Why Evil Was Permitted and Related Topics, Part 9

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C.--If justice could not let mankind go free from death, how could Jesus be permitted to live if he became man's substitute? Must not his life be forever forfeited?

A.--It was forever forfeited--he never took the same life back again. He was quickened (made alive) to a higher life by the Father. He was "put to death in the FLESH, but quickened by the SPIRIT" to a higher plane, a spiritual body. As we shall be, he, our leader, was "sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body."

Had he been raised a fleshly being, with fleshly life, we could not go free. It would have been taking back our "ransom"-- our "price." As Paul says, "He took upon him the form of a servant (flesh) for the suffering of death." He had no need of it further; he left it. "He made his soul (life, being) an offering for sin:" "My flesh I will give for the life of the world."--John 6:51. It was given forever. "This man, after he had offered one sacrifice (his perfect flesh or life) for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." Heb. 10:12, having received a higher life.

B.--This change, then, accounts for his acting so strangely after his resurrection--appearing in different forms--as the gardener to Mary, and "afterwards in another form to two of them," etc., his appearing in their midst, the doors being shut, and then shortly vanishing out of their sight. I often thought it peculiar.

But did not his fleshly body disappear from the tomb?

A.--Yes; "His flesh saw not corruption." What became of his flesh, I know not any more than I know what became of the various bodies in which he appeared after his resurrection, and of the various fleshly bodies in which angels appeared at various times. "They saw not corruption;" but, remember, it was not the atoms of matter which composed the body--(and which are continually changing)--these atoms did not sin, and were not cursed nor forfeited by the fall. It was the flesh life, and Christ's laying down his flesh life, which comprised the ransom.

C.--Now, another point: Are all our sins, actual as well as imputed, forgiven?

A.--While all are justified from Adam's sin UNCONDITIONALLY, yet, where knowledge of right and wrong is possessed, obedience is expected as far as they are able to obey.

Failure in this respect is the occasion for their being beaten (corrected) with many or few stripes in the age to come; while the "little flock" who now believe into and are baptized into Christ, become members of his body, are by their faith justified from all things (Acts 13:39), will not be beaten with stripes in the world to come. True, they now receive "chastisement whereof ALL ARE PARTAKERS," but not as a penalty; only as the "rod and staff" of Christ, the Shepherd, to guide his sheep.

Thus the sins of the "Church of the First-born" are passed over, (not imputed), and she is justified, not from death only, but "from all things."

This is beautifully pictured in the law by the Passover. Wherever in that night the lamb was eaten and his blood sprinkled, the first born was passed over--spared.--Exod. 12. So, during this night--the Gospel age--Christ, our Passover (lamb) is sacrificed, and we "keep the feast."--1 Cor. 5:8.

We feed on our Lamb with some of the "bitter herbs" of affliction to sharpen our appetite. All such are passed over. This type shows the special value of Christ's death to his body, "The Church of the FIRST-BORN." Thus it is that,

"God is the Savior of ALL MEN (from the Adamic curse and to a restoration of all that was lost, specifically human perfection), but especially (now, He saves some to the Divine or Immortal nature) those that believe (and who have fully consecrated themselves, who have presented themselves “living sacrificesnow during the “acceptable time”, the Gospel age)."-- 1 Tim. 4:10; Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 6:2.

Continued with next post.
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