MAN’S EXTREMITY

[206]But who in all the world was able to bear this burden or meet the requirements of the divine law?  Adam could not redeem himself.  All of his offspring were imperfect and God could not accept an imperfect human being as a ransom.  Was there nobody, then, on earth who could redeem the human race from death according to God’s promise?  The Prophet of the Lord answers:  “None of them [no creature on earth] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him”. (Psalm 49:7) For this reason, then, it seemed hopeless for man ever to expect to be released from the condition of death.

[207]Furthermore, this judgment and sentence against Adam was entered in the divine court of heaven and it follows that the ransom-price, namely, the value of a perfect human life, must not only be provided by the death of a perfect human being, but the value of that life must be presented to divine justice in heaven itself; and no human being has access to heaven.

[208]Hence there were two reasons why it was utterly impossible for any of Adam’s stock or offspring to redeem mankind:  (1) Because all were imperfect and could not provide the price; and (2) if the price were provided, it could not be presented in heaven by any such.

[209]Thus is presented to the human race a condition of absolute helplessness.  Thus we see that mankind was wholly without power to release itself from the condition of death, and that there never could be any hope of any one of the human family enjoying life everlasting in a state of happiness unless God, in the exercise of his loving-kindness, should make some provision.  He had promised to make such provision.  His great plan provided for such.  It is first necessary, however, for us to see man’s absolute extremity in order that we might appreciate God’s opportunity for blessing mankind, and the great debt which the human race owes to Jehovah and his beloved Son for the provision made.

[210]If a man found himself and his family in a dungeon and a million dollars were required to release him, and he had not one penny, but a friend of his appeared and provided the money and released him and his family, that man would owe a great debt of gratitude to his deliverer.  He would feel much gratitude in his heart.  He would surely love his deliverer and would be anxious to do anything he could for him.  Adam and all of his family are either in the prison-house of death or under the effects of death; and if we find that the great Jehovah God has made provision for the release and deliverance of all such from the tomb, the prison-house of death, with a view to granting them everlasting life, liberty, and happiness, then such fact should bring joy to the heart of every one who learns of it.

THE GREAT RANSOMER