God’s Love and the Power of Choice (Part 4)

So far we have seen how the commencement of rebellion and sin have affected God’s power of choice. God’s moral law of love was of so much more value to Him that, if the whole host of His angels rebelled against His law He would rather choose to keep His law in place at the cost of the rebellious force. Fortunately for those who refused to be deceived by Satan, there remains unfallen angels that still seek God’s will through obedience to His law.

But when Adam and Eve fell to the deceptive temptations of Satan, how then would God exercise His power of choice? As soon as they fell, there was a Savior Who offered Himself by faith. Here is a description of the process as it unfolded:

“The divine Son of God saw that no arm but His own could save fallen man, and He determined to help man. He left the fallen angels to perish in their rebellion, but stretched forth His hand to rescue perishing man. The angels who were rebellious were dealt with according to the light and experience they had abundantly enjoyed in heaven. Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, once had an exalted position in heaven. He was next in honor to Christ. The knowledge which he, as well as the angels who fell with him, had of the character of God, of His goodness, His mercy, wisdom, and excellent glory, made their guilt unpardonable.” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, February 24, 1874, emphasis added.)

“The heart of the Son of God was touched with pity for the lost race. Upon his lovely countenance rested an expression of sympathy and sorrow. Soon he approached the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father, and he seemed to engage in close converse with him. The anxiety of the angels was intense while Jesus thus communed with his Father. Three times he was shut in by the cloud of glory; the third time he came forth his countenance was calm, free from all perplexity and trouble, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express. He then made known to the angelic host that a way of escape had been made for lost man.” (Ellen White, Signs of the Times, January 30, 1879, emphasis added.)

“Said the angel, Think ye that the Father yielded up his dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with the God of Heaven, whether to let guilty man perish, or to give his beloved Son to die for them. Angels were so interested for man’s salvation that there could be found among them those who would yield their glory, and give their life for perishing man. But, said my accompanying angel, That would avail nothing. The transgression was so great that an angel’s life would not pay the debt. Nothing but the death and intercessions of his Son would pay the debt, and save lost man from hopeless sorrow and misery.” (Ellen White, Vol. 1, Spirit of Prophecy, 48.)

“When you look at the cross of Calvary, you cannot doubt God’s love or His willingness to save. He has worlds upon worlds that give Him divine honor, and heaven and all the universe would have been just as happy if He had left this world to perish; but so great was His love for the fallen race that He gave His own dear Son to die that they might be redeemed from eternal death.” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, March 9, 1886, emphasis added.)

“It was in order that the heavenly universe might see the conditions of the covenant of redemption that Christ bore the penalty in behalf of the human race. The throne of Justice must be eternally and forever made secure, even tho the race be wiped out, and another creation populate the earth. By the sacrifice Christ was about to make, all doubts would be forever settled, and the human race would be saved if they would return to their allegiance. Christ alone could restore honor to God’s government. The cross of Calvary would be looked upon by the unfallen worlds, by the heavenly universe, by Satanic agencies, by the fallen race, and every mouth would be stopped. In making His infinite sacrifice Christ would exalt and honor the law. He would make known the exalted character of God’s government, which could not in any way be changed to meet man in his sinful condition.” (Ellen White, Signs of the Times, July 12, 1899, emphasis added.)

“The language of this statement indicates that God had at least two options: destroy the race and create another in its place, or redeem the repentant rebels through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who meet all the conditions of love on behalf of those who believe and accept the peace that Christ makes for us.” (David H. Thiele, What Wondrous Love, 75, footnote 42.)