[230]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REDEMPTION THROUGH DEATH – NO OTHER WAY
The concentration in this poem is “No other way.” Why did heaven’s best, God the Son, have to die? You know I can not answer that. The omniscient God knew from eternity past what was going to happen. I can’t give an answer why God did not destroy Satan and his angels so all this grief would be kept from the world. It would have seemed the logical thing to do. Well logical, in man’s imperfect reasoning.
The sacrifices in the Old Testament were enough to cover man’s sin and to prepare a place in Paradise (NOT heaven) for those made righteous. We have the account of Lazarus and the rich man we know so well, but Abraham and Lazarus and all the righteous ones were there because they were not fit for heaven.
Their sins were covered but not eliminated; the penalty still had to be paid for the sins of the human race. If not then Paradise would have continued. Only in the death of Christ and the blood of the Lamb, could full atonement happen so that sin’s penalty could be forever paid and eliminated. It had to be paid! And it was!
There is an Old Testament set of verses I have raised before but I will do it again. The verses refer to a serious time. These are they –
{{Hosea 11:7 “My people are BENT ON TURNING FROM ME. Though they call them to the One on high, NONE AT ALL EXALTS HIM.”
Hosea 11:8 “HOW CAN I GIVE YOU UP, O EPHRAIM? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? MY HEART IS TURNED OVER WITHIN ME. ALL MY COMPASSIONS ARE KINDLED.”}}
Here is the LORD speaking. The Northern Kingdom (Ephraim, Samaria, Israel) was horrible sinful and destruction was the only course for them since they refused to repent. That is verse 7.
However in verse 8, the whole compassions of God are kindled and His heart overturned with sorrow and love. Can we imagine that? No I don’t think we can appreciate that one little bit.
Let us take verse 8 and apply it to the Son. The Father is saying, “How can I surrender you, O My Son? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? MY HEART IS TURNED OVER WITHIN ME. ALL MY COMPASSIONS ARE KINDLED.”
God did not want to take action against Ephraim. God did not want to take action against His Son on the cross. Was there any other way? Could a second way of escape be found? NO IT COULD NOT BE FOUND.
One stanza of my poem covers those very thoughts –
But how could God give up the Son
Upon a shameful cross to die?
His heart of love was sore undone,
And pierced by crucifixion’s cry.
Jesus paid the price for sin and opened heaven for all those in Paradise.
{{Ephesians 4:8-10 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”)}}
Please read the poem carefully to note the WAY of our salvation.
Through heaven’s courts, no way was found
For man to be released from sin.
The only One whom heaven crowned,
Was He whose blood would bring us in.
{{Isaiah 53:10 “The LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief. If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.”}}
{{Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”}}
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REDEMPTION THROUGH DEATH – NO OTHER WAY
God’s love was not retained, but gave
His very best for fallen man.
What other way was there to save,
That God could find, or God could plan?
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Through heaven’s courts, no way was found
For man to be released from sin.
The only One whom heaven crowned,
Was He whose blood would bring us in.
===========================
But how could God give up the Son
Upon a shameful cross to die?
His heart of love was sore undone,
And pierced by crucifixion’s cry.
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The Lord, our Saviour suffered grief,
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him.
Upon the cross was no relief;
God’s wrath was poured out on our sin.
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The Father’s love was full and deep;
That love the Son came to express.
For the sin of man, He would weep,
But came, mankind’s sin to address.
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On the cross He was seeking still,
And found there the repentant thief –
Forgiven, there on Cal’vry’s hill,
And redeemed, through the Saviour’s grief.
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For the Lord, that was joy immense:
That joy that lay ahead of Him.
Endured the cross in ev’ry sense,
For sin’s cup was filled to the brim.
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The Father gave His only Son.
That was the way that God did find;
That was His plan, no other one.
Our God is so loving and kind.
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27 April, 27 September 2021 R E Ferguson Metre = 8 throughout
Four stanzas done in April; four stanzas done in September
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