Loving Unity

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1, 2).

The need for unity in the church

"Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose," (Phil. 2:2).

·         One of the signs of apostasy (falling from the truth) in the Christian Church is the bickering and disunity among Christians. 

·          Jesus said that the world would know that we were His disciples by the love that we have for one another (John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ).

·           In Col. 3:14 (And above all these things put on charity/LOVE, which is the bond of perfectness.)  it says that love is the perfect bond of unity.

·          The New Testament speaks about us being unified in Christ (Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ). 

·          In response to Christians who follow after individuals rather than Jesus, Paul says that Christ is not divided (1 Cor. 1:12-13 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ). 

“This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12, 13).

Ask yourself what is most important in life. Is it your relationship with God?  If it is, and it should be, should you not also be seeking the same thing that God wants?  Should you not also be seeking to love one another as Christ commanded us? Love is the perfect bond of unity

The Christian church, as a whole, needs to repent. We need to look at ourselves. We need to look at our churches. We need to look at one another and decide that we will stand on the essential doctrines of the faith and that we will be united against the enemy. Those of us who are united by the blood of Christ are not enemies with one another.  It may be difficult for many of us to look lovingly into the eyes of those of a different denomination without thinking in our hearts that they are wrong about this doctrine or that doctrine.  But, we need to be reminded that there is neither a Presbyterian nor a Baptist nor a Lutheran on the throne of God.

How Important Is Church Unity?

Unity Reveals the Reality of God's Kingdom. A truly united church on earth reveals that its members are serious in their expectation of living together in heaven. Unity on earth demonstrates the reality of God's eternal kingdom. To those who live in this way the Scripture will be fulfilled,

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).

Primarily, it is the saving work of Christ that unites us. We have, as a common heritage, the blood of Christ that has been shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  True Christians serve the true and living God and we know Jesus in a personal and intimate way (1 Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  ). We have been redeemed by God himself.  Furthermore, we have the body of Scriptures which tell us the essentials of the faith and deviating from these essentials means to be outside the camp of Christ.  It is the essential doctrines that we must know and unite in.

 THE PRAYER FOR UNITY BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23).

·         But what if the world began to see the Christian Church uniting in spite of its differences?

·         What if the world started to see how the Christian Church started to love not only their own church members but other church members?

·          What do you think the world would say if the churches' bickering stopped?

·         What do you think the unbelievers would say if they saw us living more and more the loving attitude and a sacrificial life of Christ across denominational barriers?

·          It would be a tremendous witness for Christ. It would be a tremendous assault on the enemy and I know that God would use it mightily to bring others to Himself by his grace.

What should we do to bring unity wherever possible?

We need to look at our own hearts and our own minds and compare them to Jesus and the Scripture. Where ever the two are not in agreement, it is we who need to change.  We need to pray that the Lord would provide opportunities to work with other Christians across denominational lines.  We need to recognize that we have differences of opinions and worship styles and that that is okay.  But we need to lift each other up and be united in Christ.

 “In spite of all the good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independently of those connected with him. Occasional and uncertain movements, however earnest and energetic, will in the end bring defeat. Take a strong team of horses. If, instead of both pulling together, one should suddenly jerk forward and the other pull back, they would not move the load, notwithstanding their great strength. So the soldiers of Christ must work in concert, else there will be a mere concourse of independent atoms. Strength, instead of being carefully treasured to meet one great end, will be wasted in disconcerted, meaningless efforts. In union is strength. A few men and women who unite together, having the glory of God in view, will be growing in strength and wisdom, and gaining new victories” (Signs of the Times, Sept. 7, 1891, par. 7).

What's Your Horoscope Today?

as·trol·o·gy/əˈsträləjē/

Noun: The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs.

More interestingly   "Astrologers believe these bodies and their movements reflect that person's character. The knowledge of the person's character and their relation to the bodies enables astrologers to predict a person's destiny. This prediction is not limited to one person. A prediction could be for an individual, group or nation."(The Mystery of Astrology - by Nicki Tesch)

Most devote Christians do not base their hopes and dreams on the stars or some or other alignment in the zodiac, but rather on " I am the way, the truth, and the life..." John  14:6

 

or do we...?  

 

Let me introduce you to Ilex Aquifolium, or better known as the Holly Tree.

 

So what?

