p. 663 | THE ATONEMENT by E. G. Farnsworth

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 42.

THE ATONEMENT.

By E. G. Farnsworth

BY E. G. FARNSWORTH.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14, 15.

In the beginning the Lord made man in his own image, and surrounded him with all that might be conducive to his happiness. But Satan, in his hatred for God, came to our first parents, and represented to them that God was not good, and that he would hold them in service vile. Satan said to them, "God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods." Thus he represented to the woman that God did not wish them to rise to their higher privilege, but would keep them in bondage and degradation. Thus Satan represented God as having a character like his own, while he represented himself as their best benefactor. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, . . . and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat." Gen. 3:6.

When the woman saw, or believed, this statement of Satan's, then she saw, or believed, that God was not good, and that he did not love them, for love always bestows the best. This is the point in all of Satan's deceptions. When he had once gained control of the human mind, and separated it from God, then he had the advantage, and could represent all the effects of sin as coming in consequence of God's hatred for man. And this is the result to the whole human family. Everywhere, all people by nature believe that God does not love them, and that, if they ever escape his vengeful ire, it will be because someone steps in and receives the stroke of his wrath, so that he is appeased, and will grant mercy to the penitent. This idea of God and of the plan of salvation is not confined to the worldling; many professed followers of Christ have the same idea of the character of God, but they believe that Jesus loves them, and has stepped in and received the stroke that otherwise would have fallen upon them, and that he is a shield against an offended God.

Jesus came into this world, not to glorify himself, but to glorify his Father; and of the Father he said, "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. It is the Father's love that is revealed in sending the Son. "They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matt. 1:23. Whatever was seen in Jesus Christ, that was God. He said of himself, "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10.

Thus all the loving words and works of mercy were just the gushing forth of the Father's heart. The words that Christ uttered as he hung upon the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," was not that he felt more tenderly for those that were crucifying him than the Father did, but because the Father dwelt in him. And why was all this manifestation of love?—"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. It was in the beginning, and has been ever since, the work of the devil to cast his hateful shadow over the character of God. But all who believe the record concerning the Son of God, believe that he is the manifestation of the Father, and, consequently, that God loves them. Then there is a reconciliation, not of God, but we who were enemies are reconciled to God.

The human mind, or, rather, the spirit of Satan, would change this around and make it to read, God is reconciled to us, thus keeping before the mind that lie which he insinuated in the beginning, that God is not love. God has set before the human mind the greatest and grandest object lesson of love he possibly could. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." That is, he came down and dwelt in the flesh, manifesting his loving disposition toward them that hated him; he spake comforting words to them that were oppressed, healed them that were diseased, wept over them that would not receive him, bore every kind of scorn and abuse, yet never retaliated; "when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not."

It is by the death of Christ that we are reconciled to God. Rom. 5:10. This is illustrated by the penitent thief. When the two thieves were nailed to the cross, they both united with the priests, scribes, and elders, in mocking the Son of God. Matthew says, chap. 27:44, "The thieves [plural] also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth." Just before the Saviour expired, however, one of them "railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked

him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? and we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man hath done nothing amiss." Luke 23:39-41.

The thief here confessed his sins, and declared the righteousness of the Lord. This result was brought about by the life and suffering of the Son of God, which the thief beheld during those hours of darkness in which they suffered together. Thus he was redeemed by the blood of Christ.

The blood is everywhere taken to represent the life. "The life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls." Lev. 17:11. This text teaches, that it is the life, and not the material blood, that makes the atonement. This is just what was accomplished with the thief on the cross. It was the life there manifest that slew the enmity that was in his heart and made him at one with Christ. Atonement means at-one-ment; that which destroys enmity and makes a union of feeling and purpose is the truest sense of the word "atonement." God could not reveal his character to fallen man by staying up in the high and holy place, so he came down to dwell among men. "Since the children are also sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner took of the same; that through death he might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14, 15, Revised Version. Thus through the life and the death of the cross he has "spoiled principalities and powers, . . . triumphing over them in it." Col. 2:15.

May the time soon come when everyone who will accept of salvation shall be snatched from the hand of the deceiver, God's character fully vindicated, and sin and Satan fully destroyed. "Then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of their Father."