174 OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE DOCTRINE 

(a) By one man's sin1 it was that condemnation, sin, and death came upon all men through their federal union with him2. Hence it was just that by "the righteousness of One" all men should be offered salvation. As all men are not compelled to perish through Adam's sin (for salvation is offered through Christ), so all men are not compelled to be saved through Christ (since they who will may refuse the salvation which He offers).

(b) The sight of Christ's sufferings and the fearful cruelty, hardheartedness, and wickedness of those who crucified Him, shows us, as nothing else could do, the awful nature and heinous guilt of sin, since it is hostile to God and to everything good in man. This helps us to hate and shun sin and to repent of our past iniquity.

(c) Since Christ tells us that He is one with His Father (John x. 30), and that whosoever sees Him beholds His Father (John xiv. 7, 9), and also informs us that the Father's love for men was manifested in the gift of His Son (John iii. 16), therefore Christ's love reveals His Father's and "we love

1 Cf. Mishkat (Bab IV., fasl. ii.), where a tradition states that Adam's children have inherited sin from him.
1 In accordance with this is the Muhammadan tradition which states that God extracted all men from Adam's loins in the form of "existent motes" (adh-dharratu'l Kainat), in order to make them parties to the Covenant. (Mr. H. G. Harding.) This refers to what is called the Akhdhu'l Mithaq اخذ الميثاق , and the various traditions on the subject are given in the Turkish Mir'atu'l Kainat, vol. i. p. 106).
OF CHRIST'S ATONEMENT 175

because He first loved us" (1 John iv. 19). Thus the believer's heart is drawn to God, his will submits with perfect trust to God's will, not as a slave but as a son. Thus man is reconciled to God, and the Atonement is accomplished.

Although much else is shrouded in mystery, yet enough is here revealed to enable every one who wills it to obtain salvation through Christ (cf. Deut. xxix. 29).

173. M. We know from the Qur'an (Surah IV., An Nisa', 156) that Jesus was not killed, but ascended up to heaven without dying1. It is a mere Jewish legend that represents Him as put to death.

C. If so, there is no hope of salvation for you, for me, or for any man. But we know from God's Word that He died and rose again before He ascended into heaven. [Vide §§ 94, 95.]

174. M. If the forgiveness of sins is dependent on the death of Christ, how was it that He forgave sins before He died? and how were men saved in the ages before His birth?

C. Through the Atonement which He was about to accomplish (Heb. ix. 13, 14, 24-28). [There is no time with God, though we speak of past, present, and future.]

175. M. If Christ paid our debts, to whom did He pay them?

1 For various Muhammadan accounts of this vide The Religion of the Crescent, App. A, and authorities there cited.