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Souls Rescued from Satan’s Power, August 8
And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord
that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of
the fire?
Zechariah 3:2
.
Through the plan of salvation, Jesus is breaking Satan’s hold upon the human
family and rescuing souls from his power. All the hatred and malignity of the
archrebel is stirred as he beholds the evidence of Christ’s supremacy, and with
fiendish power and cunning he works to wrest from Him the remnant of the children
of men who have accepted His salvation.
He leads men into skepticism, causing them to lose confidence in God and to
separate from His love; he tempts them to break His law, and then he claims them
as his captives and contests the right of Christ to take them from him. He knows
that those who seek God earnestly for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore
he presents their sins before them to discourage them. He is constantly seeking
occasion against those who are trying to obey God. Even their best and most
acceptable services he seeks to make appear corrupt. By countless devices, the
most subtle and the most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation. Man
cannot meet these charges himself. In his sin-stained garments, confessing his guilt,
he stands before God. But Jesus our Advocate presents an effectual plea in behalf
of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to
Him. He pleads their cause and vanquishes their accuser by the mighty arguments
of Calvary. His perfect obedience to God’s law, even unto the death of the cross, has
given Him all power in heaven and in earth, and He claims of His Father mercy and
reconciliation for guilty man. To the accuser of His people He declares: “‘The Lord
rebuke thee, O Satan.’ These are the purchase of My blood, brands plucked from
the burning.” Those who rely upon Him in faith receive the comforting assurance:
“Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with
change of raiment.” All that have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness will
stand before Him as chosen and faithful and true. Satan has no power to pluck them
out of the hand of Christ. Not one soul that in penitence and faith has claimed His
protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy’s power. His word is pledged:
“Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall
make peace with me.” The promise given to Joshua is made to all: “If thou wilt keep
my charge, ... I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” Angels of
God will walk on either side of them, even in this world, and they will stand at last
among the angels that surround the throne of God.... We cannot answer the charges
of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able
to silence the accuser with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own
(
Testimonies for the Church 5:470-472
).
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