RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 259, 25 July 1908, Page 12

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

PROBLEMS OF THE CROSS. REV. J. GIBSON SMITH'S NEW WORK. The Rev. J. Gibson Smith, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, has made an interesting contribution to theological literature in his book, "Tho Christ of tho Cross," or "Tho Death of Jesus Christ in its Relation to Forgiveness and Judgment." Mr. Smith has been impressed by tho same difficulty in regard to theories of tho Atone-: inont which W. L. Walker, in "The Spirit and tho Incarnation," expressed in tho question, "How can tho sufforing of Christ at tho hands of sinful men—that act of surpassing unrighteousness—become, in any real sense, tho supremo manifestation of God's righteousness in relation to . sin." : Mr. Smith opposes at great length the expiatory theory of the Cross, which 'argues that the sufferings of Christ on tho Cross were required, and were accepted, by God, in lieu of tho penalties due to sinful men. In one form or another that has beon the theory most generally adopted for several centuries, 1 hut : for some years past thero has. been a distinct reaction- against this explanation of tho Crucifixion, and thero is nothing new ill Mr. Smith's hostility. His arguments against tho theory aro as follow: —(1) If on tho Cross God's retributive justice was satisfied, then, either it was wholly satisfied or. it was not. If it was not wholly satisfied, then Christ failed to perform what, according to tho hypothesis, was the very essence of His saving work. If it was wholly satisfied, then where was the need for a coming judgment? (2) In the Scriptures tho crucifixion of Christ is always described as an appalling crime. How, then, can it be construed into a satisfaction of Divine retributivo justice? (3) The theory seems to be opposed by tho many passages of Scripture whioh assort the indostructiblo unity of the Father and tho Son. (4) The theory seems to be opposed by tho many passages of Scripture which speak of the forgiveness bestowed on believors as the result of tho redemptive work of Christ, as a gonuino gift of God's free grace. (5) Tho "satisfaction to justico" theory seems to bo opposod to those passages of Scripturo which assort that God's morcy is, in itself, holy and right. Tho arguments on which the author lays most weight are the truth of tjio crimoof tho Crucifixion and tho truth of tho coming judgment. 1 Having thus cleared tho ground, Sir. Smith prooseds to construct his own theory of the Cross. Tho obstacle to tho outflow of God's morcy to Christian man was not, in his opinion, a necessity for expiation, but the fact that God's mercy must bo holy mercy, that it is itself under law, and can manifest itself only under conditions. "Tho morcy of God must remain, eternally .unavailable for Binful man unless, through the mediatorship of a Saviour from sin, ho is enabled to comply with the conditions which God's holiness must always impose upon' God's mercy. Through tho mediatorial work of Jesus Christ, whioh found its climax on tho Cross of Calvary, believers in Christ aro enabled to comply with these conditions." The conditions which God imposes in bestowing forgiveness are a porfect forgiveness; and a perfect faith. As "natural men," we can repent and bolievo, but not with any such ropentancc or faith as God is ablo to accopt. Christ's suffering of the ultimate efrcots of sin enabled him to obtain a perfect human hatred of sin, and a' perfect human love of righteousness-, which Ho is ablo to communicate to sinful men. The crime of tho Crucifixion sliowod sin-to map as " that unspoakably ovil thing-which, if it could, if God did not continually resist it, if God did not immediately begin to bring death, upon, all who lond themselves to bo its servants, would in tho end bring destruction upon God himself, and_ wreck tho univorse which dopends upon Him." Mr. Smith's argument:is conducted in simple' and lucid languago, and with strong earnestness. - : He traces 'tho history of tho Atonomcnt doctrine,"and finds numerous statements in the Old and. Now Testaments corroborative, as ho claims, of his theory. It is not competent for a layman to discuss the arguments- advanced,' but we understand that tho author's theory of tho Atonoment would not ho considered blnmofully unorthodox by ministers of the Congregational and some' other churches, and it is not likely to make trouble for Mr. Smith with h'is own denomination.' Wo note that in tho "Outlook," a Presbyterian roviower savs:—"lt is hard to .foretell what reception this work, will find at the hands of the Church. Settling questions of truth and error by legal processes is a miserable business; and especially when the points are so fine, .where so much debate exists, and whore all aro conscious of more or less unsettlcment,_ nothing but mischief can ariso from tho introductions of tho matter iiito church courts—nothing but good from its earnest discussion in tho open air. There is no occasion for thooloiical excitement; for, whatever may bo tho ultimate verdict on the merits o'f the doctrine, it can hardly be questioned that it moves within evangelical lines.", Tho hook is published by Messrs. Gordon and Gotch.