Why Not All? by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 11.

Why Not All?

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

The text says that “by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” Some one may ask, “Why are not all made righteous by the obedience of One?” The reason is that they do not wish to be. If men were counted righteous simply because One was righteous eighteen hundred years ago, then all would have to be righteous by the same obedience. There would be no justice in counting righteousness to one and not to all, if it were in that way. But we have seen that it is not so. Men are not simply counted righteous, but actually made righteous, by the obedience of Christ, who is as righteous as he ever was, and who lives to-day in those who yield to him. His ability to live in any human being is shown by the fact that he took human flesh eighteen hundred years ago. What God did in the person of the Carpenter of Nazareth, he is willing and anxious to do for every man that now lives. The free gift comes upon all, but all will not accept it, and therefore all are not made righteous by it. Nevertheless, many will be made righteous by his obedience. Who will be one of the many? E. J. W.