The Unspeakable Gift by M. W. De L’H horbe

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Aug 8, 1907

The Unspeakable Gift

By M. W. De L’H horbe

M. W. DE L’HORBE

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Gen. 1:1. The earth, as it came from the hand of the Creator, was very beautiful. “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Verse 31.

God was revealed in all his creative works. Even now, all created things declare his glory and his power, but his glory is veiled because of the curse of sin. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now . . . waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Rom. 8:22, 23.

But before sin came, there was nothing to mar the beauty of his perfect work. He gave the word, and the surface of the earth was covered with a beautiful mantle of green,—nature’s carpet,—and with a countless variety of flowers, whose beauty and fragrance gladdened the heart of man. Upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, was written the message of the Father’s love.

Man disobeyed God, and the dark night of woe settled down upon the world. Everything seemed dark; nothing but eternal death stared him in the face. But God would not leave man to perish in his wretched condition. His great heart of love was touched. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In the beginning, God created man in his own image,—not merely a physical image, but a moral image,—a being capable of developing a character like that of his Creator. And this image, which he had lost through sin, must be restored. It was necessary that God’s love be revealed to man, in order that love might be awakened in his soul. This revelation could be made only through and by the Son of God.

He who alone knew the height and

depth and the length and breadth of the love of the Father, could reveal it to man. And the Son of God volunteered to give himself for the redemption of fallen man. This was a voluntary sacrifice. Jesus might have remained on his Father’s throne in heaven. He might have retained his glory which was his with the Father before the world was. But he gave back the scepter into his Father’s hands, and stepped down from the throne of his glory, to be one with us. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Phil. 2:5-7.

David prophesied of Christ’s coming in the flesh when he said, in the fortieth Psalm, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” And about two thousand years ago a voice was heard in heaven, from the throne of God, saying, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” Heb. 10:7. “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared [“fitted,” margin.] me.” Verse 5.

Let us now turn to Heb. 2:6-9 and see what kind of body that was which was fitted up for him: “But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thine hands.”

Notice that man was made a little lower than the angels, and that the next verse says that Jesus was made exactly the same way. We were both fitted with the same kind of body. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” And that is not all. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8.

“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.” Heb. 2:17.

“But 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isa. 53:5-7, 3, 4.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. . . . Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Heb. 2:10, 14-16.

In Heb. 4:15 we are told that Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Many think that the Christ had some advantage over us, that power and strength were given him with which to overcome, which we can not have; but that is not so.

If any temptation that has come to us had not been met and overcome by him, Christ would not be able to help us to overcome the same temptation. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:18.

What enabled him to overcome every sin? In the conflict he wrestled with God as did Jacob, and gained the victory. Here is the record of the struggle: “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb. 5:7-9.

Y OF CATHOLIC SOCIETIES
Indianapolis, Ind., July 15, 1907 — Y OF CATHOLIC SOCIETIES Indianapolis, Ind., July 15, 1907

He believed that his Father would give him the power and strength necessary with which to overcome every temptation, and his faith was rewarded. It is written of those who are ready to meet Christ at his second coming, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Toronto Junction, Ontario.

(To be continued)