p. 9 | Christ and the Sinner by G. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1908

Christ and the Sinner

By G. B. THOMPSON

G. B. THOMPSON

Reading for Monday, December 14

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5:21.

“Made him to be sin for us who knew no sin.” The holy, pure, and spotless Lamb of God, who “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity,” in order that to save man is made to be that which he hated. This is a great and incomprehensible mystery. Another has truly said: “Hope not, my brethren, that I can grapple with such a subject. I am overcome by it. In my meditations I have felt lost in its length and breadth. My joy is great in my theme, and yet I am conscious of a pressure upon brain and heart; for I am as a little child wandering among the mountains, or as a lone spirit which has lost its way among the stars. I stumble among sublimities; I sink amid glories; I can only point my finger to that which I see, but can not describe. May the Holy Spirit himself take the things of Christ, and show them unto you.”

Jesus gave up all in order to save man. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9. Jesus was not born in the splendor of courts, or clothed in imperial robes. He exchanged a throne for a manger, and riches for poverty. He did this that a race of lost, rebellious sinners might be exalted to be equal heirs with himself, and enjoy throughout all eternity the unspeakable riches which he sacrificed. Though possessing all things by right, he voluntarily relinquished them to save man. Though equal with God, he “counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:6-8, A. R. V.

The love of God was just as great for man after the enemy deceived him, and [[FIGURE]]

led him into sin, as it was before. Jesus could not be happy in the enjoyment of his “equality with God” while man was left to perish in sin, any more than a parent could be happy in the enjoyment of the comforts of home while he knew that one of his children was lost in the darkness, and was perishing in the cold.

Jesus loves sinners. When he was on earth as a man, the Pharisees said, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” Luke 15:2. But this intended reproach is his glory; for he came to save sinners. And he still receives them. He stands at the door and knocks, and to those who hear his voice and open the door, he promises to come in and eat and drink with them. Rev. 3:20.

Satan seeks to discourage us sometimes by telling us that we are too great sinners to be saved. But Jesus died to save sinners. His salvation reaches even to the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), and those who come to him he will in no wise cast out. John 6:37. Are you lost? Then remember that “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. Are you weak, helpless, and without strength? If so, Christ died for those who are “without strength” and “ungodly.” Rom. 5:6.

It is impossible that Christ, who died to save sinners, should refuse to save any poor, sinful soul, who, with a truly penitent heart, comes to him and asks for pardon. It is his joy to save all such. To the penitent thief on the cross, with his whole life of sin behind him, and only a few lingering hours of probation before him, Jesus promised an eternal life of joy in his kingdom. He thus holds out eternal life to every repentant thief on earth. To Peter, who denied him, who cursed and swore and declared he never knew him, was sent the special word, on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, “Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter.” Here is a call to every Peter on earth to come unto him and find forgiveness and rest.

Judas, when he gave him the kiss of betrayal in the garden, was addressed as his “friend.” Matt. 26:50.

The love of Jesus is great for those who need help. “Jesus loves to have us come to him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at his feet in penitence. It is his glory to encircle us in the arms of his love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity. In “Steps to Christ” we read:—

“Here is where thousands fail: they do not believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They do not take God at his word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God’s promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they can not find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; he bids them live, and not die.”—Page 65.

“Made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;” that is, he took our nature.

He laid hold upon our sinful flesh. He became in very truth the Son of man. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Rom. 8:3.

“Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:17, 18. “For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.

What promises could be more encouraging to sinners than these? Clothed with the weakness of “sinful flesh,” made “like” those whom he came to redeem, in “all points tempted like as we are,” and having himself suffered through being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. Are you tempted? Be of good courage; for your great High Priest once was tempted as you are. In the weakness of your flesh he met every temptation and trial that you meet, and conquered. Satan has been vanquished at every point, and you meet a conquered foe. In your flesh Jesus is waiting to manifest himself, and in your stead meet the adversary and win for you a victory over every besetment. This blessed experience is for all who believe. To every tempted, struggling soul, Jesus says: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19. He who spoke worlds into existence, and upholds them by his word, is “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24. He would empty heaven of every angel warrior, rather than leave one believing soul to be overcome by the enemy. The gods of the heathen can not help those who worship before them; but our God made the heavens, and nothing is too hard for him.

