Chapter 3—At God’s Appointed Time
When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, ... to
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons.
Galatians 4:4, 5
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In heaven’s council the hour for the coming of Christ had been
determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was
born in Bethlehem.... Providence had directed the movements of nations,
and the tide of human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the
coming of the Deliverer....
The deception of sin had reached its height. All the agencies for
depraving the souls of men had been put in operation. The Son of God,
looking upon the world, beheld suffering and misery. With pity He saw how
men had become victims of satanic cruelty. He looked with compassion upon
those who were being corrupted, murdered, and lost.... It was demonstrated
before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted.
A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the
world.
With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah
arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth.... But instead of destroying
the world, God sent His Son to save it.... At the very crisis, when Satan
seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine
grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been
exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the
signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of
the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood
of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of
salvation should be fulfilled.
Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God
in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker.
None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin.
He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift
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