Chapter 11—Redemptive Price Completely Paid on
Calvary
The ransom paid by Christ—the atonement on the cross—is ever
before them.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:190
.
On the cross of Calvary He paid the redemption price of the race.
And thus He gained the right to rescue the captives from the grasp
of the great deceiver, who by a lie framed against the government of
God, caused the fall of man, and who thus forfeited all claim to be
called a loyal subject of God’s kingdom.
Satan refused to let his captives go. He held them as his subjects
because of their belief of his lie. He had thus become their jailor. But
he had no right to demand that a price be paid for them; because he
had not obtained possession of them by lawful conquest, but under
false pretense.
God, being the creditor, had a right to make any provision for the
redemption of human beings. Justice demanded that a certain price
be paid. The Son of God was the only One who could pay this price.
[469]
He volunteered to come to this earth and pass over the ground where
Adam fell. He came as the Redeemer of the lost race, to conquer the
wily foe, and by His steadfast allegiance to right, to save all who should
accept Him as their Saviour.—
Letter 20, 1903
.
Christ alone could bear the message of man’s deliverance. He
came with a full and complete ransom. He came to bring life and
immortality within the reach of the fallen race. As the Life-giver, He
assumed our nature, that He might reveal the character of God, and
stamp His image on all who would receive Him. He became man
that through His infinite sacrifice God might receive the homage of
the restored race.... The science of redemption is as high as heaven,
and its value is infinite. This truth is so broad, so deep, so high, that
beside it all the wisdom of earth’s wisest men sinks into insignificance.
In comparison with the knowledge of God, all human knowledge
is as chaff. And the way of salvation can be made known only by
God.—
Manuscript 69, 1897
.
54