 The Holly tree (Ilex aquifolium) is one of the sacred trees of Wicca/Witchcraft, and was of old a favoured tree of the ancient druids.  In England during the winter, against the barren whiteness of our snow and frost, the Holly tree is an important native evergreen.  Its glossy green leaves and clusters of red berries add a flash of colour to trees without leaves and is one of the most striking plants in the woodlands. Moreover,

Holly is commonly used all over the world as a Christmas decoration, a custom derived from the early Romans who sent boughs of Holly and other gifts to their friends during Saturnalia, the Roman festival of Saturn held around the 17^th of December to celebration of the Winter Solstice.  In an old Christian legend the Holly is said to have sprung up under the footsteps of Christ as he trod the earth, the spines of the leaves became symbolic of “Crown of Thorns”, the red berries representing the drops of blood associated with his suffering.  From this symbology the Holly tree became known as “Christ's Thorn” or the “Holy Tree”.

In pagan folklore the Holly tree is associated with the spirit of vegetation and the waning forces of nature, to which he is personified as a mythical figure called the Holly King.  The Holly King rules nature during its decline from the mid-summer solstice (Litha - Jun 21^st) through to the mid-winter solstice (Yule – Dec 21st).  At each of the solstice Sabbats, the Holly King and his brother the Oak King engage in ritual combat for the attentions of the Goddess, from whence the victor presides over nature through the following half of the year.

In his personification as the Holly King, he is often depicted as an old man dressed in winter clothing wearing a wreath of Holly on his head and walking with the aid of a staff made from a Holly branch.  This is symbolic of the fertile interaction of the Goddess and God during natures decline and the darkest time of the year.  At Yule after his battle with the Oak King, the new light of the sun-God re-emerges to encourage fresh growth during the coming new year.  After the advent of Christianity, and during their Christmas and New Year celebrations, a man would be dressed up and covered in Holly branches and leaves, while a woman was likewise dressed in Ivy (the female counterpart of Holly) and together paraded through the streets leading the old year into the new.(more)

So, what does this have to do with my Horoscope? 

Well,basically everything. First think about the words Holly Tree and ask yourself why it sounds so familiar. But before I break the glass on this one, let us first have a look at one of our most beloved satanic characters, or rather, his utensil.

The wand of Harry Potter.

 

Now, old Harry's wand is 11 inches long, made of holly, with a phoenix feather as its core. The feather is donated by Fawkes, the magical familiar of Albus Dumbledore.

We  all know about the magical spells that Harry can conjure up with his wand, but more especially, how something so powerful is held and controlled by someone so innocent looking and 'righteous' in his course. 

Now we can see that the holly tree is associated with Christ and Harry, but what does the two have in common? Nothing. Except that they in complete contradiction to each other. Christ being our Redeemer and Saviour, and Harry representing man's longing to be a god by his our means with the powers and abilities to set his own destiny and save himself.

 

So once again, what does this have to do with my Horoscope? Remember I ask you to think about the words holly tree. Why does it sound so familiar? What is our most common resource from any tree? Wood. Combine it with Holly.

The stars have never looked so bright. Their magical powers have never been so overpowering. The fruit of the holly has never been so sedating. The stars of our horoscope has never been so within our reach. The stars determine what we eat, what we drink, how we spend our money, how we deal with our marriages, how to love and what to do when we hate, but more importantly, the stars shows us that we can be gods, that we are in control of our own destiny, that we can save ourselves.

This earthly zodiac has become even more powerful than the heavenly zodiac of the ancients. Satan has really out done himself. Now he can proclaim his mission openly and none of us is the wiser. We have been mesmerized by the flashing lights of hope and prosperity offered by the holly. We have been sedated by the slow killing poison of its fruits. The stars have shown to us that it is okay to live without God because we are our own gods. It is okay to betray, to murder, to lie, to steal, because man will serve his own justice and redeem himself by his own deeds. 

 

We have found our true idols. They know everything that we go through. They show it to us in their bible, the big screen. We laugh with them, cry with them and even die like them. We share holly communion with them in the form of drugs and alcohol.They offer sanctuary in their bosoms as long as we keep our distance.

 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

So, have the elect engaged themselves in star gazing? How long will God allow this time of Noah to continue? Has satan really crept this deep into our lives and numbed us in such a way that we see his most brilliant deception by which he keeps millions captive as acceptable. Do we need to search our hearts and ask ourselves why is it that the suffering of others has become tolerable? We that believe ourselves to be awake and wise in the practices and deceptions of satan might find ourselves more asleep than ever before. How do we free ourselves from this evil in such a beautiful disguise? Or can we by our own powers?

