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found in the promises, the purpose, and the power of God, which find their moral ground
and guarantee in the redemptive work of the Son of God.
The Promises.--First, we can add to the promise recorded by Peter such passages as,
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . . . and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
passed away" (Rev. 21: 1-4).
This promise is supplemented by an act of creation: "And He that sat upon the throne
said, Behold, I make all things new" which, in turn, is followed by the injunction, "Write:
for these things are true and faithful" (Rev. 21: 5). Unless, therefore, we are prepared to
admit that God may be unfaithful to His promises; that the "former things" will not pass
away; that the blessed "no more" of Rev. 21: 4 is but an exaggeration or a pious hope;
then we have a guarantee that is beyond doubt that evil will not again rear its head.
The Purpose.--We can supplement the certainty that comes from the promises of God
by the statement He has made concerning His purposes. Let us put into the scale the
following weighty words concerning the purposes of God.
"Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass" (Isa. 14: 24).
"The Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?" (Isa. 14: 27).
"Every purpose of the Lord shall be performed" (Jer. 51: 29).
"The purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will"
(Eph. 1: 11).
Not only have we these strong statements to rest upon, but the goal toward which this
purpose moves also guarantees against future defection:
"Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
His Son" (Rom. 8: 29).
When this image of the heavenly is attained; when all the redeemed are with Christ
and like Him, evil will be impossible:
"When all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself subject
unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (I Cor. 15: 28).
Here again is strong guarantee--all in the heavenly image; all in Christ; all in perfect
agreement, and God all in all.
Left to himself man brings chaos back to the earth. Man placed in Christ; redeemed
by His precious blood; made partaker of the Divine nature; the subject of infinite love;
guarded by infinite power; vitally and eternally joined with the risen Christ; shall enter a
new realm "wherein dwelleth righteousness".
These are some of the reasons that may be adduced from the Scriptures to give the
required guarantee, but they can be strengthened and supplemented by acquaintance with
the Scriptural teaching concerning the origin of sin; the end both of the devil, sin and