Sinners, who are perishing for lack of knowledge, must be left in ignorance and darkness unless men carry to them the light of truth. God will not send angels from heaven to do the work which He has left for man to do. He has given all a work to do, for the very reason that He might prove them and that they might reveal their true character. Christ places the poor among us as His representatives. “I was an hungered,” He says, “and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink.” Christ identifies Himself with suffering humanity in the persons of the suffering children of men. He makes their necessities His own and takes to His bosom their woes. {3T 391.2}

Syndere, som omkommer af mangel på kundskab, må forblive i uvidenhed og mørke, hvis ikke mennesker bringer dem sandhedens lys. Gud vil ikke sende engle fra himmelen til at gøre den gerning, han har overladt til mennesker. Han har givet alle en gerning at udføre, netop for at prøve dem og åbenbare deres sande karakter. Kristus stiller de fattige iblandt os som sine repræsentanter. »Jeg var sulten og I gav mig ikke at spise; jeg var tørstig og I gav mig ikke at drikke.« I lidende menneskebørns skikkelse gør Kristus sig til eet med den lidende menneskehed. Han gør deres fornødenheder til sine egne og tager sig deres ulykker til hjerte.