patriarchs and prophets-第13章
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temptation； the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step？
Many who teach that the law of God is not binding upon man； urge that it is
impossible for him to obey its precepts。 But if this were true； why did Adam
suffer the penalty of transgression？ The sin of our first parents brought
guilt and sorrow upon the world； and had it not been for the goodness and
mercy of God； would have plunged the race into hopeless despair。 Let none
deceive themselves。 〃The wages of sin is death。〃 Romans 6：23。 The law of God
can no more be transgressed with impunity now than when sentence was
pronounced upon the father of mankind。
After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden。 They earnestly
entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy。
They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode； but
pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God。 But they
were told that their nature had become depraved by sin； they had lessened
their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more
ready access to them。 In their innocence they had yielded to temptation； and
now； in a state of conscious guilt； they would have less power to maintain
their integrity。
In humility and unutterable sadness they bade farewell to their beautiful
home and went forth to dwell upon the earth； where rested the curse of sin。
The atmosphere； once so mild and uniform in temperature； was now subject to
marked changes； and the Lord mercifully provided them with a garment of
skins as a protection from the extremes of heat and cold。
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As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of
decay； Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over
their dead。 The death of the frail； delicate flowers was indeed a cause of
sorrow； but when the goodly trees cast off their leaves； the scene brought
vividly to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living
thing。
The Garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an
outcast from its pleasant paths。 The fallen race were long permitted to gaze
upon the home of innocence； their entrance barred only by the watching
angels。 At the cherubim…guarded gate of Paradise the divine glory was
revealed。 Hither came Adam and his sons to worship God。 Here they renewed
their vows of obedience to that law the transgression of which had banished
them from Eden。 When the tide of iniquity overspread the world； and the
wickedness of men determined their destruction by a flood of waters； the
hand that had planted Eden withdrew it from the earth。 But in the final
restitution； when there shall be 〃a new heaven and a new earth〃 （Revelation
21：1）； it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning。
Then they that have kept God's commandments shall breathe in immortal vigor
beneath the tree of life； and through unending ages the inhabitants of
sinless worlds shall behold； in that garden of delight； a sample of the
perfect work of God's creation； untouched by the curse of sina sample of
what the whole earth would have become； had man but fulfilled the Creator's
glorious plan。
（63）
Chapter 4
The Plan of Redemption
The fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow。 The world that God had made
was blighted with the curse of sin and inhabited by beings doomed to misery
and death。 There appeared no escape for those who had transgressed the law。
Angels ceased their songs of praise。 Throughout the heavenly courts there
was mourning for the ruin that sin had wrought。
The Son of God； heaven's glorious Commander； was touched with pity for the
fallen race。 His heart was moved with infinite compassion as the woes of the
lost world rose up before Him。 But divine love had conceived a plan whereby
man might be redeemed。 The broken law of God demanded the life of the
sinner。 In all the universe there was but one who could； in behalf of man；
satisfy its claims。 Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself； only
one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression。 None but
Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again
into harmony with Heaven。 Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame
of sinsin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and
His Son。 Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined
race。
Before the Father He pleaded in the sinner's behalf； while the host of
heaven awaited the result with an intensity of interest that words cannot
express。 Long continued was that mysterious communing〃the counsel of
peace〃 （Zechariah 6：13） for the fallen sons of men。 The plan of salvation
had been laid before the creation of the earth； for Christ is 〃the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world〃 （Revelation 13：8）； yet it was a
struggle； even with the King of the universe； to yield up His Son to die for
the guilty race。 But 〃God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten
Son； that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish； but have everlasting
life。〃 John 3：16。 Oh； the mystery of
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redemption！ the love of God for a world that did not love Him！ Who can know
the depths of that love which 〃passeth knowledge〃？ Through endless ages
immortal minds； seeking to comprehend the mystery of that incomprehensible
love； will wonder and adore。
God was to be manifest in Christ； 〃reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2
Corinthians 5：19。 Man had become so degraded by sin that it was impossible
for him； in himself； to come into harmony with Him whose nature is purity
and goodness。 But Christ； after having redeemed man from the condemnation of
the law； could impart divine power to unite with human effort。 Thus by
repentance toward God and faith in Christ the fallen children of Adam might
once more become 〃sons of God。〃 1 John 3：2。
The plan by which alone man's salvation could be secured； involved all
heaven in its infinite sacrifice。 The angels could not rejoice as Christ
opened before them the plan of redemption； for they saw that man's salvation
must cost their loved Commander unutterable woe。 In grief and wonder they
listened to His words as He told them how He must descend from heaven's
purity and peace； its joy and glory and immortal life； and come in contact
with the degradation of earth； to endure its sorrow； shame； and death。 He
was to stand between the sinner and the penalty of sin； yet few would
receive Him as the Son of God。 He would leave His high position as the
Majesty of heaven； appear upon earth and humble Himself as a man； and by His
own experience become acquainted with the sorrows and temptations which man
would have to endure。 All this would be necessary in order that He might be
able to succor them that should be tempted。 Hebrews 2：18。 When His mission
as a teacher should be ended； He must be delivered into the hands of wicked
men and be subjected to every insult and torture that Satan could inspire
them to inflict。 He must die the cruelest of deaths； lifted up between the
heavens and the earth as a guilty sinner。 He must pass long hours of agony
so terrible that angels could not look upon it； but would veil their faces
from the sight。 He must endure anguish of soul； the hiding of His Father's
face； while the guilt of transgression the weight of the sins of the whole
worldshould be upon Him。
The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander and offered
to become a sacrifice for man。 But an angel's
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life could not pay the debt； only He who created man had power to redeem
him。 Yet the angels were to have a part to act in the plan of redemption。
Christ was to be made 〃a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death。〃 Hebrews 2：9。 As He should take human nature upon Him； His strength
would not be equal to theirs； and they were to minister to Him； to
strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings。 They were also to be
ministering
