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158
S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 5
God is truth and light and love (
The Signs of the Times, March 7,
1895
).
16. The Science of Redemption
—The scheme of redemption
far exceeds the comprehension of the human mind. The great conde-
scension on the part of God is a mystery that is beyond our fathoming.
The greatness of the plan cannot be fully comprehended, nor could
infinite Wisdom devise a plan that would surpass it. It could only
be successful by the clothing of divinity with humanity, by Christ
becoming man, and suffering the wrath which sin has made because
of the transgression of God’s law. Through this plan the great, the
dreadful God can be just, and yet be the justifier of all who believe
in Jesus, and who receive Him as their personal Saviour. This is the
heavenly science of redemption, of saving men from eternal ruin,
and can be carried out only through the incarnation of the Son of
God in humanity, through His triumph over sin and death, and in
seeking to fathom this plan all finite intelligences are baffled (
Letter
43, 1895
).
(
Genesis 9:13-17
;
Revelation 4:3
.) Bow Shows Righteous-
ness of Christ, Mercy, and Justice
—In the rainbow above the
throne is an everlasting testimony that “God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish....” Whenever the law is presented before the
people, let the teacher of truth point to the throne arched with the
rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the
law is Christ; He came to magnify the law, and to make it honorable.
Make it appear distinct that mercy and peace have met together in
Christ, and righteousness and truth have embraced each other....
As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight
and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the
combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is
to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of
promise above the throne; men could see only the penalty of the law.
Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the
government of God. It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that
makes salvation complete. It is the blending of the two that leads
us, as we view the world’s Redeemer, and the law of Jehovah, to
exclaim, “Thy gentleness hath made me great” (
The Review and
Herald, December 13, 1892
).
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