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From Eternity Past
the fallen race were his rightful subjects, and the world was his. But
God gave His own Son to bear the penalty of transgression. Thus they
might be restored to His favor and brought back to their Eden home.
The great controversy begun in heaven was to be decided in the very
world, on the same field, that Satan claimed as his.
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It was the marvel of all the universe that Christ should humble
Himself to save fallen man. When Christ came to our world in the
form of humanity, all were intensely interested in following Him as He
traversed the blood-stained path from the manger to Calvary. Heaven
marked the insult and mockery that He received and knew that it was
at Satan’s instigation. They watched the battle between light and
darkness as it waxed stronger. And as Christ upon the cross cried
out, “It is finished!” a shout of triumph rang through every world and
through heaven itself. The great contest was now decided, and Christ
was conqueror. His death answered the question whether the Father
and the Son had sufficient love for man to exercise self-denial and a
spirit of sacrifice. Satan had revealed his true character as a liar and
murderer. With one voice the loyal universe united in extolling the
divine administration.
But if the law was abolished at the cross, as many claim, then the
agony and death of God’s dear Son were endured only to give to Satan
just what he asked; then the prince of evil triumphed, and his charges
against the divine government were sustained. The fact that Christ
bore the penalty of man’s transgression is a mighty argument that the
law is changeless; that God is righteous, merciful, and self-denying;
and that infinite justice and mercy unite in the administration of His
government.
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