“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He first loved us . . . and sent His Son to be the propitiation* (atonement) for our sins . . . !”
I John 4:9-10 and 4:19
The Mercy Seat is Opened to All –
Christ was nailed to the cross between the third and sixth hour, that is, between nine and twelve o’clock. In the afternoon He died. This was the hour of the evening sacrifice. Then the veil of the temple, that which hid God’s glory (ref: Exodus 33 and 34) from the view of the congregation of Israel, was rent in twain from top to bottom.
Through Christ the hidden glory of the holy of holies was to stand revealed. He had suffered death for every man, and by this offering (II Corinthians 4:4-6 & Hebrews 10:10-20) the sons of men were to become the sons of God . . .
With open (unveiled) face, beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the LORD, believers in Christ were to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. The mercy seat, upon which the glory of God rested in the holiest of all, is opened to all who accept Christ as the propitiation* (atonement) for sin, and through its medium, they are brought into fellowship with God. The veil is rent, the partition walls broken down (ref: Ephesians 2:13-15 & Colossians 2:11-13), the handwriting of ordinances canceled (the hand written bill of debt which revealed the penalty of every transgression). By virtue of His blood (Life), the enmity is abolished. Through faith in Christ Jew and Gentile may partake of the Living (Life-giving) Bread !” (ref: Letter 230, 1907 and 5BC 1108.7}).
We are Redeemed by Christ’s Precious Blood !
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood (Life) of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 1:18-19.
Every soul is precious, because it has been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Satan may whisper, “You are too great a sinner for Christ to save.” While you acknowledge that you are indeed sinful and unworthy, you may meet the tempter with the cry, “By virtue of the atonement, I claim Christ as my Saviour. I trust not to my own merits (worthiness), but to the precious blood of Jesus, which cleanses me !”
You cannot save yourself from the tempter’s power, but he trembles and flees when the merits (worthiness and value) of that precious blood are urged. The Lord loves you __________ (your name) He is dearer to you than any earthly tie, than any earthly object. Consider how preciously near you may keep to One Who is your strength and efficiency. Live not in the shadow of the cross, but on the sunny side of the cross, where the Sun of righteousness may shine into your heart.
That ye may “shew forth the praises of Him, Who hath called you out of darkness (obscurity, doubt and fear), and into His marvelous Light . . . !” I Peter 2:9
We are to have free access to the atoning blood of Christ. This we must regard as the most precious privilege, the greatest blessing, ever granted to sinful man. And how little is made of this great gift! How deep, how wide and continuous is this stream. To every soul thirsting after holiness there is repose, there is rest, there is the quickening (Life-giving) influence of the Holy Spirit, and then the holy, happy, peaceful walk and precious communion with Christ. Then, O then, can we intelligently say with John, “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.”
“In that day there shall be a Fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness . . . !” Zechariah 13:1
Talk it, pray it. Let it be the theme of sacred song,–to be washed, to be cleansed; the believing soul claims that love, and by its virtues stands before the throne of God pardoned, justified, sanctified. . . . Its cleansing virtue gives strength and vigor to faith, power to prayer, and happiness in cheerful obedience.
– Sons and Daughters of God, p.224
We are Cleansed by Christ’s Blood –
“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I John 1:7
Some speak of the Jewish age as a Christless period, without mercy or grace. To such are applicable the Words of Christ to the Sadducees, “Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God.” The period of the Jewish economy was one of wonderful manifestations of Divine power. So glorious was the revealing of His Presence that it could not be borne by mortal man. Moses, who was so highly favored of God, exclaimed, “I do exceedingly fear and quake.” But God strengthened him to endure this excellent glory, and to bring from the mount a reflection of it upon his face so that the people could not look steadfastly upon it. . . .
The very system of sacrifices was devised by Christ, and given to Adam as typifying a Saviour to come, Who would bear the sins of the world, and die for its redemption. Through Moses, Christ gave definite directions to the children of Israel in regard to the sacrificial offerings. . . . Only clean and precious animals, those which would best symbolize Christ, were accepted as offerings to God. . . .
