The Harp of God Part 16

[236]The law that G.o.d gave to the Israelites merely foreshadowed what great things Jesus would do. Because of the imperfections of mankind--Moses and others--that law could not accomplish the deliverance of mankind from death. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, G.o.d sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."--Romans 8:3.

[237]In the type, the slaying of the bullock and the carrying of its blood into the Holy as a typical sin-offering foreshadowed the fact that the redemption of man's sins could be accomplished only through the blood of the perfect sacrifice. And for this reason says the apostle Paul: "Without the shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." (Hebrews 9:22,23) The patterns here referred to are the Holy and Most Holy in the tabernacle picture, which foreshadowed or pictured the heavenly condition; and the entrance of the high priest into the Most Holy of the tabernacle with the blood foreshadowed Christ Jesus entering heaven. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of G.o.d for us."--Hebrews 9:24.

[238]When Jesus died upon the cross of Calvary he provided the ransom-price, because his was the death of a perfect human being, exactly corresponding with the perfect man Adam. Adam's death, however, was the result of a forfeited right to live. Jesus' death was a sacrifice. Adam was a sinner and died a sinner. Jesus was perfect, holy, and without sin; and while he died in the same manner, yet by his death he did not forfeit the right to live as a human being. By dying he reduced his perfect human life to an a.s.set that might thereafter be used to release Adam and his offspring from death.

[239]We here give an ill.u.s.tration to aid in understanding this point.

For convenience we will call a man John. John is languis.h.i.+ng in prison because he cannot pay a fine of one hundred dollars. He has a brother named Charles who is willing to pay the fine for his brother John, but who has no money with which to pay. Charles is strong and vigorous, has time to work, is willing to work, and can earn money by working; but his strength and time and willingness will not pay the debt for John. Mr.

Smith has some work to be done and is willing to pay money to have it done. Charles engages himself to work for Mr. Smith and earns one hundred dollars and receives that amount of money in cash. By his labor Charles has here reduced his time and strength and vigor to a money value and has received that money value, which money has purchasing power and which can be used to pay John's obligation and thus release him from prison.

[240]Charles then appears before the court which has entered the judgment against his brother John, and offers to pay the one hundred dollars which the law demands of John. The money is accepted from Charles and John is released. By this means John is judicially relieved from the effects of the judgment and is set free, and his brother Charles has become his ransomer or deliverer.

[241]In this ill.u.s.tration John represents Adam. Because Adam violated G.o.d's law, Jehovah judicially determined that Adam should forfeit his life by dying. He enforced this judgment during a period of 930 years, during which time Adam begat all of his children. The effect of sentencing Adam to death was to render all of his children subject to death. Adam went into death, and since then great numbers of his children have likewise died. We can say, then, that Adam and all those who have died and are in their graves are in the great prison-house of death, and that is what the Prophet of the Lord calls it.--Isaiah 42:7.

[242]In this picture Charles represents Jesus. It was G.o.d's will that the perfect man Jesus should redeem Adam and his offspring from the prison-house of death. Jesus was willing to pay Adam's debt and redeem him, but the perfect, righteous, human being Jesus could not accomplish that purpose while living in the flesh, for the same reason that Charles could not use his strength, time, and energy to pay the debt of his brother John, but must first reduce those things to a purchasing value.

Jesus must reduce his perfect humanity to a purchasing value, which we may call merit, and which merit or purchasing value would be sufficient for the payment of Adam's debt and release Adam and his offspring from that judgment. In order to provide this price it was necessary for Jesus to die. In his death upon Calvary, then, he produced the price. But the value of that price must be presented before Jehovah in heaven itself before Jehovah could release Adam or his descendents from the effect of death. And this, we shall see from the Scriptures, is what was done.

[243]The inspired writer in the divine Word tells us that it was the will of G.o.d that all men should be saved from death by the ransom-price and then brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth, in order that they might accept the benefits of the ransom and live. In due time the knowledge of these great truths will be given to every one of Adam's race. (1 Timothy 2:3-6) The ransom-price was provided at the cross. The cross of Christ is the great pivotal truth of the divine arrangement, from which radiate the hopes of men. When all men come to a knowledge of this fact and all the obedient ones have profited by the value of the ransom sacrifice, there will be great rejoicing amongst the human race.

When the grand finale is sung and all the harpers of heaven and earth unite in beautiful harmony, blending with the voices of all creatures perfected and happy, the great ransom-sacrifice will be recognized by all as one of the strings of the harp of G.o.d that will yield sweet music to every ear. Then all can truly sing;

"In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime."

[244]In order for the human race to receive the benefit of the ransom-sacrifice, it was essential for Jesus to be raised from the dead.

His resurrection is therefore of vital importance, and this const.i.tutes another string of the harp, which we will treat separately.

Why is the ransom the most vital string upon the harp of G.o.d? -- 177.

What effect will its appreciation have upon the human race? -- 177.

What is the most precious thing possessed by any creature, and why? -- 178.

When can a creature properly glorify his Creator? -- 178.

In whose image was man created? -- 179.

What did G.o.d give to man at the time of his creation? -- 179.

What is the difference between life and the right to life? -- 179.

Describe the condition and environment of Adam and Eve in Eden. -- 179.

Were Adam and Eve informed as to what would be the result of the violation of G.o.d's law? -- 179.

Was there any real wrong in eating the fruit? and if not, wherein was the wrong done by man? -- 180.

What was the effect of the sentence p.r.o.nounced against man? -- 180.

What was the effect of the execution of that sentence? -- 180.

In what manner was the sentence executed? -- 180.

When did Adam and Eve first exercise the power of producing their offspring? -- 181.

Was it possible for them to have perfect children? and if not, why not?

-- 181.

Their children were born and lived, but did they have a right to life?

and if not, why not? -- 181.

What is the difference between right to life and life rights? -- 182.

What Scriptural proof is there that all were born imperfect? -- 183.

Without divine provision for the redemption of man, would the earth become depopulated? and if so, why? -- 184.

Is mankind wholly dependent upon G.o.d's provision for life? -- 184.

If G.o.d has made full and complete provision that man shall live in happiness, what effect should that have upon men's minds and hearts?

-- 184.

At the time G.o.d sentenced man to death did he foreshadow a provision for his release? and if so, how? Give the Scriptural proof. -- 185.

Did he here foreshadow the ultimate fate of Satan? and if so, what is that fate? -- 185.

Could the judgment Jehovah entered against Adam be annulled or set aside? and if not, why not? -- 186.

If it could be changed, what effect would it have upon the faith of men?

-- 186.

Could G.o.d consistently provide for a subst.i.tute to meet the terms of that judgment? -- 186.

Is it Jehovah's desire that men should understand the necessity and reason for redemption? -- 187.

Why did G.o.d cause certain types and pictures to be made by his people?

-- 187.

Explain about the pa.s.sover lamb slain by the Israelites on the night of their leaving Egypt. Give the Scriptural account. -- 188.

What was pictured there by the firstborn? -- 188.

What was pictured by the lamb, and also by the blood? -- 188.

Who was spoken of as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"?

-- 188.

What was pictured by the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptians? -- 190.