Number Seventeen—Testimony for the Church Chapter 29—The Sufferings of Christ In order to fully realize the value of salvation, it is necessary to understand what it cost. In consequence of limited ideas of the sufferings of Christ, many place a low estimate upon the great work of the atonement. The glorious plan of man’s salvation was brought about through the infinite love of God the Father. In this divine plan is seen the most marvelous manifestation of the love of God to the fallen race. Such love as is manifested in the gift of God’s beloved Son amazed the holy angels. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This Saviour was the brightness of His Father’s glory and the express image of His person. He possessed divine majesty, perfection, and excellence. He was equal with God. “It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.” “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” {2T 200.1}

[For fuldt ud at kunne forstå, hvad frelsen er værd, er det nødvendigt at forstå, hvad den har kostet. Som følge af indskrænkede begreber om Kristi lidelser tillægger mange forsoningens store værk ringe betydning. Den herlige plan til menneskets frelse blev virkliggjort ved Gud Faders uendelige kærlighed. I denne guddommelige plan ser man den mest vidunderlige åbenbarelse af Guds kærlighed til den faldne slægt. En sådan kærlighed som den, der åbenbarer sig i, at Gud gav sin elskede søn, forbavsede englene. »Thi således elskede Gud verden, at han gav sin Søn den enbårne, for at enhver, som tror på ham, ikke skal fortabes, men have evigt liv.« Denne frelser var glansen af faderens herlighed og hans væsens udtrykte billede. Han var i besiddelse af guddommelig majestæt, fuldkommenhed og ypperlighed. Han var Gud lig. »Thi Gud besluttede at lade hele fylden bo i ham.« »Da han var i guddomsskikkelse, holdt han det ej for et røvet bytte at være Gud lig, men han gav afkald og tog tjenerskikkelse på og blev mennesker lig. Og da han i fremtræden fandtes som et menneske, ydmygede han sig selv og blev lydig til døden, ja, døden på et kors.«