THE CHRIST OF THE AGES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

THE CHRIST OF THE AGES.

His Preexistence and Godhead.

The Scriptures teach most explicitly that Christ existed prior to all created intelligences. They declare that he was “the First-born of every creature!” The apostle Paul says to the faithful brethren at Colosse, in speaking of Christ, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Col. 1 : 17. That he existed before this world was created is apparent from the wording of his prayer to his Father while here among men. Said he, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17 : 5. He was the only begotten of God, partaking of his Father’s nature and name by inheritance. By this inherent nature he became equal with God, thus possessing ability to create and give life. He naturally possessed all the attributes of God, not only while he dwelt in heaven, but also in his sojourn on earth; for saith the apostle, in Col. 2 : 9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Christ having a nature superior to that of the angels, he received a more excellent name than they. Heb. 1 : 3, 4. An angel has not the power to create or give life, consequently can not redeem (re-create) the earth or man. The angels, it is true, have existed through the ages, i. e., the period of time that relates to the existence of this world, at least. They can not impart life, for they are dependent on the Godhead for a continuation of their own existence, the same as man. The crucifixion of an angel would have resulted only in the loss of the angel’s life, without any benefit to the death-doomed race of this fallen world. Disobedience to the Life Giver placed men beyond the power of angels to restore. This shows what a terrible thing sin is, and the nature of the law of God, of which sin is the transgression.

Christ being the first-born of every creature, and an equal associate of the Father, he has witnessed the development of the universe through the ages. He was with the Father in the beginning of this world, and counseled with him in its formation. It was then and there that God said to Christ, his Son, “Let us make man in our image.” Gen. 1 : 26. This certainly

was not said to an angel; for an angel could not create man. The beloved apostle John says in the first chapter of his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him,” etc. This Word that was in the beginning with God and was God, was none other than Christ: for says the fourteenth verse, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

We are aware that it is a mystery how he who was equal with God, could humble himself to that extent as to change his majestic form, and become the infant of the manger; but when we consider that the Word of God declares it thus, we are satisfied, and accept the declaration, with its only inspired explanation, “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was made manifest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3 : 16.

Christ and the Father are equal in power, wisdom, and glory. They were one in creation, and are also one in re-creation, or redemption. He who undertakes to hold one above the other, or in any way represent one as acting alone, will find his task exceedingly difficult, and will also find it impossible to sustain such a view by the Scriptures.

Having now learned that Christ was the first-born of every creature, that he was in the beginning with God, and co-operated with him in the work of creation, let us now trace his work with his Father in the redemption of man.

The Lamb Slain.

The Word of God declares that Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. It says, “All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13 : 8. This scripture also furnishes proof that Christ existed at the foundation of the world, and it was then that he, in counsel with his Father, consented to be slain for the redemption of man. It was then that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3 : 16. About 4,000 years after this, “when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4 : 4, 5. The struggle of giving up his Son was at the foundation of the world, when he gave him for sinful men, that they might become brothers to Christ, and God’s adopted sons. This love on the part of God for those who were in rebellion against him, was more fully realized by angels and men when the Son of God was in the agonies of death on Calvary’s cross. As soon as man sinned, the plan of salvation was laid, and the promised Lamb of God was appointed man’s intercessor, and through each generation that was to people the earth he was to carry out the mind of his Father.

With His People of Old.

The first forms of worship that were instituted pointed directly to Calvary. The bleeding lamb in the hands of Adam was a type of the Lamb of God, which was promised at the foundation of the world to be slain, as we have already noticed. Christ’s tender watchcare was over Adam and his family. His Spirit moved on the hearts of his posterity, and one after another in each succeeding generation was led into the path of truth and holiness. He translated Enoch and Elijah, preserved Noah and his family during the flood, while he executed the penalty of his Father’s law upon those who rejected his long-offered mercy. He led Abraham, cared for Jacob, preserved Joseph, and was a faithful shepherd to all who trusted in him. He walled the waters of the Red Sea for Israel to pass through, and by word of command rolled them down on their enemies. Christ gave the law on Sinai. He was the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. It was he who gave the laws to govern the affairs in civil matters of the Jewish commonwealth. He also gave instructions concerning the sacrificial offerings. Many became so used to seeing the offering writhing in its blood, which was poured forth as an acknowledgment that the sinner was worthy of death, and also as an expression of faith in the coming Saviour, that they took the life of the animal as carelessly as if preparing it for the shambles. They little realized that Jesus was near and beheld the flowing blood. As he looked upon the innocent lamb struggling in the agonies of death, he knew that it was a type of his own bloody struggle which was to take place in Gethsemane and on Mount Calvary.

