s from the standpoint of reason. Could
we conceive of the Divinity, Who is Justice itself, inflicting punishment
upon the posterity of Adam for Adam's own sin and disobedience? Even if we
should see a governor, an earthly ruler punishing a son for the wrongdoing
of his father, we would look upon that ruler as an unjust man. Granted the
father committed a wrong, what was the wrong committed by the son? There
is no connection between the two. Adam's sin was not the sin of His
posterity, especially as Adam is a thousand generations back of the man
today. If the father of a thousand generations committed a sin, is it just
to demand that the present generation should suffer the consequences
thereof?

There are other questions and evidences to be considered. Abraham was a
Manifestation of God and a descendant of Adam; likewise, Ishmael, Isaac,
Jeremiah and the whole line of prophets including David, Solomon and Aaron
were among His posterity. Were all these holy men condemned to a realm of
punishment because of a deed committed by the first father, because of a
mistake said to have been made by their mutual and remotest ancestor Adam?
The explanation is made that when Christ came and sacrificed Himself, all
the line of holy Prophets who preceded Him became free from sin and
punishment. Even a child could not justly make such an assertion. These
interpretations and statements are due to a misunderstanding of the
meanings of the Bible.

In order to understand the reality of sacrifice let us consider the
crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is true that He sacrificed
Himself for our sake. What is the meaning of this? When Christ appeared,
He knew that He must proclaim Himself in opposition to all the nations and
peoples of the earth. He knew that mankind would arise against Him and
inflict upon Him all manner of tribulations. There is no doubt that one
who put forth such a claim as Christ announced would arouse the hostility
of the world and be subjected to personal abuse. He realized that His
blood would be shed and His body rent by violence. Notwithstanding His
knowledge of what would befall Him, He arose to proclaim His message,
suffered all tribulation and hardships from the people and finally offered
His life as a sacrifice in order to illumine humanity--gave His blood in
order to guide the world of mankind. He accepted every calamity and
suffering in order to guide men to the truth. Had He desired to save His
own lif