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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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5. But what is the harm in this apparently<br />

innocent invention? It looks so beautiful!<br />

But it is deadly. A little thought will show that<br />

sexual irresponsibility and consequent<br />

permissiveness become the natural ethical result of<br />

this false doctrine, for Christ as Saviour is forced<br />

into an unnatural role that precludes the possibility<br />

that He can be a true Substitute for us. He cannot<br />

redeem what He does not assume. Nor can He be a<br />

true Example to believers if He bypassed taking<br />

our true fallen nature. <strong>The</strong> popular doctrine of<br />

Christ taking the sinless nature of Adam before the<br />

Fall is next door to the Catholic idea. <strong>The</strong> word<br />

"exempt" is a favorite with Roman Catholics in<br />

discussing the nature of Christ:<br />

<strong>The</strong> whole mind of the Oriental church ... drew<br />

from St. Augustine, the great Doctor of grace,<br />

those remarkable declarations which exempt the<br />

Blessed Virgin from all sin.<br />

In the same spirit, and with a like implied<br />

exemption from the curse, St. Hippolytus, Bishop<br />

140

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