SAVED BY HIS LIFE by S. N. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 15.

SAVED BY HIS LIFE.

By S. N. H.

BY S. N. H.

“If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” These are most wonderful words. It was Christ’s death on the cross that paid the penalty for sin. He died as man’s substitute, and by his death the Father is reconciled to man in Christ. Now if God is thus reconciled, much more we shall be saved by the life of Christ. The connection of Christ with humanity exalted the human, by Christ’s divinity, to the divine. He brought salvation into honest labor, so those who were engaged in the same might experience salvation in the performance of it. Whatever Christ did when upon earth, was exalted to an equality with himself. By his performing the act salvation was placed in the act itself.

If Christ supported himself and mother by his daily toil, then there is salvation in any one doing it, providing it be done with cheerfulness. It is thus that in our daily life there is salvation. The neglecting of any daily duties that come to us, or the slighting of them because they appear of little importance to us, is rejecting salvation the same as if we rejected some spiritual duty; for in all of these things Christ brought salvation. Said Martin Luther on a certain occasion: “If I pick up a straw because God says so, there is salvation in it. But should I go to Rome on my hands and knees, and God not tell me to do it, there is no salvation in it.” Christ said, “Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward.”

Christ, for the love he had for a lost race, left heaven, laid aside the glory he had with the Father, his position at his right hand, voluntarily came to this earth, took not upon himself the nature of angels, or even man as he was created, but our fallen nature: “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.” What wonderful words are these! In the accomplishment of this he, after taking our nature, engaged in worldly labor for his support, so he could

reach, in order to lift up man and exalt him to dwell with him in glory.

It was not simply giving an outward sanction to the lawfulness of daily toil, but he actually performed it himself, and therefore brought into it himself, or, in other words, eternal life; so he who performs such labor for the glory of God, to lighten others’ load, to bring others to Christ, not only receives divine sanction, but obtains eternal life in the performance of the act itself. But it should be in the same faith and hope as in the performance of any religious duty, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”