1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

image and likeness of the Creator, and was without excuse,and therefore needed no provision for mercy solong as he was in relation with his God.When temptation came, man fell from obedience intoR4981 : page 71sin, and from Divine favor and life into disfavor andunder the death sentence. He was without excuse andJustice made no provision. But another feature of theDivine character, Love, while not in control, was broughtinto exercise for man's relief. But Divine Love or Mercycould not override or interfere with Divine Justice. Inother words, God could not forgive a sinner whom Hehad sentenced to death. What He could do, and did do,was to provide in due time for man's redemption. All ofDivine Mercy, therefore, flows through the channel ofRedemption.Applying this principle to our Savior and to Histeachings, we ask, How could He forgive sins when DivineJustice could not forgive sins, nor set aside the penaltyof sin? The answer is, Jesus was the representativeof Divine Mercy, and was at that time amongst men forthe purpose of giving His life as a sacrifice on man's account,and therefore to Him belonged the distinctivehonor of forgiving sins. But someone answers that Jesushad not yet died for man's sins, that He had not yet risenfor man's justification, that He had not even appeared inthe presence of God for the "household of faith."We answer that while it is true that he had not accomplishedthis work, and indeed has not yet fully accomplishedHis work (as the Redeemer and Restorer of men),nevertheless, He had begun the work, He had presentedHimself as man's Atonement price at Jordan, at the timeof His baptism. According to the Scriptures and thetype, He at that moment surrendered His earthly all onman's behalf.However, His surrender of His all did not give Himthe authority to forgive sins. It was the heavenlyFather's acceptance of His consecration--Divine acceptanceof Jesus' sacrifice that counted. God's acceptanceof Jesus' sacrifice was manifested in His impartation ofthe Holy Spirit, which lighted upon Jesus like a dove, aswas testified by John the Baptist, and also testified byDivine power which thereafter operated in and throughJesus for the healing of diseases. We see, then, that ourLord's words to the palsied man, "Thy sins be forgiventhee," were justified by the fact that He was in the positionof making satisfaction for the sins of the wholeworld, and that the Father had already indicated the acceptanceof the sacrifice which was then in process."BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL"The text for this study comes from the Psalms, and ismost interesting. The Prophet David may have appropriated