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Chosen no: R-689 a, from: 1884 Year. |
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The Cleansing Maintained.
If our escape from sin and its condemnation is
by a ransom for Adam's sin, what shall we conclude concerning errors,
omissions and transgressions now committed by those who have escaped and
who have been JUSTIFIED from Adamic sin? Would not the least sin on our part
bring us again under condemnation? And would not this require another
sin-offering to ransom us afresh and enable us to again escape from
condemnation?
The lack of a reasonable answer to these reasonable
questions has confused many on the subject of ransom. They say, If God
can and does forgive recent offences without a ransom, why did he not do
so with the original offence, the Adamic transgression?
The answer is simple and very clear: Our Lord's
sin-offering cancelled fully the Adamic sin and all guilt which came by or
through it in any way. Sin, as it is in the world, is entirely traceable
to Adam's sin. The impaired moral and physical nature which you received from
your parents (and they from them back to Adam) is the fruitful source of your
besetments to sin, and the open door by which you are easily assailed by the
adversary. Hence, when you would do good, evil is sometimes presented so as to
mislead and entice your degenerated nature into sin. This sin is traceable to
the Adamic transgression; hence it is covered by the ransom. Whosoever,
then, has by faith laid hold upon the ransom and escaped condemnation, finds
ample assurance in our Father's word that the blood of Jesus not only covers the
sins that are past, but also all those present and future, not willful, but occasioned by the inherited weakness of the flesh.
This grand truth is clearly expressed by the
Apostle. (1 Jno. 1:7,8.) He is writing of
himself and fellow believers, who by faith in Christ have been justified and
have escaped the condemnation, and says: "If we say that we have no sin [i.e., actual sin; if we claim that our every word, thought and deed is perfect], we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." "But if we walk in the
light as he is in the light, we [and Jehovah] have fellowship one with another
[God and we], and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin."
What a beautiful thought--what a glorious truth!
Though still actually imperfect, only reckoned righteous, still liable
to and sometimes overcome by evil because of inherited weakness, yet, by walking
in the light, we may maintain our communion with God, and may
realize, on confession, the forgiveness of every sin and that the precious
blood-- the ransom--keeps us clean from every stain of sin. Thus, and in
no other way, can we "keep our garments unspotted from the world. (James 1:27.) Our robes of righteousness presented
to us by our Lord as the fruit of his sacrifice, our wedding garment needful to
a place at the marriage of the Lamb, would soon be defiled were it not for the
continued efficacy of the cleansing blood.
To this, his plan, by which he can be just and
yet justify him that believeth, God invites us, saying; "Come, let
us reason together [I will make clear and plain to you how]: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be [deep] red like
crimson [a fast color], they shall be as wool." Yes: "The blood of
Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." (Isa. 1:18;
1 John 1:7.)
W.T. R-689a : page 5 -1884r
