From the beginning it has been Satan’s studied plan to cause men to forget God, that he might secure them to himself. Hence he has sought to misrepresent the character of God, to lead men to cherish a false conception of Him. The Creator has been presented to their minds as clothed with the attributes of the prince of evil himself,—as arbitrary, severe, and unforgiving,—that He might be feared, shunned, and even hated by men. Satan hoped to so confuse the minds of those whom he had deceived that they would put God out of their knowledge. Then he would obliterate the divine image in man and impress his own likeness upon the soul; he would imbue men with his own spirit and make them captives according to his will. {5T 738.1}

Således lyder de ord, hvormed »den gamle Paulus«, »Kristi Jesu fange«, da han skrev fra sit fangehus i Rom, søgte at fremholde for sine brødre noget, som han fandt, at sproget ikke formåede at udtrykke fuldt ud, nemlig »Kristi uransagelige rigdom« den nådens skat, der uforskyldt tilbydes faldne menneskebørn. Genløsningens plan blev lagt ved et offer, en gave. Apostelen siger: »I kender jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi nåde, at han for jeres skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans fattigdom skulle blive rige.« »Således elskede Gud verden, at han gav sin Søn den enbårne.« Kristus »hengav sig selv for os for at løskøbe os fra al vor lovløshed« Og som kronen på genløsningens velsignelse læser vi, at »Guds nådegave er evigt liv i Kristus Jesus, vor Herre.«