Star of Hope, July 4

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son.—Galatians 4:4JNN 198.1

The rebellion of Israel against the law and authority of God, caused their destruction. The honor God had given them of being thus conducted by His Son, increased their sin. The charges of the Jews that Christ did not regard the law of Moses, was without the least foundation. Christ was a Jew, and, to the hour of His death upon the cross, observed the law binding upon the Jews. But when type met antitype, at the death of Christ, then the offering of the blood of beasts became valueless. Christ made the one great offering in giving His own life, which all their former offerings had foreshadowed, which terminated the value of all the sacrificial offerings of the Jewish law.JNN 198.2

Since the fall, no immediate communication could exist between God and humanity, only through Christ, and God committed to His Son, in a special sense, the case of the fallen race. Christ has undertaken the work of redemption. He purposes to maintain the full honor of God’s law, notwithstanding the human family have transgressed it. He will redeem from its curse all the obedient who will embrace the offer of mercy by accepting the atonement so wonderfully provided....JNN 198.3

Adam and Eve at their creation had knowledge of the original law of God. It was imprinted upon their hearts, and they were acquainted with the claims of law upon them. When they transgressed the law of God, and fell from their state of happy innocence, and became sinners, the future of the fallen race was not relieved by a single ray of hope. God pitied them and Christ devised the plan for their salvation by Himself bearing the guilt. When the curse was pronounced upon the earth and upon humanity in connection with the curse was a promise that through Christ there was hope and pardon for the transgression of God’s law. Although gloom and darkness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ. Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.—The Review and Herald, April 29, 1875.JNN 198.4

Further Reflection: If I was Adam, how would it feel to know that God had made a way to save the world that my sin had so terribly damaged?JNN 198.5