11. What outcome is guaranteed in the shed blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary? Matthew 5:5; Revelation 22:14.
NOTE: ‘God’s original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” The time has come to which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the first pair from Eden, the time for “the redemption of the purchased possession.” The earth, originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption. All that was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second.’ The Adventist Home, page 540.
12. Why does this payment of the ransom price allow God to forgive us? 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Colossians 1:14.
NOTE: ‘The pardon granted by this king [in the parable, Matthew 18] represents a divine forgiveness of all sin. Christ is represented by the king, who, moved with compassion, forgave the debt of his servant. Man was under the condemnation of the broken law. He could not save himself and, for this reason, Christ came to this world, clothed His divinity with humanity and gave His life, the just for the unjust. He gave Himself for our sins, and to every soul He freely offers the blood-bought pardon. “With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.” Psalm 130:7. Here is the ground upon which we should exercise compassion toward our fellow sinners. “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11. “Freely ye have received,” Christ says, “freely give.” Matthew 10:8.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 245.
LESSON INSIGHT: The Man of Calvary not only paid the ransom to buy us back from Satan but, by it, He has earned the right to forgive us, to pardon us, and to give us a position of value. In this He has demonstrated the great depth of His love for us. If He had forgiven us without paying our death penalty, He could have been accused of forgiving us unfairly when we deserved to die. No evil angel can now say that God is being untrue by loving and saving sinners who did not deserve His blessing. Even as we were sinning against Him and denying Him and disobeying Him, He was loving us. How does Isaiah describe His love towards those of His Creation from times of old? ‘I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.’ Isaiah 63:7-9.