Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/231

 Flan of the Ages* ft*j

fices of the Law. It was not a&ual perfection, for "the Law made nothing perfect." Heb. 7:19.

N represents not only the plane of human perfection, as once occupied by the perfect man, Adam, but also the standing of all justified persons. " Christ died for our sins ; according to the Scriptures/* and in consequence all be- lievers in Christ all who accept of his perfect and finished work as their justifier are, through faith, reckoned of God as justified, as though perfect men, as though they had never been sinners. In God's sight, then, all who accept of Christ as their Redeemer are reckonedly on the plane of human perfection, N. This is the only standpoint from which man may approach God, or have any communion with him. All on this plane God calls sons human sons. Adam was thus a son (Luke 3 : 38), and had communion before he became disobedient. All who accept of our Ix>rd Jesus* finished ransom work are counted or reckoned^ restored to primitive purity; and in consequence they have fellowship or com- munion with God.

During the Gospel age God has made a special offer to justified human beings, telling them that on certain con- ditions they may experience a change of nature, that they may cease to be earthly, human beings, and becomehcavenly, spiritual beings, like Christ, their Redeemer. Some be- lievers justified persons are satisfied with what joy and peace they have through believing in the forgiveness of their sins, and so do not heed the voice which calls them to come up higher. Others, moved by the love of God as shown in their ransom from sin, and feeling that they are not their own, having been bought with a price, say, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Such have the Lord's answer through Paul, who says, "I beseech you, brethren* by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living $&&$*> holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service.* 15-A

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