THE PERFECT SACRIFICE by Albert Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 7, 1878

THE PERFECT SACRIFICE.

By Albert Stone

How grateful to the eye of faith is the sacrifice which Christ made of himself upon the cross in behalf of a world lying in wickedness. That God should reach forth his mighty arm to rescue a world so deeply involved in transgression, is an exhibition of love and mercy that has no parallel.

It is a happy thought to the soul oppressed by sin, that the Father, in mutual counsel with Jesus, gave his Son, and that the Son, by the approval of the Father, gave himself to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. Angels wondered, Satan trembled, and saints rejoiced for four thousand years in the promise of a coming Messiah. In the fullness of time the promise is fulfilled, and on the plains of Bethlehem heavenly messengers celebrate the birth of the Lamb of God, the world's Redeemer.

When obedient Abraham laid his son upon the sacrificial altar, and raised the knife to shed his blood, an angel prevented the fatal blow, and a substitute was provided. But when the antitypical Isaac was laid upon the altar, no kind angel could be sent from Heaven to countermand the order of execution. God could provide a substitute for Abraham's son, but for his own Son, in whom he was ever well pleased, no substitute could be found. He whom all Heaven adored must drink the cup of suffering, and be baptized with the baptism, that he might become the world's Redeemer.

The Father accepted the offering, because it reached the utmost demand of righteousness, and harmonized the divine attributes in offering salvation to the penitent among men. It was a perfect sacrifice in every particular. From no specification of the covenant of redemption did Jesus draw back; he did not attempt to keep back part of the price. Jesus drank the cup, and the price paid is satisfactory to Heaven. When man sinned, angel harps ceased their music, Heaven was clothed in sackcloth, and the attributes of Deity seemed to present conflicting claims.

Justice, sword in hand, demands the sinner's blood. Peace beckons to Wisdom to speak, while Mercy stands at the gate, weeping because she cannot enter. In this dilemma, the divine Son of God meekly offers his life in the sinner's stead: “Four thousand years hence, I will visit yonder world, and on Calvary's mountain pay the debt,—give my blood for the sinner's life!” Justice accepts the offer and cries, “I wait! I wait!” Heaven is harmonized in the gospel plan devised, and Mercy rejoices to bear the good news to man and pour the consolations of hope and salvation into every willing heart.

There must be a willingness on the part of those who would be saved by the gospel. Sacrifices they must offer, which, if withheld, will place the perfect sacrifice of Christ for us beyond our reach. A meritorious sacrifice is not required of us; that is perfect in Christ's sacrifice. But a spirit of sacrifice, evincing that we are Christ's, is needful. It must and will follow as the effect of accepting Christ. As Christ endured the cross with joy, so must we covet the position of suffering with him, if we would reign with him. We are to study obedience, not convenience.

Let us remember Christ died, not for himself, but for us. He knows the value of the soul, and is concerned that we form characters that he can accept. Nothing is more certain than that many for whom Christ died will be lost. What distinguishes you, my brother or sister, from that numerous class? It is to be feared that some of the professed followers of Christ would be willing that God should manufacture for them a good Christian character, and lay it up in Heaven against the day of Christ's coming, and leave them, in the meantime, to follow the leadings of their sinful natures.

Our Lord informs us that a prominent feature of the day of Judgment will be the disappointment of deceived professors of Christianity. Many in that day will knock, saying, “Lord, open unto us,” to whom the Lord will answer, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” They have not been overcomers, and can never enter through the gates into the heavenly city.

To be accepted of God, our religion must have the unremitting perfume of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. ALBERT STONE.