'WE ARE MADE A SPECTACLE UNTO THE WORLD, AND TO ANGELS, AND TO MEN.'
By Earl E. Tenney
The Gospel of salvation through Christ, altho a science, is beautifully simple.
It is so simple that even a child can grasp its truths, and yet so deep and profound that it will be the study of the redeemed throughout eternity.
Man was not created a machine. God made him a free moral agent—free to obey the commandments of God or not, at his pleasure. At the same time, there was imparted to him a desire to do the will of God which was born from a deep love for Him, which in turn was caused by a sense of duty and a sense of the goodness of God. If man had never listened to the voice of the tempter, he never would have sinned, and his departure from principles of right and truth dates from the day that he listened to that voice.
It is commonly understood that the immediate cause of the trouble in heaven, which resulted in the expulsion of Satan, was the fact that Satan was not placed on an equality with Christ in consultation, regarding the creation of the world and its inhabitants.
The question is often asked, Why did not God destroy Satan immediately, and thus rid the universe of one who is the enemy of peace and happiness? God, in His wisdom and love, knew that if this were done, there would be some, especially among the angels, that to some extent sympathized with Lucifer, who would see no justice in His dealings, and who would condemn Him as unjust and cruel. So, that the awfulness of sin might be realized, and that all might know that the natural result of breaking the law of God is death, and that it leads only to misery, Lucifer was permitted to live.
As God can see the end from the beginning, so He realized that in creating this world, He was creating a race of sinners. He saw that Satan would gain possession of this world, and, as none of the other worlds would subject themselves to his power, Lucifer would concentrate all his energies on the carrying out and fulfilment of his plans with reference to this earth and its inhabitants.
Then, in the beginning, even before man was created, God knew that this world would be indeed an experiment station; that it would be a battle-field in which the greatest powers of the universe would be engaged, a conflict of truth with error, of faith with doubt, of Christ with Satan.
A plan was devised in the wisdom of God whereby man, even tho a sinner, could be raised to a higher plane than he could have occupied if he had never sinned, and thus the name of God be glorified. This raising of man was to be accomplished by the reverse of that which caused his fall. Because of doubt, man sinned, and came under the penalty of death, because of faith he is righteous and lives. Because of disobedience he lost his inheritance, but through obedience he is made a son of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. Thus through Christ man regains more than was lost through sin.
But of this we must not lose sight, that when the law of God was broken, it demanded the death of the sinner. Christ, in becoming our substitute and accepting the death due us, satisfied the claims of the law. Christ's life on earth was a perfect example, showing to all that man, tho born into a sinful world with a carnal mind, can live a life that is blameless.379Thus through Christ, both by His death and by His life, we are saved. We are saved by His life, for He lives for us to-day, and pleads His own righteousness and His own spotless character in our behalf.
There are two standards in the world, and only two. These two standards represent opposite principles. Figuratively speaking, they are the two ways, one broad and the other narrow. Between these there is no neutral ground. They may also be represented by two rapidly-moving streams flowing side by side, but in opposite directions. These standards have nothing in common. A description of one will be a description of the other, with every statement reversed. These standards represent the two opposing forces which have chosen this world for a battle-ground.
It is a conflict in which all the universe is interested, and its consummation will forever settle the principle that righteousness will conquer unrighteousness, even tho under the most trying circumstances. At the close of this conflict the judgment and goodness of God will be vindicated and His throne established.
These opposing forces are at work in the hearts and minds of the children of men. One is a law of inclination and the other a law of duty. By the placing of the will on one side or the other, is the conflict decided in each of our cases. But through the death and resurrection of Christ, the victory has been won, and by faith those who have enlisted under the banner of Christ can look forward with joy to the consummation of their hopes.
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."