_A Summary of the Christian Faith by Henry Eyster Jacobs, D.D., LL.D Copyright, 1905, BY THE BOARD OF PUBLICATION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA. Chapter X. Pages 119-121 -------------------- CHAPTER X. THE PREPARATION OF REDEMPTION. 1. _When did God first reveal His purpose to redeem man_? As soon as man had fallen. In Gen. 3:15 is a promise, often called the "protevangelium" or "protogospel." "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." This --------------------End of Page 119-------------------- refers to the ultimate victory which humanity, "the seed of the woman," is to obtain in the constant struggle which began in Eden. Its still deeper significance gradually be- came apparent in succeeding prophecies, culminating in One who, while "the seed of the woman" and the true representative of the race, is also true God. 1 Cor. 15:22--"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 47--"The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is of heaven." 2. _What two-fold preparation at once began_? God gradually prepared man for salvation, and pre- pared salvation for man. 3. _How was man prepared for salvation_? Through the education of many centuries, in which his knowledge of sin was deepened, his inability to aid him- self was recognized, and his need of redemption from a higher source was acknowledged and devoutly longed for. 4. _How was salvation prepared for man_? By the gradual revelation of the Plan of Redemption in type and ceremony and promise, until in the fulness of time (Gal. 4:4) the Son of God became incarnate. 5. _State the relation of the two parts of the human race to this two-fold preparation_? The former occurred chiefly in heathenism, exhibiting the efforts of man by the exertion of his own powers to struggle upwards towards God (Acts 17:27). The en- tire history of the Gentile world is told in the words of Augustine: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it rest on Thee." The latter occurred in Judaism (Rom. 3:1,2). Through the positive revelation even though incomplete, there was a constant approach of God towards man, through successive stages until Christ came. 6. _Are we to understand, then, that the preparation through heathenism was entirely negative, and that through Judaism entirely positive_? --------------------End of Page 120-------------------- No. For in a less degree heathenism afforded some positive elements, in the preparation of the means through which the Gospel was to be diffused. The universal em- pire of Rome, the universal language, the means of com- munication between nations, the culture of the race, be- came important instrumentalities for the progress of the Gospel. So there was also, a negative element in Judaism. When man attempted to attain righteousness before God by his fulfilment of all the prescriptions of the Law, he learned his helplessness. Rom. 3:20, "Through the law cometh the knowledge of sin." The entire system of rites and ceremonies and sacrifices, declared as the Epistle to the Hebrews shows, the incompleteness and unsatisfacori- ness of the then existing order, and pointed to what was higher and better. 7. _Was there then no salvation for any who lived and died before Christ_? Yes. Where there was faith that received the assur- ance of God's grace and the promise of salvation here- after to be provided in a way not understood at the time. "Paul cites concerning Abraham (Rom. 4:3), 'He bel- lieved God and it was counted unto him for righteous- ness,' i.e., Abraham knew that God was propitious to him only on account of His promise; he assented to God's promise and did not suffer himself to be withdrawn from it, although he saw that he was impure, and unworthy; he knew that God offers His promise on account of His own truth, and not on account of our works or merits" (Melanchthon). For further Scriptural proof, see Chapter XI of the Epistle to the Hebrews. 8. _What ground is there for saying that the Old Testa- ment saints had only a general promise concerning a sal- vation hereafter to be provided_? Eph. 3:5; Luke 10:23,24; Heb. 11:40; 1 Peter 1:11. --------------------End of Chapter on Page 121-------------------- This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by William Alan Larson and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-2123 Fax: (260) 452-2126