The Israelites were forbidden to eat the fat or the blood. . . . This law not only related to beasts for sacrifice, but to all cattle which were used for food. This law was to impress upon them the important fact that if there had been no sin there would have been no shedding of blood. . . .
The blood of the Son of God was symbolized by the blood of the slain victim, and God would have clear and definite ideas preserved between the sacred and the common. Blood was sacred, inasmuch as through the shedding of the blood of the Son of God alone could there be atonement for sin. Blood was also used to cleanse the sanctuary from the sins of the people, thus typifying the blood of Christ which alone can cleanse from sin.
– Sons and Daughters of God, p.225
Atonement Through Christ’s Blood
“We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement !” Romans 5:11.
Thank God that He Who spilled His blood for us, lives to plead it, lives to make intercession for every soul who receives Him. “For in that He died, He died unto sin once . . . but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God !” Romans 6:10
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and He is just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin“. . . . We need to keep ever before us the efficacy* of the blood of Jesus. That life-cleansing, life-sustaining blood, appropriated by living faith, is our hope. We need to grow in appreciation of its inestimable value, for it speaks for us only as we by faith claim its virtue, keeping the conscience clean and at peace with God.
This is represented as the pardoning blood, inseparably connected with the resurrection and Life of our Redeemer, illustrated by the ever-flowing stream that proceeds from the throne of God, the Water of the River of Life. ref:Revelation22:21-22 & Isaiah 12:1-6
The wonderful symbol of the living bird dipped in the blood of the bird slain and then set free to its joyous life [Leviticus 14:4-8], is to us the symbol of the atonement. There were death and life blended, presenting to the searcher for Truth and hidden treasure, the union of the pardoning blood with the resurrection and Life of our Redeemer. The bird slain was over living (active, Life-giving) water; that flowing stream was a symbol of the ever flowing, ever cleansing efficacy of the blood of Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. . . .
We are to have free access to the atoning blood of Christ. This we must regard as the most precious privilege, the greatest blessing, ever granted to sinful man. . . . How deep, how wide and continuous is this stream! To every soul thirsting after holiness there is repose, there is rest, there is the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit, and then the holy, happy, peaceful walk and precious communion with Christ.
{SD 226.4}
We are Justified by Christ’s Blood !
“God commendeth (demonstrated) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died (in exchange) for us. Much more then, being now justified* by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him !”
Romans 5:8-9.
Justified = rendered, declared innocent, holy and righteous !
Christ has made reconciliation for sin, and has borne all its ignominy, reproach, and punishment; and yet while bearing sin, He has brought in everlasting righteousness, so that the believer is spotless before God. . . .
“For if, when we were enemies . . . we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more now, being reconciled, we shall be saved (delivered, set free, and healed) by His Life . . . !” Romans 5:10-11
“For by His stripes we are healed . . . Yea, all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him, the iniquity of us all . . . !” Isaiah 53:3-6 and Matthew 8:17 and I Peter 2:22-24
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin . . . so that we might be made the righteousness of God, in Him !” II Corinthians 5:21
But there are many who claim to be children of God who are resting their hopes upon other dependencies, rather than on the blood of Christ alone. When urged to rest their faith wholly upon Christ as a complete Saviour, many reveal the fact that they have faith in something that they think they can do. They say, “I have a great deal to do before I can be fit to come to Christ.” Another says, “When I have done to the uttermost all that I can do, then the Lord Jesus will come to my help.” They imagine that they have a great deal to do themselves to save their own souls, and that Jesus will come in and piece out that part which is lacking, and give the finishing stroke to their Salvation (deliverance, rescue, freedom, healing and restoration). These poor souls will not be strong in God until they accept Christ as a Complete Saviour. They can add nothing to their Salvation !
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation . . . old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new . . . For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation . . . !”
II Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15
The Israelites were required to sprinkle the door-posts with the blood of a slain lamb, in order that when the angel of death passed through the land, they might escape destruction. But if instead of doing this simple act of faith and obedience, they had barricaded the door, and taken every precaution to keep the destroying angel out, their pains would have been in vain. . . . When the blood was seen upon the door-post, it was enough. The salvation of the house was assured. So it is in the work of Salvation; it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth from all sin.
Through the merits (worthiness, value) of His blood, you may overcome every spiritual foe, and remedy every defect of character.
– Sons and Daughters of God, p.227
Sons of God Through Christ’s Blood ?
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new (recently slain) and Living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh . . .” Hebrews 10:19-20.
Christ was nailed to the cross between the third and sixth hour, that is between nine and twelve o’clock. In the afternoon He died. This was the hour of the evening sacrifice. Then the veil of the temple, that which hid God’s glory from the view of the congregation of Israel, was rent in twain from top to bottom.
Through Christ the hidden glory of the holy of holies was to stand revealed. He had suffered death for every man, and by this offering,* the sons of men were to become the sons of God . . . “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified . . . !” Hebrews 10:10-14
With open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, believers in Christ were to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory. The mercy seat, upon which the glory of God rested in the holiest of all, is opened to all who accept Christ as the propitiation* (atonement – at-one-ment) for sin, and through its medium, they are brought into fellowship with God. The veil is rent, the partition walls broken down, the handwriting of ordinances cancelled. By virtue of His blood the enmity is abolished !
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,* so that we might obtain mercy, and find grace* (G5485 – the Divine Influence) to help in time of need . . .!”
Hebrews 4:14-16
The simple story of the cross of Christ, His suffering and dying for the world, His resurrection and ascension, His mediation (as our great High Priest) in the sinner’s behalf before the Father, subdues and breaks the hard and sinful heart, and brings the sinner to repentance. The Holy Spirit sets the matter before him in a new light, and the sinner realizes that sin must be a tremendous evil to cost such a sacrifice to atone for it. . . .
How grievous must sin be that no less a remedy than the death of the Son of God could save man from the consequences of his guilt. Why was this done in behalf of man?– It was because God loved you _________ (your name), and was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, believe in Jesus as a personal Saviour, and have Life Eternal !
“For this is the record (evidence, testimony), that God hath given unto us Eternal Life . . . and this Life is in His Son !” I John 5:11-12
– Sons and Daughters of God, p.228
We Are Reconciled to God by Christ’s Death !
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more now, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life !”
Romans 5:10.
The cross is invested with a power that language cannot express. Christ’s sacrifice in behalf of the human race puts to shame our meager efforts and methods to meet and uplift humanity, to help sinful men and women to find Jesus.
The work of the sons and daughters of God must be of a different character than has yet been manifested by a large number. If they love Jesus, they will have enlarged ideas of the love that has been expressed for fallen man, which required the provision of so expensive an offering* (a bloodless sacrifice – Romans 12:1) to save the human race.
By One Sacrifice, and by One Offering – ref: Hebrews 10:10-23
Our Saviour asks the cooperation of every son and daughter of Adam who has become a son or daughter of God. . . . Our Saviour declares that He brought from heaven as a donation Eternal Life. He was to be lifted up upon the cross of Calvary to draw all men unto Him. How then shall we treat the purchased inheritance of Christ? Tenderness, appreciation, kindness, sympathy, and love should be shown to them. Then we may work to help and bless one another. In this work we have more than human brotherhood. We have the exalted companionship of heavenly angels. They cooperate with us in the work of enlightening high and low.
Having engaged in the work, the amazing work of our redemption, Christ determined in council with His Father (Zechariah 6:12-13) to spare nothing, however costly . . . to withhold nothing however highly it might be estimated, that would rescue the poor sinner. He would give all heaven to this work of Salvation, of restoring the moral image of God in man. . . .
To be a child of God is to be one (ekh-awd – united) with Christ in God, and to put forth our hands in earnest, self-sacrificing love to strengthen and bless the souls that are perishing in their sins . . . ! ref: John 17:21
– Sons and Daughters of God, p.230