IT WAS CHRIST ALL THE WAY.
By W. N. Glenn
THERE is much undue contrast drawn between our day and those of the past; between the "patriarchal age," the "Jewish age," and the "Christian age." The variations in customs and in ceremonial requirements or ordinances are often presented in a manner to indicate that Christianity is a comparatively new feature in the divine economy. This idea is generally advanced by those who assume that the law of God is abolished; that because the ordinances of the Lord's house have of necessity been changed, on account of the death and resurrection of Christ, consequently the commandments must be annulled, or changed. Such theories have no basis only on the untenable ground that Christianity began with the ministry of Christ, and that there were no benefits in him prior to that time. A few points will show clearly that all of the probation granted to mankind after the fall of Adam is one Christian dispensation. On what was that probation based? and what was its object? are questions the scriptural answers to which will make clear the matter of the Christian dispensation in its full sense. Peter says that we were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, "who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world." See 1 Peter 1:18-20. In Rev 13:8, Christ is referred to as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." We learn from the Scriptures that God "hath chosen us in him from the foundation of the world." In the day of judgment, when the kingdom is prepared for the righteous, the King shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." These scriptures very plainly set the beginning of the plan of salvation clear back to the beginning of such a necessity. And we are told that "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," but the name of Jesus Christ. See Acts 4:10-12. Paul tells us (Eph. 2:8) that by grace we are saved through faith; and that "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. From this we turn to Hebrews 11, and find that faith was exercised all along from Abel to the later prophets. And it was so even to the time of Simeon, who was permitted to live to see the infant Messiah presented in the temple, and confessed him by faith. The "seed of the woman" who should "bruise the serpent's head" was Christ. That serpent was Satan (Rev. 20:2), and no other seed of woman but Christ could bruise his head. The seed of Abraham, to whom the inheritance was promised, was Christ (Gal. 3:16). The "affliction" which Moses chose to suffer with the people of God, is also called by Paul (Heb. 11:25, 26) "the reproach of Christ." The angel of God that went before Israel in the wilderness was one in whom was God's name, and who had the power to forgive sins. It was his voice the people were to obey. See Ex. 13:21; 14:19; 23:20-23. This could have been none other than Christ. Enoch and Elijah were fully saved, taken bodily into heaven; they could only have been saved by faith in Christ, as shown by the words of Peter already quoted from Acts 4:12. Moses was resurrected, as shown by Jude 9, and also by his appearance with Enoch and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration; and a resurrection could only come through his having had faith in Christ, who said of himself, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25). It is true that, of themselves, the ordinances during the existence of the old covenant, which were but types and shadows, could make nothing perfect. But the same may be said of the ordinances commanded since the death of Christ. No Protestant will claim that there is salvation in the ordinance of baptism, or the Lord's Supper, or the washing of feet, without the essential of faith in Christ. Then, so far as ordinances are concerned, those that point backward in commemoration are no more effectual in themselves than those which pointed forward as types. Faith in Christ is absolutely necessary to make either of any value. We find, then, in all ages since the fall of man, certain principles covering the entire plan of salvation:— 1. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. 2. "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. Only the righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, is of any avail as a qualification for salvation. See Phil. 3:7-11; Rom. 10:3, 4. Abel was accounted righteous. Noah was recognized as a man of faith and a preacher of righteousness. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And this principle runs all the way through. The ordinances of all ages or "dispensations" were merely acts expressive of faith in Christ, as are those of to-day. Christ is the central figure all the way from Paradise lost to Paradise restored. As "sin is the transgression of the law," the law must have existed when Adam fell; and so long as sin exists it is evident that the law is in force. The basis of both the old and the new covenants was the law of ten commandments. It was the promises of the old covenant, and not the basis,105that were faulty. See Heb. 8:6. Had it been the law that was faulty, it would not have been made the basis of the new covenant also. See Jer. 31: 31-33; Heb. 8: 6-10. Christ's death was to vindicate the law, and not to abolish it. The law had to be satisfied; either the sinner's life or that of an accepted substitute must be forfeited. "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31. All the way down we have the fact presented that transgression of the law must be atoned for by the blood of Christ, or the transgressor must pay the penalty himself, which is death. Rom. 6:23. This principle continues to the end, where, at the very last of probation, we find the adversary making war with them that "keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17. Christ has ever been a help in time of need, and the throne of grace has ever been accessible to all who would come unto God by him.