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Selected Messages Book 1
things” (
Romans 1:22, 23
). This is the worth of all requirements and
knowledge apart from Christ.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Christ declares: “no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me” (
John 14:6
). Christ is invested
with power to give life to all creatures. “As the living Father hath sent
me,” He says, “and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he
shall live by me.” “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are
life” (
John 6:57, 63
). Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but
to His person, the divinity of His character. “Verily, verily, I say unto
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you,” He says again, “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead
shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to
have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment
also, because he is the Son of man” (
John 5:25-27
).
The Significance of Christ’s Birth
God and Christ knew from the beginning, of the apostasy of Satan
and of the fall of Adam through the deceptive power of the apostate.
The plan of salvation was designed to redeem the fallen race, to give
them another trial. Christ was appointed to the office of Mediator from
the creation of God, set up from everlasting to be our substitute and
surety. Before the world was made, it was arranged that the divinity
of Christ should be enshrouded in humanity. “A body,” said Christ,
“hast thou prepared me” (
Hebrews 10:5
). But He did not come in
human form until the fullness of time had expired. Then He came to
our world, a babe in Bethlehem.
No one born into the world, not even the most gifted of God’s
children, has ever been accorded such demonstration of joy as greeted
the Babe born in Bethlehem. Angels of God sang His praises over
the hills and plains of Bethlehem. “Glory to God in the highest,” they
sang, “and on earth peace, good will toward men” (
Luke 2:14
). O that
today the human family could recognize this song! The declaration
then made, the note then struck, the tune then started, will swell and
extend to the end of time, and resound to the ends of the earth. It is
glory to God, it is peace on earth, good will to men. When the Sun
of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings, the song then