The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland
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that is just the point of the teaching of the nature of<br />
Christ that Jones and Waggoner, with Ellen White's<br />
endorsement, so earnestly proclaimed: Christ was<br />
like us in all respects, "yet without sin;" and what<br />
He exercised that we have not exercised, was faith.<br />
He had perfect faith because He was agape, so that<br />
"not for one moment was there in Him an evil<br />
propensity." His righteousness was not innate,<br />
natural-born, automatic, advantageous over us; it<br />
was by faith. (Faith and agape are frequently tied<br />
together in Paul's epistles; see Colossians 1:3; 1<br />
<strong>The</strong>ssalonians 1:3, etc.) As Son of God He brings<br />
to us a tremendous advantage!<br />
<strong>The</strong> prophet Isaiah speaks of the innocent<br />
childhood of Jesus as a time when He knew "to<br />
refuse the evil, and choose the good" (Isaiah 7:14-<br />
16). <strong>The</strong> prophet is speaking metaphorically of the<br />
excellent prenatal and postnatal care that Mary and<br />
Joseph gave the holy Child. Given such care, we<br />
are told that even our "children will have no desire<br />
to wander away in search of pleasure and<br />
companionship. Evil will not attract them" (MH<br />
388, 394). Certainly Isaiah is speaking of our<br />
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