The Fundamentals - Torrey - LXIV - Chapter 25 (The purposes of the incarnation)

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 25 (The purposes of the incarnation).

My summary
Today Campbell Morgan gives us purposes for Christ's incarnation. 

Firstly the incarnation reveals the Father: 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him' (Joh 1:18).

Secondly the incarnation was to take away sins: ' And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin' (1Jo 3:5).

Thirdly the incarnation was to destroy the works of the devil: 'For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil' (1Jo 3:8).

Fourthly the incarnation was to prepare for the second advent: 'So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation' (Heb 9:28).

What grabbed me
I liked this clear statement about the relation of sin and suffering: 'If it be declared that God might have wrought this self-same deliverance without suffering, our answer is that the man who says so knows nothing about sin. Sin and suffering are co-existent. The moment there is sin, there is suffering. The moment there is sin and suffering in a human being it is in God multiplied. "The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world." From the moment when man in his sin became a child of sorrow, the sorrow was most keenly felt in heaven.'

You can't have sin without suffering.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 26 (Tributes to Christ and the Bible by brainy men not known as active Christians).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.