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onciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto hinnself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation/' (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
When God declared through the prophet Isaiah: "Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of Hosts; I am the first, and I am the last: beside me there is no God" (Isaiah44:6), and :"I,even I,am the Lord: and beside me there is no saviour" (Isaiah 43:11). He was rightly reserving for Himself the full act of redemption to be performed under the new covenant when He became Inunanuel.
It followed that, in the fullness of time, when the only one God was man ifested in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 4:4), it could be said of Him: "Who, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save himfromdeath,and washeardinthathefeared,thoughhewereaSON,yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made per fect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. (Hebrews 5:7-9). In this regard, how relevant are the words of Isaiah over the mystery of the atonement: "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is
the arm of the Lord revealed?... He is despised and rejected of men... and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:1-3; John 12:41). But itwas, as Paul said: "God in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
The book of Hebrews elaborates concerning the body ofJesus Christ by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all" (Hebrews 10:5,10). It is said, as to his divine nature and mission which is described in Hebrews 7:26-28; Hebrews 5:10; 7:3.) (See also Hebrews 9:14, 23.)
God's love is susceptible to the test of His people (Joel 2:18; Isaiah 63:8-9; Psalm 91; Deuteronomy 2:7). Although God is holy by nature. He is always susceptible to the tests of His people and "in all their afflictions He was afflicted" (Isaiah 63:9). His love made Him come to us in His own flesh and blood that we may be complete in Him (Acts 20:28; Colossians 2:9-10). We cannot say, Christ was not in the fullness of the Godhead bodily while He was tempted. Christ is the magnificent expression of God's love. The Bible also tells us that the soul of God grieves for the misery of His people Qudges 10:16).
VI - The Burial of Christ
The objective aspect of our salvation includes more than the death of
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