Christ was with his chosen people at all times. Sometimes he saw them fleeing before their enemies, as at Ai, because of their unrepented sins, and sometimes following them in hot pursuit, because of their faith and obedience in him as their leader. It was Jesus that met Joshua on the field of Jericho, and declared himself to be the prince of the Lord’s hosts. His presence sanctified the ground, and Joshua was commanded to remove his shoes from off his feet.

Christ was the spiritual meat and drink of his wilderness people. Says the Word of God: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that went with them [margin]; and that rock was Christ.” This scripture plainly states that Christ went with them, and was their spiritual food and drink.

When Israel murmured, they murmured against Christ and tempted him; for saith the Scriptures, “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” 1 Cor. 10 : 9, 10. The murmuring, rebellious, impenitent ones were destroyed in their sins, and the penitent, humble ones were pardoned of their sins. Not one sin has ever been pardoned by heaven, except through the intercession of Christ. As surely then as the Israelites were sinners, and received pardon, so surely they received it through Christ; for saith the Word speaking of Christ, “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.

The Saviour of the Ages.

A great deal is said about this being the Christian dispensation and the former the Mosaic dispensation. These terms may be permissible to designate these two great epochs of time; but the idea has largely obtained that the plan of salvation was very different and inferior in the Mosaic dispensation than in the Christian. The opinion prevails with many that God did not save men through Christ in the former dispensation, but does in the latter. The people of the Mosaic dispensation were sinners. They committed the same sins that the people do to-day. Even the best of them deceived, falsified, and sinned in other ways. Cain killed; Abraham and Jacob deceived; Achan stole, and David committed murder and adultery. Some of these repented, and were pardoned through Christ, and some did not repent, and were not forgiven. People kill, lie, steal, and commit adultery in the Christian dispensation. Some repent and are forgiven through the same compassionate Saviour; others prefer to settle their sinful account at the judgment.

It is true that the people of the Christian dispensation have greater light, for there has been an unfolding of the plan of salvation in the sufferings and crucifixion of the Son of God. But the minds of men have degenerated in a corresponding ratio, so that the opportunity for the exercise of faith is about the same. A murderer, liar, or thief can be pardoned only through divine blood, and as the blood of Christ is the only divine blood that was ever shed in this world, it follows that there can be but one Saviour for all men, no matter whether he lived in the Mosaic or Christian dispensation.

Types and Symbols.

The ceremonies enjoined by God, in the Mosaic dispensation, that kept the coming Saviour in mind, were changed at the cross, and new ceremonies instituted to keep in mind that the Saviour had come and shed his blood for the remission of sin. One of these rites is the Lord’s supper, the bread representing the mangled flesh, and the wine, the precious

blood of the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

All of the patriarchs and prophets of the former dispensation received pardon through Christ, and as they beheld the blood of the guiltless lamb flowing from the victim, struggling in the agonies of death, they looked forward to Calvary by faith and saw the blood of Christ flowing from the pierced veins. They knew much better than some of our modern expositors of these times, that through it only could they be pardoned and become reconciled to God. They knew that the blood of sheep and bullocks, or any animal used in the sacrificial system, could not atone for sin. Says the apostle Paul, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb. 10 : 4.

No one who believes the Bible will claim for a moment that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses were not pardoned of their sins. Now, as the above scripture says that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin, it follows that they received forgiveness through him (Christ) to whom their offerings pointed. These offerings were not needed after type met its antitype in the crucifixion of Christ, and God saw proper to abolish them and institute new ones. Among these newly-instituted ceremonies, in addition to the eucharist (which we have already noticed), is the rite of baptism, enjoined by Christ himself (Mark 16 : 16), and which so forcibly illustrates his burial and resurrection (Rom. 6 : 4, 5).

(Concluded next week.)