by the divine law alone. In it there is no ability to redeem the transgressor. It is not the province of law, human or divine, to pardon the transgressor of the law. The moral law is a rule of right action, condemning the transgressor, and holding him as such until he shall suffer the penalty. And no more can the divine law do for the sinners. But pardon and salvation are offered by the gospel only. And without the gospel of the Son of God none of the men of the patriarchal and Jewish age could be saved.

We inquire. How only in the past history of the fallen race was the gospel proclaimed? The gospel is the joyful message of redemption through Jesus

Christ. Was this joyful message first given in the days of Christ? of Moses? of Abraham? or of Adam? Distinctly we trace the promise of man’s redemption—the good news of salvation, the gospel—in the declaration of the Creator that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. Gen. 3:15. In this decree against the author of sin and death, we hear the gospel of the Redeemer as plainly as in the song of the angels over the plain of Bethlehem when Jesus was born. Luke 2:8-14.

And when Abel, a son of Adam, brought of the firstlings of his flock an offering to the Lord, he brought it in faith, looking toward the great Sacrifice for sin to be manifested in the distant future. Through that lamb Abel saw the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of the world, and set his hope upon him. In the blood of that lamb Abel saw the blood of Jesus Christ as truly as we see the dying Saviour in the broken bread and the fruit of the vine at the Lord’s supper. “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” Gen. 4:4, 5.

Coming down in the history of the race to Abraham, we find that he knew of the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, and that it was to be extended to all the nations of the earth. Thus speaks Paul of it: “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Gal. 3:8. The gospel of the Son of God was proclaimed to Abraham in this promise, as shown by the apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16.

That this gospel was preached to the children of Israel in the days of Moses, Paul proves in his epistle to the Hebrews. “Unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Heb. 4:2.

But Moses and the believing Jews had the faith and hope of the gospel. They saw Christ through the blood of the sacrificial offerings, and by faith embraced him. The typical system was but the shadow of good things to come, of which Christ, as a sacrifice and mediator, was the center.

Why should there be a wide contrast between God’s method of saving men under the old dispensation and under the new? God is the one Father of all the adopted sons and daughters of grace from all the ages, and Christ is their only Saviour and Redeemer. Angels that excel in strength are the holy guardians of the obedient and faithful of every age, and the Holy Spirit is their sanctifier. The pious dead of all ages sleep in the one Jesus (1 Cor. 15:17, 18); and his voice will awaken them all at his coming. John 5:28, 29. They will all be caught up together to meet the Lord. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep. . . . For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:13-17.

All will meet upon the sea of glass, all will receive the crown of glory from the hand of Jesus. One law, one gospel, one means of salvation for all men for all dispensations,—this is God’s plan for all the race.

Good Thunder, Minn.