Psalm 34:22 “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
ABSTRACT
God’s plan of salvation, revealed through scripture, offers humanity a path to escape the penalty of sin through Christ’s sacrifice. This article explores the divine provision of enmity against sin, the necessity of Christ’s atoning death, the symbolism of the sanctuary, and the assurance of God’s presence through anointing, all pointing to eternal restoration with God.
DIVINE ENMITY AGAINST SIN!
The wages of sin is death, as clearly stated in Romans 6:23, and humanity faces this fate due to its fallen nature. How shall we escape this judgment? God provides a way of escape by instilling in us enmity against sin. This divine provision of hostility toward sin is first revealed in Genesis 3:14-15, where God declares the enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman. The serpent is identified as Satan (Revelation 12:9), and the seed of the woman, also referred to as the seed of Abraham, is none other than Christ (Galatians 3:16). This enmity is a gift from God, allowing humanity to hate sin and the devil. John 1:9 speaks of the True Light placed within each person, empowering everyone to become an enemy of Satan. However, in our sinful state, such hatred of sin is unnatural (Romans 6:16). Without God’s provision, the natural man remains inclined toward sin, as explained in Romans 8:5, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.” Scriptures further affirm this truth in Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me,” and Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Sr. White emphasizes, “Through the grace of Christ, we may be strengthened to overcome the tendencies to evil that are inherent in our nature” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 176, 1905). She also notes, “The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought” (Steps to Christ, p. 43, 1892). Thus, through this enmity, the path to salvation is opened. Can we grasp the victory Christ secured for us?
CHRIST’S SACRIFICE TRIUMPHS OVER DEATH!
In Genesis 3:15, God not only reveals the enmity against sin but also prophesies the ultimate defeat of Satan. The bruising of the serpent’s head signifies the destruction of the devil, but first, the seed, which is Christ, must suffer the bruising of His heel. This refers to Christ’s crucifixion, where He bore the sins of humanity, granting salvation and victory over death (Romans 5:6). Through His death and resurrection, Christ overcomes the power of death and the devil, as confirmed in Hebrews 2:14-15. Christ’s victory over death is further explained in Romans 8:2-3, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Only Christ could achieve this victory, as He is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). His sacrificial act was planned before the foundation of the world, as noted in Revelation 13:8, and it is through this plan that humanity’s redemption is secured. Further scriptures confirm this in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Sr. White writes, “The cross of Christ is the pledge of our fellowship with Him in glory” (The Desire of Ages, p. 83, 1898). She also states, “Through Christ’s redeeming work the government of God stands justified” (The Great Controversy, p. 503, 1911). Christ’s sacrifice ensures our redemption. How does the shedding of blood deepen our understanding of salvation?
BLOODSHED: THE KEY TO ATONEMENT!
The shedding of blood is essential for the forgiveness of sins, a truth that Adam and Eve had to understand after their fall. As Hebrews 9:22 states, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In Genesis 3:21, God provided Adam and Eve with garments of skin, symbolizing the necessity of bloodshed for atonement. This act pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God, as seen in Genesis 4:2-4 and confirmed by John the Baptist in John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Through this symbol, humanity was to remember the price of salvation. To further illustrate the magnitude of this sacrifice, God commanded the construction of a sanctuary where He could dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8). The sanctuary not only symbolized the reconciliation between God and humanity, but it also foreshadowed the ultimate reunion between God and man, as described in Revelation 21:3-4. Additional verses reinforce this in Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls,” and 1 John 1:7, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Sr. White explains, “The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 357, 1890). She further notes, “The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men” (The Great Controversy, p. 488, 1911). The sanctuary points to Christ’s atoning work. What role does the sanctuary play in restoring our connection with God?
SANCTUARY: GOD’S DWELLING WITH MAN!
The sanctuary service was central to restoring the relationship between God and man, which sin had severed (Isaiah 59:2). Through the sanctuary, God’s presence could once again dwell among His people, as described in Exodus 25:8, “That I may dwell among them.” This service pointed forward to the work of Christ, who would ultimately restore humanity’s connection with God. Revelation 21:3-4 affirms that God’s final plan is to dwell with His people forever, bringing full restoration to the Edenic relationship that was lost. Only by studying the sanctuary can we fully grasp the depth of this plan and answer the profound question raised in Job 25:4, “How then can man be righteous before God?” The sanctuary reveals the answer: through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, humanity can be reconciled with God and escape the penalty of sin. Scriptures affirm this in Psalm 77:13, “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” and Hebrews 8:1-2, “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary.” Sr. White declares, “The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men” (The Great Controversy, p. 488, 1911). She also writes, “The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844” (The Great Controversy, p. 423, 1911). The sanctuary unveils God’s plan of salvation. How does anointing the sick reflect God’s continued presence?
ANOINTING: GOD’S HEALING PRESENCE!
Anointing the sick represents God’s continued presence with His people. Anointing serves as a reminder of the promise found in Revelation 21:3-4, where God dwells with His people, offering healing and hope even in their suffering. This act reflects God’s ongoing work of restoration, as seen in James 5:14-15, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick.” Through anointing, God’s compassion is manifest, assuring believers of His care. Additional verses confirm this in Psalm 30:2, “O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me,” and Isaiah 53:5, “With his stripes we are healed.” Sr. White notes, “The same power that Christ exercised when He walked visibly among men is in His word” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 122, 1905). She further states, “God’s healing power runs all through nature” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 127, 1905). Anointing symbolizes God’s promise of restoration and healing.
John 3:16, KJV: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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