manner the object of this transformation is said to be that the
Church may be the present and eternal manifestation of the wisdom, love
and power of God: "To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold
wisdom of God" (3:10). "That in the ages to come He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus" (2:7). "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which
He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at
His own right hand in the heavenlies" (1:19, 20).

There is also a strong contrast of figures used in the Old Testament
which accurately emphasizes the mighty power of the Creator in the
regeneration of a soul. In Psalm 8:3 the creation of the solar system
is mentioned as the work of the _fingers_ of God: "When I consider Thy
heavens, the work of Thy _fingers_, the moon and the stars, which thou
hast ordained," but in Isa. 53:1, where the substitutionary sacrifice of
Christ is referred to, it is spoken of as the effort of the Creator's
_arm_: "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the _arm_ of the
Lord revealed?" The suggestion here given, that the creation of a
universe is the work of His fingers, and the regeneration of souls is
the work of His mighty arm, is not overdrawn; for the price of
redemption cannot be measured by corruptible things, such as gold and
silver: but is purchased at the price of the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Pet. 1:19).

The Scriptures abound in statements that regeneration, and the whole
transforming work of redemption, are accomplished on the ground of the
sacrificial blood of the Cross; and if these statements of Scripture are
rejected, the discussion never can be one of interpretation of
Scripture, but becomes a question of the authority of the testimony of
the Bible. A few of these passages are here given: "Surely He hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:4-6). "Ev