Genesis 4:1-15 Pages (63-73) I changed versions to a more accurate page number because it was driving me insane. This chapter is in between the readings, I thought it was a good idea to go through it as extra credit.
(CHAPTER 4 THE PLAN FOR REDEMPTION)
"The Son of God, heaven's glorious Commander, was touched with pity for the fallen race, His heart was moved with infinite compassion as he woes of the lost world rose up before Him." (PP 63). Jesus, the Son of God was filled with agape at this point, divine love as they call it as well. He was already willing to do something before it ever happened. He loves us very much.
"The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. In all the universe there was but one who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven." (PP 63). While the sacrifices done in the temple were sacrifices to God, these sacrifices would never fully atone for the fallen world. Because it isn't equal to God Himself. This is why the Son was the only one who could do it, not an angel, not a human, but someone equal to God the Father, that being the Son. The lamb offerings were placeholders and symbols until the time came for the true sacrifice to be made for all humanity.
"Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin, sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son." (PP 63). This is why Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden, sin separates. and because the Son was to take all of the worlds sin onto His shoulders, it would forcefully separate them. This placed a lot of agony onto the Son because He couldn't feel the presence of His Father, adding to the agony that the weight of all the sin already had upon Him.
"Before the Father He pleaded in the sinner's behalf, while the host of heaven awaited the result with an intensity of interest that words cannot express. Long continues was that mysterious communing, "the counsel of peace" (Zechariah 6:13) for the fallen sons of men. The plan of salvation had been laid before the creation of the earth;" (PP 63). Christ wanted to do this so badly He practically begged the counsel and the Father to start this rescue mission for the fallen world before it ever took place.
"But Christ, after having redeemed man from the condemnation of the law, could impart divine power to unite with human effort. Thus by repentance toward God and faith in Christ the fallen children of Adam might once more become "sons of God". (PP 64). This introduces the concept of sonship by adoption. We were lost, but Christ was able to create a way for those who wanted to put in the effort with repentance to God and faith that they were saved, that they could be the Fathers children again. The angels are children via Creation, Christ, is the only one who is the literal begotten Son of God.
"The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander and offered to become a sacrifice for man. But an angel's life could not pay the debt; only He who created man had power to redeem him." (PP 64) This goes back to what was said earlier, only one who is equal to God could atone for the sins, the angels aren't equal, Christ alone is equal to the Father.
"As He should take human nature upon Him, His strength would not be equal to theirs, and they were to minister to Him, and to strengthen and soothe Him under His sufferings" (PP 64). The angels were given a different role instead, they were to minister to Christ as he let go of His own power to become human. The angels were to replenish this lost strength by ministering to Him and strengthening Him themselves.
"The Lord declared, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) This sentence, uttered in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise." (PP 65). If you think about it, The Father wouldn't have said this promise to them if it wasn't already planned. The rescue was truly planned before the foundation was laid on the earth.
"The sacrifice demanded by their transgression revealed to Adam and Eve the sacred character of the law of God." (PP 66). What does this mean to you? What did it mean to them?
"As Adam's transgression had brought wretchedness and death, so the sacrifice of Christ would bring life and immortality." (PP 66). This is like two sides. Death and Life, but death could mean something different here than what we know. We think of death as immediate, however death together may be more than just dying. maybe death itself is the consequences of sin, including sickness, pain, agony. Because a lot of these things injure the body and sometimes cripple it, making us much more susceptible to death. Mentally, stress is toxic to the body, giving us health problems, so I think this adds up.
"When man became Satan's captive, the dominion which he held, passed to his conqueror. Thus Satan became "The god of this world." 2 Corinthians 4:4. He had usurped that dominion over the earth which had been originally given to Adam. But Christ, by His sacrifice paying the penalty of sin, would not only redeem man, but recover the dominion which he had forfeited." (PP 67). The dominion over the earth being stolen from Adam. because it was stolen and given to the wrong hands, the earth itself was against man. Once this earth passes away, the dominion is returned to us and will be restored in the creation of the new earth.
"The act of Christ in dying for the salvation of man would not only make heaven accessible to men, but before all the universe it would justify God and His Son in their dealing with the Rebellion of Satan." (PP 68). "From the first great controversy had been upon the law of God. Satan has sought to prove that God was unjust, that His law was faulty, and that the good of the universe required it to be changed. In attacking the law he aimed to over throw the authority of its Author. In the controversy it was to be shown whether the divine statues were defective and subject to change, or perfect and immutable." (PP 69). In this, Christ is revealing the character of the Father, because it was questioned in the great controversy, the sacrifice of Christ to sin/humanity was there to show the justification of how to deal with evil. That They never change.
"His death had answered the question whether the Father and the Son had sufficient love for man to exercise self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice." (PP 69). The sacrifice wasn't only a rescue mission, but an expression of love to the human race.
"If the law could be changed, man might have been saved without the sacrifice of Christ; but the fact that it was necessary for Christ to give His life for the fallen race, proves that the law of God will not release the sinner from its claims upon him." (PP 70). "When Christ died, the destruction of Satan was made certain. But if the law was abolished at the cross, as many claim, then the agony and death of God's dear Son were endured only to give to Satan just what he asked;" (PP 70). Just like it says in Revelation that not a single word of scripture will pass away until the second coming. The law will never change and it never has. Otherwise if it did, that means that Satan wouldn't be fighting anymore.