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CHRISTIAN
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HFRALD
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The Vicarious Atonement.
the Scriptural doctrine of the atone
spirit'of wisdom and revelation of which Jesus sent l’aul out to
God’s character their perceptions preach.- The conversion of the
1 notice an article in these ment, is evident from a considera
may become keener and more pene people, therefore, may be called the columns, of Aug. 18, 1882, under tion of such passages as the follow
trating in- order that they may natural effects of these mighty, U+i- above caption It occurs to me ing : “ Christ also, suffered for us.”
comprehend the hope and calling of direct, gjjfaculous forces ; a genera- i that the writer fails to comprehend 1 Peter 2f 21. “ For Christ our
God with the “ riches of the glory tlon from the dreatiun.
¡what is meant, and commonly
4. Hencli our author proceeds to ; taught, by the “ vimrious atone- 5:7. “ Who gave himself for us,
of his inheritance in the saints;”
and from this ¡xisition of attain ajfirm that God had made these ment.” The article may midead that he might redeem us from all
ment in knowledge of divine things Ephesians alive, who were dead in many concerning this subject, and iniquity.” _ Titus 2 : 14. There is
they might all apprehend the ijreat- sin ; in their former st/te they lived is, doubtless, damaging to the cause no “ sin in the abstract” in these
ness of his power toward his chosen according |o the world, obeying the of the Master. For this reason 1 sentences. Certainly
■ * the idea of
ëmbà^iMrs who w<*re. subjects of prince of the power of the air, ask the privilege of reviewing a substitution (Christ’s ’ sacrificial
work for us) is contained in all of
faith by the workings of such animateli by the spirit which yet j few of the sentences
mighty power, as that which raised leads the disobedient. In time past
Passing by, for the present, the the above.’qqotations. And I might
Christ from the dead and exalted they had fully exercised themselves writer’s definitions of the words multiply passages, but deem it un
him to the right hand of G< m 1, far in the lust of the flesh, fulfilled the “ atolie and “ vicarious,” 4 observe necessary. “ Therefore, as by the
above all principality, power, might desires of the flesh and mind, lie that he concludes that “ the vicari offence of one judgment came upon
and dominion, and .elrry name in implies that they were doomed in ous- atonement* of Christ simply all men to condemnation ; even so
all the ages. Therefore, everything this terrible condition, and declares means that. -before God could be by the righteousness of one the fret;
is inferior to ( ’hrist w I/o is “ head that God, in liis rich mercy and come reconciled to man so/¿must be gift came upon all nwn untojusti-
over all things to the church which great love, favored them to a new punished in somy way. >> ” This fication of life.” Rom. 5 : 18.
Further, the writer says: “If a
is his body,” fully occupied in every life with Christ, and lifted them up statement of the doctrine is incor
part, and, therefore, sustained by to a heavenly place with Jesus. rect. fire definitions given by the man commits murder J cannot see
That in the future age, or world, writer do not warrant- the state how blood can atone for it.” Surely
him.
3. Therefore, the a[x)stle, in his God would fully display the “ex ment ; neither does the vicarious lie does not mean to-say that the
thanksgiving, unfolds the great ceeding riches ” of his favor in his 'theory admit of Audi a construction bTood of Christ has no cleansing
official relation ^>f Christ to the kindness toward us through Christ. Rut, as if not satisfied with the power over sin. as w ould seem to
Hence it is through God’s favor nliove misleading - assertion, the be iipplied by this connection. The
Father, and of ’ the apostles to
that
this salvation is possible w/iter adds : .‘ So then, sin in the following passages suggest the
Christ; both are subjects of the
direct power of the Almighty ; the through faith This g r eat scheme- i/fefiocf, niiist l>e» punished.‘ TEF Scriptural touch i ng upon thi s point;
one raised from the dead and con is not of man’s work that be enn^ italics ar»' his. Nothing can be “ In whom we have redemption
verted. ruler over all, the other boast of it; it is Gixl’s gift. There further from a proper conception of through Tris .blood, even the for
called and inspired to proclaim his fore the embassadors and the church the—theory, designed more to be giveness of sins.” 'Col. 1:. 14;
Eph? Fr7. “ Neither by the blood
word and carry forward the great is Gixl’s work, originated and de ridiculed than to be understood.
work of God’s gracious plan. All veloped in Christ to actually en
Now, I propose to give assistance of goats and calves, but by his own
this was embraced in prior arranged gage in those good works whiclF in understanding this subject, and blood, he entered in once into the
plan and purposes. It *was, in ‘,vr- Gcd has directed us to perform.
