Sabbath, July 21, 2007

“Nearly two thousand years ago, a voice of mysterious import was heard in heaven, from the throne of God, ‘Lo, I come. Sacrifice and offering Thou would­est not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me…. Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.’ Hebrews 10:5-7. In these words is announced the fulfillment of the purpose that had been hidden from eternal ages. Christ was about to visit our world, and to become incarnate.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 23.

God’s Purpose For Man

1. What was God’s original purpose for man?
Genesis 1:27, 28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

“When Adam came from the Creator’s hand, he bore, in his physical, mental, and spiritual nature, a likeness to his Maker. ‘God created man in His own image’ (Genesis 1:27), and it was His purpose that the longer man lived the more fully he should reveal this image–the more fully reflect the glory of the Creator. All his faculties were capable of development; their capacity and vigor were continually to increase.” –Education, p. 15.

“God created the earth to be the abode of holy, happy beings.” –The Ad­ventist Home, p. 540.

“The tree of life was designed to perpetuate immortality.” –The Youth’s Instructor, August 1, 1852.

2. Sadly, how did the deceitful enemy entice man to give away the source of his happiness?
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

“He tempts men to distrust God’s love and to doubt His wisdom. He is constantly seeking to excite a spirit of irreverent curiosity, a restless, inquisitive desire to penetrate the secrets of divine wisdom and power. In their efforts to search out what God has been pleased to withhold, multi­tudes overlook the truths which He has revealed, and which are essential to salvation. Satan tempts men to disobedience by leading them to believe they are entering a wonderful field of knowledge. But this is all a decep­tion.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 54, 55.

God’s Plan For Man’s Reconciliation

3. After man fell into sin, what plan was immediately put into action to reconcile him to God? Genesis 3:15. Actually, when was this plan conceived?
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
1 Peter 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

“The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the fall, there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon, and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 131.

“When the curse was pronounced upon the earth and upon man, in con­nection with the curse was a promise that through Christ there was hope and pardon for the transgression of God’s law. Although gloom and dark­ness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ.” –The Review and Herald, April 29, 1875.

“The purpose and plan of grace existed from all eternity. Before the foundation of the world it was according to the determinate counsel of God that man should be created, endowed with power to do the divine will. But the defection of man, with all its consequences, was not hidden from the Omnipotent, and yet it did not deter Him from carrying out His eternal purpose; for the Lord would establish His throne in righteousness. God knows the end from the beginning…. Therefore redemption was not an afterthought,… but an eternal purpose to be wrought out for the blessing not only of this atom of a world but for the good of all the worlds which God has created.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 129.

4. What was absolutely necessary for Adam and Eve to be rec­onciled with their Maker?
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

“Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.” –The Review and Herald, April 29, 1875.

“Faithfully did he

[Adam] repent of his sin and trust in the merits of the promised Saviour, and he died in the hope of a resurrection.” –The Adventist Home, p. 541.

Some People Answer God’s Call

5. How did Cain and Abel each respond to the gracious gift of redemption?
Genesis 4:3-5 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

“These brothers were tested, as Adam had been tested before them, to prove whether they would believe and obey the word of God. They were ac­quainted with the provision made for the salvation of man, and understood the system of offerings which God had ordained. They knew that in these offerings they were to express faith in the Saviour whom the offerings typified, and at the same time to acknowledge their total dependence on Him for pardon; and they knew that by thus conforming to the divine plan for their redemption, they were giving proof of their obedience to the will of God. Without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin; and they were to show their faith in the blood of Christ as the promised atonement by offering the firstlings of the flock in sacrifice. Besides this, the first fruits of the earth were to be presented before the Lord as a thank offering.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 71.

6. Who else trusted in and obeyed the prophesied Redeemer to come? Genesis 6:8, 9. What act testified to his strong faith?
Genesis 6:8, 9 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

“Noah did not forget God who had so graciously preserved them, but immediately [on coming out of the ark] erected an altar and … offered burnt offerings on the altar, showing his faith in Christ the great sacrifice, and manifesting his gratitude to God for their wonderful preservation. The offering of Noah came up before God like a sweet savor. He accepted the offering, and blessed Noah and his family.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. l32.

Accepting God’s Answer By Faith

7. What hope was offered when the Redeemer came and shed His blood for the human race?
2 Corinthians 5:19, 21 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

“Not only man but the earth had by sin come under the power of the wicked one, and was to be restored by the plan of redemption. At his cre­ation Adam was placed in dominion over the earth. But by yielding to temptation, he was brought under the power of Satan. ‘Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.’ 2 Peter 2:19. When man became Satan’s captive, the dominion which he held, passed to his conqueror. Thus Satan became ‘the god of this world.’ 2 Corinthians 4:4. He had usurped that dominion over the earth which had been originally given to Adam. But Christ, by His sacrifice paying the penalty of sin, would not only redeem man, but recover the dominion which he had forfeited. All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 67.

8. How is this offer of salvation accepted by God’s children?
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

“If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become better through your own efforts?… There is help for us only in God. We must not wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers. We can do nothing for ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are.

“Yield yourself to Christ without delay; He alone, by the power of His grace, can redeem you from ruin.” –The Faith I Live By, p. 133.

Conclusion

“Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He de­serves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. ‘With His stripes we are healed.’ ” –The Desire of Ages, p. 25.