The sacrifice to redeem man involved more than many suppose. It made possible consequences which the finite mind of man can never fully fathom. In taking man’s nature, Jesus must necessarily take with it all the risk of sin. This point should not be overlooked. In taking man’s place, our Redeemer risked something. It is this that made the sacrifice so great. We read in “Desire of Ages:”—

“Satan in heaven had hated Christ for his position in the courts of God. He hated him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated him who pledged himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion, God permitted his Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted him to meet life’s peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.

“Many claim that it was impossible for Christ to be overcome by temptation. Then he could not have been placed in Adam’s position; he could not have gained the victory that Adam failed to [[FIGURE]]

gain. If we have in any sense a more trying conflict than had Christ, then he would not be able to succor us. But our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation. We have nothing to bear which he has not endured.”—Pages 49, 117.

The human mind staggers beneath such a tremendous truth. It can be explained only through the love of God for man. Calvary demonstrated, not simply to this world, but to the whole universe, the love of God for sinners. To save lost man, nothing was withheld. Heaven itself was jeopardized. Man’s redemption cost all that heaven had to give.

There is no place for selfishness in the life of the one who yields himself to God. Especially is this true of this people. Jesus is soon coming. Prepared or unprepared, we must soon meet him. Viewed in the light of Calvary, and the closing scenes of earth’s probation, has not the time come when we should place all on the altar—ourselves, property, all? We can not, of course, obtain righteousness by works; we can not buy our way into favor with God, or purchase a right to the tree of life with money, or any works that we can do. But who can view the sacrifice made by the Son of God to save man, and selfishly cling to what he has, while millions perish, waiting for the gospel? In “Early Writings” we read:—

“The angel said, ‘Destruction is coming like a mighty whirlwind.’ I begged of the angel to pity and to save those who loved this world, who were attached to their possessions, and were not willing to cut loose from them, and sacrifice to speed the messengers on their way to feed the hungry sheep who are perishing for want of spiritual food.

“As I viewed poor souls dying for want of the present truth, and some who professed to believe the truth were letting them die, by withholding the necessary means to carry forward the work of God, the sight was too painful, and I begged of the angel to remove it from me. I saw that when the cause of God called for some of their property, like the young man who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22), they went away sorrowful; and that soon the overflowing scourge would pass over and sweep their possessions all away, and then it would be too late to sacrifice earthly goods, and lay up a treasure in heaven.

“I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely; that he left the realms of glory, and came to this dark and lonely world, to give his precious life and die, the just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, wore the platted crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood in the garden, while the burden of the sins of the whole world was upon him. The angel asked, ‘What for?’ O, I saw and knew that it was for us; for our sins he suffered all this, that by his precious blood he might redeem us unto God.

“Then again was held up before me those who were not willing to dispose of this world’s goods to save perishing souls by sending them the truth while Jesus stands before the Father pleading his blood, his sufferings, and his death for them; and while God’s messengers are waiting, ready to carry them the saving truth that they might be sealed with the seal of the living God. It is hard for some who profess to believe the present truth, to even do so little as to hand the messengers God’s own money, that he has lent them to be stewards over.

“The suffering Jesus, his love so deep as to lead him to give his life for man, was again held up before me; also the lives of those who professed to be his followers, who had this world’s goods,

but considered it so great a thing to help the cause of salvation. The angel said, ‘Can such enter heaven?’ Another angel answered, ‘No, never, never, never. Those who are not interested in the cause of God on earth can never sing the song of redeeming love above.’”—Pages 49, 50.

Such love and sacrifice upon the part of our adorable Redeemer call for a full and complete consecration upon the part of those who believe that salvation’s hour is at hand. Every sin should be given up. Most fervently should we pray, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’

The judgment has begun, and will soon end. The times call for a deep and thorough repentance of sin. We should place ourselves, and our families, and all our substance on the altar, to be used wherever God in his providence may call. We should dedicate all to the work of the Lord. We should give liberally of that which the Lord has given us, that the message may be sent speedily into all lands, and millions yet unwarned may hear the message. Then will the end come.

A VIEW IN BLANTYRE, THE TRADING CENTER OF NYASSALAND

REMOVING THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
FROM THE LAW — REMOVING THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT FROM THE LAW