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Secular music and the Christian

by Jillian Vassen

How much thought do we give to the type of music we and especially our children listen to. Is it ok for Christians to listen to secular music?

The Seventh Day Adventist life-style demands that the individual exercise a high degree of discrimination and individual responsibility in the selection of secular music for personal use. All such music should be evaluated in the light of the instructions given in Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

A Christian will not sing songs that are incompatible with the ideals of truth, honesty, and purity. He will avoid elements that give the appearance of making evil desirable or goodness appear trivial. The true Christian is able to witness to others by his choice of secular music for social occasions. He will through careful selection seek out music which will be compatible with his social needs and his Christian principles.

God has woven music into the very fabric of His creation. When he made everything “the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy” Job 38:7.           Because we are made in His image, we share a love and appreciation for music with all created beings. But sin has cast a blight over the creation. The divine image has been marred; in all aspects this world and God’s gifts come to us with a mingling of good and evil. Music is not morally and spiritually neutral. Some may move us to the most exalted human experience; some may be moved by the prince of evil to debase and degrade us, to stir up lust, passion, despair, anger, and even hatred. If a song glorifies what opposes God; a Christian should not listen to it. However there are secular songs with no mention of God that still uphold godly values such as honesty, purity and integrity.

There are a few principles that should guide us when choosing music

1.  Does it glorify God – 1 Cor 10: 31

2.  It should be the noblest and the best Phil 4:8

Because as followers of Jesus Christ we hope and expect to join the heavenly choirs, thus we should view life on this earth as a preparation for and a foretaste of the life to come.

3.  The lyrics should positively stimulate intellectual abilities as well as our emotions and our will power.

Now that we looked at what the content of the lyrics should be. Do you think that the lyrics are all that we should consider? I read through various articles on the subject and most claim that music is neutral and that the Bible nowhere condemns any particular style of music. However there is no doubt that music does change or influence the way that we feel.

Some research has shown that Classical music slows down your heart rate, reduces your distractions and puts your body more at ease. Whereas Rock, R&B , or anything else with a strong beat has the opposite effect.  An increased heart rate adds to nervousness and in extreme cases, contributes to panic attacks. Studies also show that loud, aggressive rhythms can cause long-term damage to organs. This may be one of the reasons why loud and aggressive music is sometimes used as an interrogation method.

A month ago, lyrics and style might have been all I would cover for this topic, but for the past moth I have been watching a series on 3ABN by Past John Lomacang, titled “unclean spirits”. It focussed on the entertainment industry and in particular the music industry. It was eye opening to say the least. I did not watch all 5 seminars, but the little I saw was enough to convince me that this was a topic that needed some attention. In the series he uncovered link between the occult world and the music industry. He showed how some of the most popular artists used occult hand sign and displayed these signs on their cd covers and clothes. With these signs they openly declare whom they are affiliated with.

The past weekend we went to visit my brother in Vereeniging and my youngest brother from Cape Town joined us. He told me that a friend of a friend gave them one of the dvd’s of Past Lomacang to watch. He told me that he was shocked at what he saw and then told his friend that if you listened to that Pastor you would not be able to listen to secular music anymore because after watching the dvd he saw the signs everywhere. Successful artists like Rihanna, Jay-Z and Beyonce are displaying these sign openly and our children are using these signs not knowing what they mean. Other Rock bands have songs that openly mention their affiliation like “sympathy for the devil” by the Rolling Stones.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, let us listen carefully to the lyrics of the music our children listen to. Let us do some research on these artists. I didn’t want to bring some of the pictures of the signs that are on the net to church, but please let us not make light of this subject.

When we have evangelistic campaign we pray on the tracts and material that will be handed out and we ask the Holy Spirit to accompany them and to speak to the mind and heart of the reader. The same is done when these artists releases new cd’s, they envoke evil demons to accompany these cd’s into your house.

And let us not just focus on the music of the youth. Let us go through our own music and clean up our homes.

Have you ever listened to the soothing music of Barry Manilow? Do you remember his song “I write the songs”

Listen to the lyrics.

