Christ Our Example
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confederacy of evil, sought to overcome Him; but they found nothing
in Him by which to gain advantage. Even the devils were forced to
confess: “Thou art the Holy One of God.”
Self-Sacrifice
What language could so forcibly express God’s love for the human
family as it is expressed by the gift of His only-begotten Son for our
redemption? The Innocent bore the chastisement of the guilty. “God so
loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God
sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.”
John 3:16-18
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Christ gave Himself, an atoning sacrifice, for the saving of a lost
world. He was treated as we deserve, in order that we might be treated
as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no
share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had
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no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive
the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
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Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, by the one who
once stood in loyalty by His side in the heavenly courts. Behold the
Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, in the time of greatest
weakness assailed by the fiercest temptation. See Him during the years
of His ministry, attacked on every side by the forces of evil. See Him
in His agony on the cross. All this He suffered for us.
Christ’s earthly life, so full of toil and sacrifice, was cheered by the
thought that He would not have all His travail for nought. By giving
His life for the life of men, He would win the world back to its loyalty.
Although the baptism of blood must first be received, although the sins
of the world were to weigh upon His innocent soul, yet, for the joy
that was set before Him, He chose to endure the cross and despised
the shame.
Study Christ’s definition of a true missionary: “Whosoever will
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me.”
Mark 8:34
. Following Christ, as spoken of in these words, is not