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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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