otherwise He cannot represent us and be one of us, the Head of the human race, and we cannot feel
convinced that He sympathizes with us, understands us, loves us. He must therefore both be higher in
nature and dignity than are the men whom He saves, and yet He must share their nature in some way.
He must be free from sin, and must render perfect obedience to all the Law of God. This is what
Reason itself tells us must be the case, if there be a Saviour for men. If there be no such Saviour,
then mankind is lost, has no hope, and can never attain to the state of holiness and happiness for
which all men naturally yearn.
But is there such a Saviour to be found? When we turn to the Bible we find that there is: that
the Old Testament contains the promise of His coming, and the New Testament tells us how He came.
Prophets and Apostles have alike borne witness to Him, the true and only Saviour from sin, the
Saviour who has offered to God a perfect propitiation and atonement for the sins of the whole world
(1 John ii. 1, 2), and who is thus able to obtain pardon for transgressors. This Saviour is the Lord
Jesus Christ, who by His greatness and holiness, His perfect obedience even unto death, has borne
the sin of the world, and has become the one Mediator for all men. He has made Atonement and has
reconciled man to the Holy and Righteous God, having obtained eternal salvation for all who truly
believe in Him. Therefore He offers to all men forgiveness of sin and eternal joy.
Hence with thankful hearts we join our voice with the Apostle's and say: "Unto the King
eternal, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever" (I Tim.
i. 17). For He, the Living, the Loving, the Most Merciful God, has, of His infinite love and mercy,
offered to us guilty sinners so great a redemption and such a glorious salvation in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
|