I Write The Songs lyrics

I've been alive forever
and I wrote the very first song
I put the words and
the melodies together
I am music
And I write the songs

(chorus)
I write the songs
that make the whole world sing
I write the songs
of love and special things
I write the songs
that make the young girls cry
I write the songs
I write the songs

My home lies deep within you
And I've got my own place in your soul
Now when I look out through your eyes
I'm young again, even though I'm very old

(chorus)

Oh my music makes you dance
And gives your spirit
to take a chance
And I wrote some rock 'n roll
so you can move
Music fills your heart
Well that's a real fine
place to start
It's from me, it's for you
It's from you, it's from me
It's a world wide symphony

(chorus)

I am music, and I write the songs

Let us become vigilant when it comes to the music we listen to, let us guard our ears and  not conform to the world.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Amen

Steps to Christ

The Sinner's Need of Christby Ellen G. White Chapter 2

Man was originally endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed. It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he would point to all this evil as the result of God's work in creating man.
In his sinless state, man held joyful communion with Him "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:3. But after his sin, he could no longer find joy in holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God. Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart. It is not in harmony with God, and finds no joy in communion with Him. The sinner could not be happy in God's presence; he would shrink from the companionship of holy beings. Could he be permitted to enter heaven, it would have no joy for him. The spirit of unselfish love that reigns there --every heart responding to the heart of Infinite Love --would touch no answering chord in his soul. His thoughts, his interests, his motives, would be alien to

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those that actuate the sinless dwellers there. He would be a discordant note in the melody of heaven. Heaven would be to him a place of torture; he would long to be hidden from Him who is its light, and the center of its joy. It is no arbitrary decree on the part of God that excludes the wicked from heaven; they are shut out by their own unfitness for its companionship. The glory of God would be to them a consuming fire. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them.
It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.
The Saviour said, "Except a man be born from above," unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, "he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3, margin. The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that

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exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:7. Of Christ it is written, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men"--the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." John 1:4; Acts 4:12.
It is not enough to perceive the loving-kindness of God, to see the benevolence, the fatherly tenderness, of His character. It is not enough to discern the wisdom and justice of His law, to see that it is founded upon the eternal principle of love. Paul the apostle saw all this when he exclaimed, "I consent unto the law that it is good." "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." But he added, in the bitterness of his soul-anguish and despair, "I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:16, 12, 14. He longed for the purity, the righteousness, to which in himself he was powerless to attain, and cried out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24, margin. Such is the cry that has gone up from burdened hearts in all lands and in all ages. To all, there is but one answer, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.
Many are the figures by which the Spirit of God has sought to illustrate this truth, and make it plain to souls that long to be freed from the burden of guilt. When, after his sin in deceiving Esau, Jacob fled from his father's home, he was weighed down with a sense

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of guilt. Lonely and outcast as he was, separated from all that had made life dear, the one thought that above all others pressed upon his soul, was the fear that his sin had cut him off from God, that he was forsaken of Heaven. In sadness he lay down to rest on the bare earth, around him only the lonely hills, and above, the heavens bright with stars. As he slept, a strange light broke upon his vision; and lo, from the plain on which he lay, vast shadowy stairs seemed to lead upward to the very gates of heaven, and upon them angels of God were passing up and down; while from the glory above, the divine voice was heard in a message of comfort and hope. Thus was made known to Jacob that which met the need and longing of his soul--a Saviour. With joy and gratitude he saw revealed a way by which he, a sinner, could be restored to communion with God. The mystic ladder of his dream represented Jesus, the only medium of communication between God and man.
This is the same figure to which Christ referred in His conversation with Nathanael, when He said, "Ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:51. In the apostasy, man alienated himself from God; earth was cut off from heaven. Across the gulf that lay between, there could be no communion. But through Christ, earth is again linked with heaven. With His own merits, Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had made, so that the ministering angels can hold communion with man. Christ connects fallen man in his weakness and helplessness with the Source of infinite power.

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But in vain are men's dreams of progress, in vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity, if they neglect the one Source of hope and help for the fallen race. "Every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17) is from God. There is no true excellence of character apart from Him. And the only way to God is Christ. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.
The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Saviour's life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings,--all are enlisted in behalf of man's redemption.
Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father's house. Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages--are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart's loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?
And, on the other hand, the judgments of God pronounced against sin, the inevitable retribution, the

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degradation of our character, and the final destruction, are presented in God's word to warn us against the service of Satan.
Shall we not regard the mercy of God? What more could He do? Let us place ourselves in right relation to Him who has loved us with amazing love. Let us avail ourselves of the means provided for us that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to harmony and communion with the Father and the Son.

Steps to Christ

CHAPTER 1

God's Love for Man

by Ellen G. White

Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. In the beautiful words of the psalmist--
"The eyes of all wait upon Thee;

And Thou givest them their meat in due season.

