1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

that can be "accepted" by our contemporary"as an expression of love andgrace." No, he will by no means clear[excuse] the guilty." (Exod. 34:7.)But when the guilty had proved the futilityof their own efforts to redeem andcleanse themselves, God in great mercyand love ransomed us by giving His Sonto be a propitiation [covering] for oursins--"In this [way] was manifested thelove of God." (1 John 4:9-10.)At the time of his consecration, atbaptism, Jesus offered up himself--a manto redeem men--and there he receivedspecial power from on high, by whichhe was enabled not only to carry out hisconsecration by a life of self-sacrifice evenunto death--even the death of the cross,but by which also, as a foretaste of hisfuture power [as a partaker of the DIVINEnature, by which he could restore allthings, and have all power] he was ennobledto do the "many wonderfulworks" with which those three and ahalf years abounded.Farther on in the same article, afterthe query--"Does not 'redeem' 'ransom'or 'price' imply substitution?"--it answers that question thus:--"Theterms are commercial in common usage,but have also another use not uncommon.The means NECESSARY to secureany end are commonly and properlyspoken of as the cost, or price of the objectthus gained. The pioneer labors tosecure a cleared farm; the cost is great,but he will be well repaid. The soncosts his mother labor and pain, but histrue manhood is her joyous reward. Themeans are the price and are adapted tosecure the desired end."Very good! But cannot all see thatthe cost of each item had to be substitutedor given up for each result specified,before it could be had? The same principleis involved whether you pay a dime