God is love. Why could He not have merely pardoned us without all of the anguish and trouble of a sacrifice? "Without the shedding of blood" there is no remission for sin. Therefore, love may have driven God to this sacrificial act, but love alone has no power to save. It is equal to the law in this sense. I could just as easily make a case that the law demanded the blood of Christ as to say His love did.

However, let me further emphasize the point here: God loves all of His creatures. If love is able to save (as opposed to the law, which you claim is powerless), why will not all people be saved? If they are saved, is it not by fulfilling and keeping the law? Indeed, the law is just as much responsible for our salvation as is God's love, despite our traditional rhetoric to the contrary.

If they are saved, is it not by fulfilling and keeping the law? Indeed, the law is just as much responsible for our salvation as is God's love, despite our traditional rhetoric to the contrary.

I am not trying to say that the law demanded a substitute, I am trying to say that a sinless substitute was required by the law in order for sinners to escape the death penalty of the law.

If you want to let it remain a mystery for you, so be it. The mystery part in my mind is the sheer enormity of the love which God must have. We may never comprehend this fully.

The transgression of God's law made it necessary for Christ to die a sacrifice, and thus make a way possible for man to escape the penalty, and yet the honor of God's law be preserved. {3SG 295.3}

But those who have not, through repentance and faith, secured pardon, must receive the penalty of transgression--"the wages of sin." They suffer punishment varying in duration and intensity, "according to their works," but finally ending in the second death. {GC 544.2}

The transgression of God's law in a single instance, in the smallest particular, is sin. And the nonexecution of the penalty of that sin would be a crime in the divine administration. God is a judge, the avenger of justice, which is the habitation and foundation of His throne. He cannot dispense with His law, He cannot do away with its smallest item in order to meet and pardon sin. The rectitude and justice and moral excellence of the law must be maintained and vindicated before the heavenly universe and the worlds unfallen. {7BC 951.4}

There are no saving properties in the law. It cannot pardon the transgressor. The penalty must be exacted. The Lord does not save sinners by abolishing His law, the foundation of His government in heaven and in earth. The punishment has been endured by the sinner's substitute. Not that God is cruel and merciless, and Christ so merciful that He died on Calvary's cross to abolish a law so arbitrary that it needed to be extinguished, crucified between two thieves. The throne of God must not bear one stain of crime, one taint of sin. In the councils of heaven, before the world was created, the Father and the Son covenanted together that if man proved disloyal to God, Christ, one with the Father, would take the place of the transgressor, and suffer the penalty of justice that must fall upon him (MS 145, 1897). {6BC 1070.4}

The most guilty need have no fear but that God will pardon, for because of the efficacy of the divine sacrifice the penalty of the law will be remitted. Through Christ the sinner may return to allegiance to God. {TMK 96.2}

Christ was to die as man's substitute. Man was a criminal under the sentence of death for transgression of the law of God, as a traitor, a rebel; hence a substitute for man must die as a malefactor, because He stood in the place of the traitors, with all their treasured sins upon His divine soul. It was not enough that Jesus should die in order to fully meet the demands of the broken law, but He died a shameful death. The prophet gives to the world His words, "I hid not my face from shame and spitting. {5BC 1127.4}

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24, KJV)

That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me. (Psalms 108:6, KJV)

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:23, KJV)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21, KJV)

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22, KJV)

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50, KJV)

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. (Luke 18:42, KJV)

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21, KJV)

But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11, KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8, KJV)

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12, KJV)

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (James 2:14, KJV)

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9, KJV)

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 3:21, KJV)

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15, KJV)

Yes, love demands this, but not law.

Love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:10)

Tom, your explanation above of why the death of Jesus was required focuses on the affect it can have on sinners in influencing them to cease sinning and to love and obey God. However, it doesn't address the matter of past sins. So, what about past sins? What does the law require? What does justice demand? Is law and justice willing to ignore past sins if sinners to cease to sin and love and obey God? Or, does law and justice still demand that death must happen in consequence of past sins, and is this one of the reasons why Jesus had to die?

Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,--to set men right through the revelation of God.(ST 1/20/90)

PS - The quotes posted above demonstrate that the plan of salvation is mysterious and unexplainable.

Your question presupposes there's a problem with past sins which doesn't have to do with our relationship with God. If the problem of past sins is that it damages our relationship with God, and God comes up with a way to fix that, and that remedy is accepted, then why shouldn't this be sufficient? Ellen White wrote:


If a person has been set right with God, why isn't that enough?

GC, do we add anything to the salvation Jesus wrought out for us when we consent and cooperate with God? I agree with you that our faith must work by love and purify us even as Jesus is pure but do we add to the work of Jesus as we experience genuine faith and works? Was His work incomplete and we must somehow add to it? Or, is Jesus' work the root of salvation and the good works we experience are the fruit of His work?