p. 72 | The Love of Christ

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 15, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 35, Nos. 8 & 9.

The Love of Christ

WHAT words can express the love of Christ for sinful men? What language can describe his pity and compassion for them? By what effort of the mind can we take in that self-sacrifice which is beyond all estimate and all comprehension? It is not merely what he gave up for us, but what he suffered for our sakes. It was not done for the worthy, but for the unworthy, the rebellious, and the guilty. Surely the love of Christ passes knowledge.

When the human race, as represented by Adam and Eve, were expelled from Paradise, the tree of life was barred from man's access by the flaming sword of justice in the hands of the cherubim. Before Jesus, the second Adam, could lead back to that life-giving tree the host of the redeemed, himself must receive the blow of that flaming sword. Behold it inflicted upon Calvary! Behold the Lamb of God led to the shameful cross! Witness his dying agonies for Adam's sinful race, and then with the deepest gratitude acknowledge that such love demands the sacrifice of everything that we hold dear, for his cause and for his honor.

Henceforward let every one of us live for him who died for us.