REDEMPTION’S GLORIOUS QUEST!

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

ABSTRACT

This article delves into the profound impact of sin on humanity’s relationship with God, exploring the separation it causes and the divine plan for restoration through Jesus Christ. It examines expressions of God’s love, the hope found in the new covenant, the path to salvation, and the ultimate triumph of redemption.

FALL’S DARK SHADOW FALLS!

Initially, humanity was created perfect and upright, as designed by Jehovah. However, man was subjected to a test, which resulted in the introduction of sin and death into the world. The Bible states, “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12), emphasizing that Adam and Eve’s failure had lasting consequences. This sin caused a separation between man and God, as Isaiah 59:2 declares, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you.” Sin’s entry disrupted harmony, leading to immediate judgment and a broken bond with the Creator. The separation manifests in spiritual death, where humanity struggles without divine connection. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20, KJV). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23, KJV). “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” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 63, 1890). “Sin separates man from God, hiding from him the face of his Maker” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 506, 1889). Humanity’s restoration demands divine intervention, as no effort can bridge this gap alone.

LOVE’S ETERNAL EMBRACE!

God’s love for humanity is evident in His desire to restore the relationship that was broken through sin. Despite mankind’s disobedience, God provided a way for reconciliation through Jesus Christ, as illustrated in Genesis 3:15, where it is foretold that the Seed of the woman would ultimately defeat the serpent. This shows God’s commitment to redeeming humanity even after the fall. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16) underscores the profound depth of this love, demonstrated in the willingness to sacrifice His Son for humanity’s salvation. Divine compassion overcomes rebellion, offering renewal despite unworthiness. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, KJV). “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3, KJV). “From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 11, 1911). “The Lord has a people on the earth, who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. He has His thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 61, 1901). Divine actions reveal unwavering commitment to humankind’s redemption, showing a love that is compassionate and redemptive, ensuring that humanity has a way to return to a right standing with Him. But what if we could embrace this love through a covenant that renews our hearts?

COVENANT’S HOPEFUL DAWN!

Entering the new covenant with the Lord involves a transformation of heart and life, as outlined in Hebrews 10:17-20 and Ezekiel 36:25-28. This covenant is not simply a passive agreement but an active participation in the “new and living way” that Christ provides through His role as our High Priest. The investigative judgment mentioned in Hebrews 10, signifies the ongoing work of Christ in the most holy place in heaven. By receiving a new heart, as described in Ezekiel, we are invited into this covenant, not through Calvary alone but through a present, living relationship with Christ today. This living faith is supported by 1 Peter 1:3-5, which emphasizes the hope we have in Christ as our intercessor, reminding us that our salvation is both secured and lived out in His continual presence as High Priest (Romans 8:34-39). Christ’s intercession extends mercy, drawing us into deeper communion. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Hebrews 8:10, KJV). “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” (Hebrews 10:16, KJV). “The Lord Jesus is making experiments on human hearts through the exhibition of His mercy and abundant grace. He is effecting transformations so amazing that Satan, with all his triumphant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil united against God and the laws of His government, stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions” (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 18, 1923). “In order to gain the victory over every besetment of the enemy, we must lay hold on a power that is out of and beyond ourselves. We must maintain a constant, living connection with Christ, who has power to give victory to every soul that will maintain a living connection with Him” (The Review and Herald, September 16, 1884). The living hope and living faith we hold in Christ are not grounded in the Christ of the past but in the Christ of today, who intercedes for us in heaven. As Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages, we come boldly to the throne of grace, where Christ is seated, having ascended to heaven in human form. His role as our High Priest gives us confidence that we are not alone in our walk of faith. Sr. White further emphasizes this hope in recounting the disciples’ joy after Christ’s ascension (The Desire of Ages, pp. 832-833, 1898). Their unwavering faith in Christ’s return and bold testimony reflected their living hope in Him. This serves as a model for us all, who live in the reality of Christ’s current work in heaven, not merely in the historical memory of Calvary. The evidence of this ongoing work, coupled with the promise of Christ’s return, inspires us to live with both anticipation and active faith. Entering the new covenant requires us to embrace Christ as our living hope and to walk in the new and living way He provides as our High Priest. Hebrews 10:20 reminds us that this way is through His flesh, meaning His sacrifice was not just a past event but a present reality that continues through His intercession in the most holy place. As we look forward to His return, we are called to come boldly to the throne of grace, fully embracing the living Christ who offers us eternal hope. This hope secures our salvation and empowers us to live lives of faithful obedience to His commandments and truth, preparing us for His second coming. As we reflect on the new covenant and our living hope in Christ, it is essential to consider the origins of sin and the process of its eradication. In the beginning, all was perfect and upright, as Genesis 1:31 and Ecclesiastes 7:29 remind us, before sin entered the world, disrupting God’s original plan for humanity. But how does this disruption manifest in our daily struggle against judgment?

