God has wonderfully led us. There have been sins among us as among ancient Israel; but, thank God! Christ has been to us an open door which no man could shut. Men may freely extend to us forgiveness for all injuries done them; but that will not blot out one sin from the great record book. There is but one channel of forgiveness, and that is ever open; and through it comes pouring a rich flood of divine mercy and forgiveness.

Many have expressed wonder that God demanded so many slain victims in the sacrificial offerings of the Jewish people; but it was to rivet in their minds the great truth that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. A lesson was embodied in every sacrifice, impressed in every ceremony, solemnly preached by the priest in his holy office, and inculcated by God himself—that through the blood of Christ alone is there forgiveness of sins. How little we as a people feel the force of this great truth! How seldom, by living, acting faith, do we bring into our lives this great truth, that there is forgiveness for the least sin, forgiveness for the greatest sin!

I wish I could present the subject as it seems to me. Justice demanded the sufferings of a man. Christ, equal with God, gave the sufferings of a God. He needed no atonement. His suffering was not for any sin he had committed; it was for man—all for man; and his free pardon is accessible to all. The suffering of Christ was in correspondence with his spotless purity; his depth of agony, proportionate to the dignity and grandeur of his character. Never can we comprehend the intense anguish of the spotless Lamb of God, until we realize how deep is the pit from which we have been rescued, how grievous is the sin of which mankind is guilty, and by faith grasp the full and entire pardon. Here is where thousands are failing. They do not really believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They fail to take God at his word.

I would I might sound the glad note to earth's remotest bounds. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Oh, precious redemption! How broad this great truth is—that God for Christ's dear sake, forgives us the moment we ask him in living faith, believing that he is fully able. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Glorious truth! Just to his own law, and yet the justifier of all them that believe! Well may we exclaim with the prophet, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy."

Portions from "Christ Our Sacrifice," Review and Herald, Sept. 21, 1886.