•to undo the knot so rudely tied by holy place, having obtained eternal
Here, at chap. 2 : 10, we must our friend, Mr Adams.
redemption for us.” Heb. 9: 12.
many respects, foreknown, made
I seem to see in this plan of sub
known by the prophets, but demon rest till another time. This is, pro
Evidently, God’s righteous law
strated in the grand work of perly, the first section of the epistle, has hten violated. J/un is the stitution, vicarious suffering, the
crowning Jesus king, and qualify and thus farethat chapter should guilty party. Not .only this, but abounding grace and mercy of God.
ing the apostles for their work always be read with the first from man (not sin) is in a state of con On this ground alone can la* ex
This may lie regarded as Gixl’s the 14th verse.
demnation. “Judgment came upon plained the extreme agony of a
How it must have filled and ex all men to condemnation.” Rom. dying Savior.
There was no
direct work. It is according to the
panded
the
whole
mind
and
soul
of
counsel of his will ami for his
5 : 18. The question now arises, reason, on his part, why he should
the
church
at
Ephesus.
Do
we
!
glory. When accomplished, it was
How can man be pardoned, qr re- suffer; for he was without sin.
the effect of his own mighty effort; open our hearts and drink from l deemed from the -curse of this “ He who knew no sin was made
as such it was creative, and there this great fountain of wisdom as righteous law ? For there must, of sin for us.” Behold'him in Gethse
I
fore miraculous. If I 'correctly we should ? Can we not read and necessity, lie a penalty to conserve mane. Who would dare say he
’ -
’ ’
H-
gather the apostle’s statement, he meentafe^Tór houfs~'and join with the intert‘sfs~6F'goo<l governingTiV“ ’
claims the official and inspired em- the apostle in this praise and Must God , punish the guilty On the other hand justice would
bassadorial relation as the effect of thanksgiving ? Let us seek to offender • This would require that demand summary punishment of
the same mighty power that raised know more and more of the kin<l- man suffer the full penalty of his the sinner, but mercy pleads the
meritorious gift of the only begot
Jesus from the dead, and therefore nessi and love of Gixl toward us, deed, which includes not only tem
ten Son of God. So then justice
I can no more doubt, disbelieve or and to more actively follow the poral death, but eternal banishment and mercy are satisfied in the sub
deny that the apostles were in great work which he has called us from his presence. Or shall the stitution of Christ. They meet at
spired than I can that Jesus rose to perform, that we may’ finally see Father, through his mercy and love, the cross, they kiss each other, and
from the «lead, since both are and know him as he is, and nown give his Son a “ ransome for all ?* liian’s sin is atoned for. Then, by
This he actually did. And the belief in Christ the meritorious
effected by the same power, We, as we are known.
work of Jesus becomes actual to
vicarious theory answers these the sinner, and he becomes free,
therefore, regard the Gospel as the
Of the twenty-seven men who
momentous questions by declaring the debt to divine justice having
consequential effect of this grand
have held the office of governor of
that Jesus, as a substitute, died for lieen paid. ” If the Son, therefore,
direct work of the Creator of all I
New York, only one has died in
man, the sinner, ami not for "sin shall make you free, ye shall lie
things. Therefore the Gospel is
office while two have resigned..
in the abstract." As n matter-of free indeed. Jno. 8 36. And
God’s power unto salvation to every
Three have boon elected vice-presi
man can sing :
fact-there is lro such ¡thing as “sin
one that believeth. The coinmision
Amazing
grace ! how sweet the sound,
dents of the United Stales, four
in the' abstract for, sin is every That saves a wretch like me ;
of the Ephesians was not by the
have been luOminated to the presi
was lost, but now am found,
immediate, direct, mighty power of dency, and One has been elected to where and always necessarily con- I . once
Wua bliud, but now I see.
God, but indirectly, viz. : by the that office. Fjye have hejd cabinet/ netted with a free moral agent.
W. J. C rawford .
That
the
view
herein
set
forth
is
Pualhip,.W.
T._
Aug.
24,18H2.
I mi t ural pn
on s ••
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