Thou openest Thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing."

Psalm 145:15, 16.

God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the Creator's hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of God's law--the law of love--that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God's love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for man's sake. Genesis 3:17. The thorn and the thistle--the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care--were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The
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world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses.
"God is love" is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green -- all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy.
The word of God reveals His character. He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed, "Show me Thy glory," the Lord answered, "I will make all My goodness pass before thee." Exodus 33:18, 19. This is His glory. The Lord passed before Moses, and proclaimed, "The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." Exodus 34:6, 7. He is "slow to anger, and of great kindness," "because He delighteth in mercy." Jonah 4:2; Micah 7:18.
God has bound our hearts to Him by unnumbered tokens in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature, and the deepest and tenderest earthly ties that human hearts can know, He has sought to reveal Himself to us. Yet these but imperfectly represent His love. Though all these evidences have been given, the enemy of good blinded the minds of men, so that they looked upon God with fear; they thought of
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Him as severe and unforgiving. Satan led men to conceive of God as a being whose chief attribute is stern justice,--one who is a severe judge, a harsh, exacting creditor. He pictured the Creator as a being who is watching with jealous eye to discern the errors and mistakes of men, that He may visit judgments upon them. It was to remove this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men. { 10.3}
The Son of God came from heaven to make manifest the Father. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18. "Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." Matthew 11:27. When one of the disciples made the request, "Show us the Father," Jesus answered, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" John 14:8, 9.

In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, The Lord "hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18. This was His work. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house, for He had passed through them and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of
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His life; His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man's nature, that He might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love.
Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, which refused to receive Him, the way, the truth, and the life. They had rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He ever bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save.
Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life. This is the character of God. It is from the Father's heart that the streams of divine compassion, manifest in Christ, flow out to the children of men. Jesus, the tender, pitying Saviour, was God "manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16.
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It was to redeem us that Jesus lived and suffered and died. He became "a Man of Sorrows," that we might be made partakers of everlasting joy. God permitted His beloved Son, full of grace and truth, to come from a world of indescribable glory, to a world marred and blighted with sin, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse. He permitted Him to leave the bosom of His love, the adoration of the angels, to suffer shame, insult, humiliation, hatred, and death. "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5. Behold Him in the wilderness, in Gethsemane, upon the cross! The spotless Son of God took upon Himself the burden of sin. He who had been one with God, felt in His soul the awful separation that sin makes between God and man. This wrung from His lips the anguished cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46. It was the burden of sin, the sense of its terrible enormity, of its separation of the soul from God--it was this that broke the heart of the Son of God.
But this great sacrifice was not made in order to create in the Father's heart a love for man, not to make Him willing to save. No, no! "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." John 3:16. The Father loves us, not because of the great propitiation, but He provided the propitiation because He loves us. Christ was the medium through which He could pour out His infinite love upon a fallen world. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. God suffered with His Son. In the agony of Gethsemane, the death of
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Calvary, the heart of Infinite Love paid the price of our redemption.
Jesus said, "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again." John 10:17. That is, "My Father has so loved you that He even loves Me more for giving My life to redeem you. In becoming your Substitute and Surety, by surrendering My life, by taking your liabilities, your transgressions, I am endeared to My Father; for by My sacrifice, God can be just, and yet the Justifier of him who believeth in Jesus."
None but the Son of God could accomplish our redemption; for only He who was in the bosom of the Father could declare Him. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it manifest. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man could express the Father's love to lost humanity.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." He gave Him not only to live among men, to bear their sins, and die their sacrifice. He gave Him to the fallen race. Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of humanity. He who was one with God has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that are never to be broken. Jesus is "not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11); He is our Sacrifice, our Advocate, our Brother, bearing our human form before the Father's throne, and through eternal ages one with the race He has redeemed--the Son of man. And all this that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin that he might reflect the love of God and share the joy of holiness.
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The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired apostle John beheld the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love toward the perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence; and, failing to find suitable language in which to express the greatness and tenderness of this love, he called upon the world to behold it. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1. What a value this places upon man! Through transgression the sons of man become subjects of Satan. Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ the sons of Adam may become the sons of God. By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. Fallen men are placed where, through connection with Christ, they may indeed become worthy of the name "sons of God."
Such love is without a parallel. Children of the heavenly King! Precious promise! Theme for the most profound meditation! The matchless love of God for a world that did not love Him! The thought has a subduing power upon the soul and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God. The more we study the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, and the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child.