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A DIVINE REDEEMER

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 6, 1888

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

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A DIVINE REDEEMER.

By A. W. Heald

1. CAN man be justified by the deeds of the law? “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” Rom. 3: 20.
2. Through whom alone can the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us? “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and by a sacrifice for sin, [margin] condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Rom. 8: 3, 4.
3. What special attribute of the Deity is displayed in this wonderful plan? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4: 10.
4. Was the coming of the Messiah foretold in the Scriptures? “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.” John 5: 39. The prophet Isaiah wrote so accurately of the miraculous birth, the life, sufferings, and death of Christ, that he has on this account been called the fifth evangelist, though he lived several hundred years before the Christian era.
5. How does the evangelical prophet describe the Redeemer? “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow; and acquainted with grief. . . . Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53: 3, 4.
6. For whom was he thus tormented? “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.” Verse 5.
7. What did Jesus himself say of his condition on earth? “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Matt. 8: 20.
8. How does the prophet describe our Saviour’s cruel treatment at the hands of sinners? “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 was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” Isa. 53: 7, 8.
9. How far did the enraged Jews carry their persecution of the sinless Son of God? “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Luke 23: 33.
10. What prayer did Jesus offer for his murderers? “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Verse 34.
11. How could sinful men thus prevail against God? “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” John 19: 11. “But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” Matt 26: 54.
12. Was the world’s Redeemer left to suffer corruption? “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, [the grave] neither will thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Acts 2: 24, 27; see also verse 31.
13. Where does Jesus now intercede for us? “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9: 24.
14. What power has Christ in his priestly office? “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7: 25.
15. May we then be free from the condemnation of sin? “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8: 1, 2.
16. Being led by the Spirit, what have we received from God? “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Verses 15–17.
17. Can anything separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus? “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Verses 35, 37–39.