SALVATION’S VICTORIOUS PATH!

The wages of sin is death, as clearly stated in Romans 6:23, and humanity faces this fate due to its fallen nature. The question arises: 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.” Thus, through this enmity, the path to salvation is opened. Divine intervention breaks the cycle of bondage, offering liberation from inevitable doom. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, KJV). “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, KJV). “We are not to murmur at our lot, but to be grateful that God bears with our sin and has compassion upon us” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 253, 1876). “God has given to men a declaration of His character and of His method of dealing with sin” (The Great Controversy, p. 541, 1911). In Genesis 3:15, God not only reveals the enmity against sin but also prophesies the ultimate defeat of Satan. The serpent’s head’s bruising signifies the devil’s destruction, 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, where it is said, “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. It is through this plan that humanity’s redemption is secured. Eternal grace triumphs over temporal failure, paving the way for renewed fellowship. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11, KJV). “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” (Revelation 22:17, KJV). “It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him” (The Great Controversy, p. 591, 1911). “The cross of Calvary, while it declares the law immutable, proclaims to the universe that the wages of sin is death” (The Great Controversy, p. 503, 1911). The shedding of blood is essential for forgiving 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. Christ’s blood fulfills what shadows foretold, securing eternal peace. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22, KJV). “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4, KJV). “Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Every offering made for guilt was to deepen in the sinner’s heart the sense of its sacredness” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 352, 1890). “The shedding of blood is central to the plan of redemption because it reminds us of the value of life” (The Great Controversy, p. 346, 1911). 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 complete 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. It is essential to recognize that just as the sanctuary service symbolized the restoration of the relationship between God and man, the act of 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 underscores the importance of God’s ongoing restoration work and His desire to be present with His people in every aspect of their lives. But how does this presence extend to the ultimate fulfillment of redemption?

REDEMPTION’S FINAL TRIUMPH!

God’s redemption plan, initiated after man’s fall, culminates in restoring humanity’s relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. From the moment sin entered the world, God provided a path for salvation, as indicated in Genesis 3:15, where He promises that the Seed of the woman (Christ) will crush the serpent’s head, symbolizing the ultimate defeat of sin and death. This foundational promise is further confirmed in Hebrews 2:14-15, which explains how Christ overcame death through His death and resurrection, breaking the power of sin and providing a way for eternal life. Divine mercy triumphs over human failure, securing eternal harmony. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Hebrews 8:10, KJV). “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9, KJV). “The plan of redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam, but an eternal purpose, suffered 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” (The Signs of the Times, April 25, 1892). “The world’s Redeemer was treated as we deserve, in order that we might be treated as He deserves. He came to our world and took our sins upon His own divine soul, that we might receive His imputed righteousness” (The Review and Herald, January 29, 1895). The evidence of God’s plan is also illustrated through the sanctuary service, which was established as a means for humanity to understand the cost of salvation and the method of reconciliation with God. The sanctuary is a model for how God intends to restore the Edenic relationship between Himself and mankind. It highlights the sacrificial system that points directly to Christ’s atoning work on the cross, further demonstrating God’s commitment to redeeming His people. God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ not only fulfills the promises made after the fall but also reveals His desire to dwell with humanity once again. Through Christ’s sacrifice and the sanctuary’s teaching, God shows His unrelenting love and offers a clear path to reconciliation, ensuring eternal life for all who accept His gift. What does this mean for those who seek to live in harmony with God’s eternal purpose?

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REDEMPTION’S GLORIOUS QUEST!

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