Chapter 169—The Only Acceptable Ransom
For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all.
1 Timothy 2:5, 6
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Through Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation is provided for man.
The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by the cross of Calvary. A
full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of which the sinner
is pardoned, and the justice of the law is maintained. All who believe that
Christ is the atoning sacrifice may come and receive pardon for their sins;
for through the merit of Christ, communication has been opened between
God and man. God can accept me as His child, and I can claim Him and
rejoice in Him as my loving Father. We must center our hopes of heaven
upon Christ alone, because He is our substitute and surety....
The best efforts that man in his own strength can make, are valueless to
meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but through faith in Christ
he may claim the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. Christ
satisfied the demands of the law in His human nature. He bore the curse of
the law for the sinner, made an atonement for him, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish.... Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of
Christ, and the sinner is made an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a
partaker of the divine nature, and thus divinity and humanity are combined.
He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law, is
attempting an impossibility. Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his
works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do
of His good pleasure.... All that man can do without Christ is polluted with
selfishness and sin; but that which is wrought through faith is acceptable to
God. When we seek to gain heaven through the merits of Christ, the soul
makes progress. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we
may go on from strength to strength, from victory to victory; for through
Christ the grace of God has worked out our complete salvation.
We cannot estimate the precious ransom paid to redeem fallen man. The
heart’s best and holiest affections should be given in return for such wondrous
love.
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