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Selected Messages Book 1
guilt of every sin pressed its weight upon the divine soul of the world’s
Redeemer. The evil thoughts, the evil words, the evil deeds of every
son and daughter of Adam, called for retribution upon Himself; for
He had become man’s substitute. Though the guilt of sin was not
His, His spirit was torn and bruised by the transgressions of men, and
He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him.
Voluntarily our divine Substitute bared His soul to the sword of
justice, that we might not perish but have everlasting life. Said Christ,
“I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again” (
John 10:17, 18
). No man of earth
or angel of heaven could have paid the penalty for sin. Jesus was
the only one who could save rebellious man. In Him divinity and
humanity were combined, and this was what gave efficiency to the
offering on Calvary’s cross. At the cross mercy and truth met together,
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righteousness and peace kissed each other.
As the sinner looks upon the Saviour dying on Calvary, and real-
izes that the sufferer is divine, he asks why this great sacrifice was
made, and the cross points to the holy law of God which has been
transgressed. The death of Christ is an unanswerable argument as
to the immutability and righteousness of the law. In prophesying of
Christ, Isaiah says, “He will magnify the law, and make it honourable”
(
Isaiah 42:21
). The law has no power to pardon the evildoer. Its office
is to point out his defects, that he may realize his need of One who is
mighty to save, his need of One who will become his substitute, his
surety, his righteousness. Jesus meets the need of the sinner; for He
has taken upon Him the sins of the transgressor. “He was wounded for
our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement
of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (
Isaiah
53:5
). The Lord could have cut off the sinner, and utterly destroyed
him; but the costlier plan was chosen. In His great love He provides
hope for the hopeless, giving His only-begotten Son to bear the sins
of the world. And since He has poured out all heaven in that one rich
gift, He will withhold from man no needed aid that he may take the
cup of salvation, and become an heir of God, joint heir with Christ.