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The Science of
Redemption
A trilogy of faiths
Book One - Saving faith
Book Two - Living faith
Book Three - Translation faith
THE PURPOSE OF THESE BOOKS
If you are a professed Christian in the church, only God and you know whether you have really changed from your old life. Whether you have or not, please consider these words and "judge yourself that you be not judged". Matthew 7:1.
They are not set out with the intention of turning anyone into a Christian, for this is the work of the Son of God, Christ the Saviour. But they are written for the purpose of explaining the science of HOW you were reborn, how to live today, and how to prepare for eternity. As the apostle Peter wrote, "I will not be negligent to put you always [or continually] in remembrance of those things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth". 2 Peter 1:12. (Appendix A). But if you are not a Christian then they may help you to make your choice.
Just as parents eventually have to tell their children the "facts of life" and the physical events which led up to their conception and subsequent birth, so our Father wants His children to know how they were spiritually conceived and reborn. He has spoken of this fully in two places in His word. First, when Jesus explained the "facts of life" to the Jewish leader, Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 (Appendix B), and second, when the apostle Paul described his own experiences to some former pagans turned Christian who lived in Rome. This is all covered in book one.
After that explanation, Jesus, like other parents, expects to nuture and educate His children and prepare them for adulthood. The older members of God's family have their place in this work but it is basically the responsibility of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God’s intention for His children is higher than our minds can reach, but He has set out some of it for us. He would like His children to be really Christ-like, which means overcoming our habits (and choices) of sin today and growing in His grace until we can love those who are our enemies as He does, which He calls "perfection". Matthew 5:43-48. Then we may go and live with Him.
Books two and three deal with this.
In the meantime, consider this word: "In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own". Romans 8:18-19. J B Phillips' Translation.
It was with this aim in mind that this trilogy was written.
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The main Scriptures are from the king James version of the Bible, unless otherwise noted,
but they have been substantially modified and modernised so that they are more readable.
Foreword
Desire of Ages 20-21
"In the beginning, God the Father was revealed in all the works of creation. But it was God the Son that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. [Colossians 1:16]. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. [John 1:1-3]. It is written, "His strength sets fast the mountains" [Psalm 65:6], and, "The sea is His, and He made it". [Psalm 95:5]. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. [Hebrews 1:1-3]. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of His Father’s love."
"But turning from all lesser representations, we may behold God in the man Christ Jesus. Looking to Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. "He went about doing good, and healing all..." [Acts 10:8]."
"'I do nothing of Myself', said Christ. And in another place, 'The living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father'. Then, 'I seek not My own glory', but the glory of Him that sent Me. [John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18]."
"In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So, in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings, through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all. Through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circle of generosity is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life."
"In heaven itself this circle was broken, for sin originated when God’s gift of self-preservation became the creature’s self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their worship to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for self-exultation. With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest our loving Father. Thus he deceived angels. Thus he deceived humanity. He led them to doubt the word of God, and to distrust His goodness. Because God is also a God of justice and terrible majesty, Satan caused them to look upon Him as severe and unforgiving. Thus he drew men and women to join him in rebellion against God, and the night of woe settled down upon the world."
"The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force because the exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government. He desires only the service of love, and love cannot be commanded. It cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him, therefore His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night Jesus the Sun of Righteousness must rise, 'with healing in His wings'." [Malachi 4:2].
"The plan of redemption was not an afterthought, devised after the sin of Adam and Eve. It was a revelation of "the mystery which has been kept in silence through times eternal". [Romans 16:25 RV]. It was simply an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne and which were still being discovered by the inhabitants of heaven."
"God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its possible existence, and made provision to meet such a terrible emergency by making a covenant with His Son to be the Saviour. This was a voluntary sacrifice. [See Levitivcus 1:1-2]. Jesus might have remained at His Father’s side, He might have retained the glory of heaven and the homage of angels. But He chose to give back the sceptre into His Father’s hands and to step down from the throne of the universe that He might bring light to those in darkness, and life to the perishing. He said, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God'." [Hebrews 10:7].
This is the setting in which you should read these books.
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