Bore the Imputed Sin and Guilt of the World
27
vigor of mind and body. He was surrounded with the glories of Eden,
and was in daily communion with heavenly beings. It was not thus
with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For
four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength,
in mental power, and the moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the
infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man
from the lowest depths of his degradation.—
The Desire of Ages, 117
.
Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to
the level of those He wished to save. In Him was no guile or sinfulness;
He was ever pure and undefiled; yet He took upon Him our sinful
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nature. Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate
with fallen humanity, He sought to regain for man that which, by
disobedience, Adam had lost for himself and for the world. In His
own character He displayed to the world the character of God.—
The
Review and Herald, December 15, 1896
.
He for our sakes laid aside His royal robe, stepped down from
the throne in heaven, and condescended to clothe His divinity with
humility, and became like one of us except in sin, that His life and
character should be a pattern for all to copy, that they might have
the precious gift of eternal life.—
The Youth’s Instructor, October 20,
1886
.
He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like
manner as the human family.—
Letter 97, 1898
.
Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the
rude, the uncourteous.—
The Desire of Ages, 90
.
Christ, who knew not the least taint of sin or defilement, took our
nature in its deteriorated condition. This was humiliation greater
than finite man can comprehend. God was manifest in the flesh.
He humbled Himself. What a subject for thought, for deep, earnest
contemplation! So infinitely great that He was the Majesty of heaven,
and yet He stooped so low, without losing one atom of His dignity and
glory! He stooped to poverty and to the deepest abasement among
men.—
The Signs of the Times, June 9, 1898
.
Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon
Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our
fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the
Eternal.—
The Desire of Ages, 112
.