The
Great Controversy
The
Universe is Interested
Rebellion
in Heaven
What
Caused the Trouble?
Satan's
Disaffection
Adam's
Dominion
Dominion
is Usurped
On
Which Side are We?
The
World a Theatre
The
Case of Job
Satan
Before God
Job's
Integrity
The
Lesson
Christ's
Gift
The
Climax
God's
Government
Vindicated
Concluding
Thoughts
Obey
the Laws
A
Special Message |
When Christ came it was the climax of the controversy. If Satan shall be
in any way able to turn Christ, the second Adam, the representative of
the human race starting out again, aside; if he can by any means overcome
Him, he will triumph and establish his kingdom here.
Upon
Christ was brought to bear every possible temptation, and all the power
of evil that had been working in Satan for thousands of years. To effect
his purpose he followed Christ every step of the way from the manger to
the cross. He was determined that Christ should not remain loyal to God
while in his dominion.
When
it came to the cross of Christ's experience, Satan instigated on the part
of man everything that his malignity could devise. He urged them on to
overcome His human nature, that he might make Him swerve from the path
of loyalty. He tried to bribe him. "Acknowledge my right to the kingdom
of the earth," he said, "and I will give you all these kingdoms." But this
Christ could not do; for it was the very point of the controversy.
We
come to the climax of the struggle in the death of Christ. Satan's charge
had been that God's government was arbitrary and hard, and that he would
give his subjects a better government.
The
universe looked on to see it worked out. The curse of disobedience rested
on the earth, but Christ came to redeem it, "being made a curse for us."
Satan had urged on the Jews till they took His life, and thus Satan became
the murderer of the Son of God.
By
His gift to the world God showed that He did desire His will—the law of
love and filial obedience—to be done on earth as it is done in heaven,
and in order to make it possible He was willing to give His only begotten
Son to die.
Satan
showed that he wanted his own way badly enough that he was willing to become
the murderer of the Son of God. All this was enacted before the universe,
and how did it effect it?
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