Plan of Redemption
A council was held in heaven, the result of which was that God’s
dear Son undertook to redeem man from the curse and the disgrace of
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Adam’s failure, and to conquer Satan. Oh, wonderful condescension!
The Majesty of heaven, through love and pity for fallen man, proposed
to become his substitute and surety. He would bear man’s guilt. He
would take the wrath of His Father upon Himself, which otherwise
would have fallen upon man because of his disobedience.
The law of God was unalterable. It could not be abolished, nor
yield the smallest part of its claim, to meet man in his fallen state. Man
was separated from God by transgression of His expressed command,
notwithstanding He had made known to Adam the consequences of
such transgression. The sin of Adam caused a deplorable state of
things. Satan would now have unlimited control over the race unless
a mightier being than was Satan before his fall, should take the field,
conquer him, and ransom man.
Christ’s divine soul was exercised with infinite pity for the fallen
pair. As their wretched, helpless condition came up before Him, and
as He saw that by transgression of God’s law they had fallen under
the power and control of the prince of darkness, He proposed the
only means that could be acceptable with God, that would give them
another trial, and place them again on probation. Christ consented to
leave His honor, His kingly authority, His glory with the Father, and
humble Himself to humanity, and engage in contest with the mighty
prince of darkness, in order to redeem man. Through His humiliation
and poverty Christ would identify Himself with the weaknesses of
the fallen race, and by firm obedience show that man might redeem
Adam’s disgraceful failure, and by humble obedience regain lost Eden.
The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the
Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam. With the sins of the world
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laid upon Him, He would go over the ground where Adam stumbled.
He would bear a test infinitely more severe than that which Adam
failed to endure. He would overcome on man’s account, and conquer
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