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Chapter 12
171
beheld that crucifixion scene, and who heard Christ’s words, was
the light of truth to shine. With John they would proclaim, “Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” There
were those who never rested until, searching the Scriptures and
comparing passage with passage, they saw the meaning of Christ’s
mission. They saw that free forgiveness was provided by Him whose
tender mercy embraced the whole world. They read the prophecies
regarding Christ, and the promises so free and full, pointing to a
fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem (
Manuscript 45, 1897
).
Study All in Light From Cross
—The sacrifice of Christ as
an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths
cluster. In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth
in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in
the light which streams from the cross of Calvary, and in connection
with the wondrous, central truth of the Saviour’s atonement. Those
who study the Redeemer’s wonderful sacrifice grow in grace and
knowledge.
I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and
regeneration, salvation and redemption—the Son of God uplifted
on the cross of Calvary. This is to be the theme of every discourse.
Christ declares, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men unto me” (
Manuscript 70, 1901
).
The Cross Planted Between Earth and Heaven
—When
Christ came to this world, He found that Satan had everything as
he wanted it. The adversary of God and man thought that he was
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indeed the prince of the earth, but Jesus laid hold of the world to take
it out of the power of Satan. He came to redeem it from the curse
of sin and the penalty of transgression, that the transgressor might
be forgiven. He planted the cross between earth and heaven, and
between divinity and humanity; and as the Father beheld the cross,
He was satisfied. He said, “It is enough, the offering is complete.”
God and man may be reconciled. Those who have lived in rebellion
against God, may become reconciled, if as they see the cross, they
become repentant, and accept the great propitiation that Christ has
made for their sins. In the cross they see that “mercy and truth have
met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (
The
Signs of the Times, September 30, 1889
).