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WHAT IF GOD HAD NOT SENT HIS SON AS A PROPITIATION FOR HUMAN SINS? We do not know when it became obvious to God and Christ that humanity would have required a Savior. No doubt the Father and the Son discussed and considered different options. The option that was finally chosen would have entailed great anguish for both the Son and the Father -- and both knew it. But what if the Father had decided not to let it happen? What if He had concluded that sending Christ was too much of a price to pay for puny humans? What if, after weighing the options, the Father had said, “It’s a no!”? What would have been the ramification of that decision? The thought that God the Father might have not allowed Christ to come and die for us humans is highly perturbing. If Christ had not died for us, we humans would have remained under the penalty of death, with no recourse. The end of all human life would have been a terrible eternal punishment. Life would have been nothing but a hopeless ride for all humans. Satan would have remained victorious. Fortunately, God the Father decided to prevent this horrendous fate for humans and made the fateful decision: His Son would have divested Himself of power and glory; He would have grown among men free from sin; He would have taken upon Himself the death penalty on humans’ behalf. The decision was probably the most difficult ever made. Yet, our great Father chose to go along with it and, thus, He put into action a plan of salvation that we all are beneficiaries to. It is also important to note that, had God not gone along with the decision, the intensity of His love would not have been fully demonstrated before God’s angels. Deciding to offer Christ, must have been a great confirmation to all the angelic hosts that God was, indeed, ultimate love. Truly, a God who would give His firstborn for a temporary, mortal creation is a God of incomprehensible love. A Son who is willing to divest Himself of His glory, and offer himself for physical, perishable humans is a Being who overflows with love. The well-known verse, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son” takes on new meaning, when one considers that God and Christ did not have to go ahead with their plan. They could have spared themselves the anguish involved and could have moved on without us. But “God so loved the world” that He would not pass the opportunity to shower humanity with His great love and goodness. Undeniably, we humans are very special to both our magnificent Father and our wonderful Brother Jesus Christ. |
© Copyright, Michael Caputo, 2005
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