Cijrtétmaô Presiden t , Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Ine .
salvation, “ if I had not come.” The world owes a debt to the coming of Jesus Christ that it can never repay. There would be no Christmas, no high and enobling thoughts that lift us above the transitory things of life and place us in the heavenlies where everything is pure and holy, if the Lord Jesus had not come. When sin had done its worst, when oppression and depression pre vailed, when men’s hearts were bleed ing and breaking and yearning for freedom from their cruel bondage, when wickedness in high places rotted the ancient world, when philosophy and ethics and culture were plunged into the depths of dark despair, when people cried out in utter hopelessness —it was then that the fullness of time had come, and God sent forth
it was he himself. Before then you had known of him, but now you had met him face to face. “ The eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father.” In John’s Gospel account, chapter 15, verse 22, our Lord says, “ If I had not come.” Think of it — what if Christ had not come? It is not too difficult for us to imagine the con dition of this sin-bound, sin-cursed world, “ if I had not come.” Darkness still would cover the face of the earth and gross darkness the people. There would have been no beautiful litera ture, no soul-enriching songs, no in spiring art, “ if I had not come.” There would have been no peace, no love, no good will, no message of hope and
DR. S. H. SUTHERLAND
His son that man might see God in Him. Jesus Christ was bom in order that we might know the mind and heart of the Father. John speaks of the Messiah who was to come as “ the Word.” A word is that by which we express our thoughts. Jesus Christ is the Word of God; He came into the world to reveal the thought of God. The Word of God is a word of love and the thought back of that Word is the thought of love. “ For God so loved the world that He gave . . .” We recall the story of a man about to be executed for murder. The day on which he was to be hanged ar rived, and the condemned man was taken to the gallows. The noose was adjusted, the black cap pulled over his eyes and the trap was about to be sprung, when a breathless stranger rushed to the front of the room and put into the hands of the officers a document containing a single word, “ pardoned.” And under the word was the signature of the ruler of the State, the one by whose authority execu tion might be stayed. This is the won derful word that came over the sig nature of God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. One word was given to a g u i l t y world condemned to death; that word was “ pardoned.” There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. God has pardoned the sins of all who are in Him. This is the reason that Jesus came to the earth on that first Christ mas. This is the reason that those wise men came from afar to worship Him and to give gifts unto Him. “ Oh love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, full er be.”
' H E w as bom in the meanest of circumstances, but •the air above was filled with the hallelujahs of the heavenly host. His lodging was a cattle pen, but the star drew distinguished visitors from afar to do Him honor. His birth was contrary to the laws of life. His death was contrary to the laws of death. No miracle is so inexplicable as His life and teaching. He had no corn-field or fishery, but He could spread a table for 5,000 and have bread and fish to spare. He walked on no beautiful carpets, but He walked on the waters and they supported Him. His crucifixion was the crime of crimes, but on God’s side no lower price than His infinite agony could have made pos sible our redemption. When He died, few men mourned, but a black crepe was hung over the sun. No men trembled for their sins, but the earth beneath shook under the load. All nature honored Him. Sin ners alone rejected Him. Sin could not get hold of His body. The soil that had been red with his blood could not claim His dust. Three years He preached His gospel. He wrote no book; He built no church; He had no money back of Him. After 1900 years He is the one central character of human history, the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot around which -the events of the ages revolve, the only re generation of this human race. Was He merely the son of Joseph and Mary, who crossed the world’s horizon 1900 years ago? Was it merely human blood that was spilled at Calvary?” “ For unto you is bom this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOUR which is Christ, the Lord.” — BY KEITH L. BROOKS —
DECEMBER, 1958
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