God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” He gave Him not only to live among men, to bear their sins, and die their sacrifice: but He gave Him to the fallen race. Christ was to identify Himself with the interests and needs of humanity. He who is one with God has linked Himself with the children of men by ties that are never to be broken. Jesus is “not ashamed to call them brethren”; our sacrifice, our advocate, our brother, bearing our human form before the Father's throne, and through eternal ages, one with the race He has redeemed,—the Son of man. And all this was done that man might be uplifted from the ruin and degradation of sin, that he might reflect the love of God, and share the joy of holiness.BTS December 1, 1908, par. 1

The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted views of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired apostle John beholds the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love toward the perishing race, he is filled with adoration and reverence; and failing to find suitable language in which to express this love, he calls upon the church and the world to behold it. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God.” What a value this places upon man! Through transgression, the sons of men become subjects of Satan. Through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the sons of Adam may become the Sons of God. By assuming human nature, Christ elevates humanity. Fallen men are granted another trial, and are placed where, through connection with Christ, they may indeed become worthy of His name, “sons of God.”BTS December 1, 1908, par. 2

Such love is without a parallel. Children of the heavenly King! Precious promise! Theme for the most profound meditation! The amazing love of God for a world that did not love Him! The thought has a subduing power upon the soul, and brings the mind into captivity to the will of God. The more we study the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness, blended with equity and justice, and the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite, and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child.BTS December 1, 1908, par. 3

“Every human tie may perish,
Friend to friend unfaithful prove,
Mother's cease their own to cherish,
Heaven and earth at last remove;BTS December 1, 1908, par. 4

—but no change, can attend Jehovah's love.

But to make known to man the love of God and to bring them to share His grace,—even this was not the only purpose of the Saviour's life of suffering and death of shame. Results of yet deeper significance, of infinitely greater extent, flow from the sacrifice of the Son of God. By the death of Christ not only man is set free from Satan's power, and uplifted from the pit of ruin, but the justice and mercy of God, and the immutability of His law, are vindicated before the universe.BTS December 1, 1908, par. 5

The government of God is not, as Satan would make it appear, founded upon a blind submission, an unreasoning control. It appeals to the intellect and the conscience. “Come now, and let us reason together,” is the Creator's invitation to the beings He has made. Isaiah 1:18. God does not force the will of His creatures. He can not accept an homage that is not willingly and intelligently given.BTS December 1, 1908, par. 6

He desires that all the inhabitants of the universe shall be convinced of His justice in the final overthrow of rebellion and the eradication of sin. He purposes that the real nature and direful effects of sin shall be clearly manifested to the end that all may be assured of the wisdom and justice of the divine government.BTS December 1, 1908, par. 7

November 1, 1908

January 1, 1909