Mr. Darby says, “Christ was tempted in every way apart from sin.”[1] This surely, is not the equivalent of the Scripture statement that “He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” Mr. Darby implies that sin played no part in the temptations to which the Saviour was subjected; the Scriptures teach that Jesus endured every possible human temptation, and overcame them all, and thus was without sin―two very different statements.
(5.) The Third-class Sufferings of Christ.―To these we have alluded, and now do not feel disposed to enter into them at any length; for, as we have before said, it is not a subject for analysis and dispute. The points of this doctrine have been summed up by W. H. D. as follows:―“First, Atonement is not by the Cross of Christ alone. Second, Atonement is not by Christ’s enduring the curse of the law. Third, Atonement is not in Christ’s being smitten by God on the Cross. Fourth, Atonement is not simply by Christ’s death.”[2] Passages are adduced from J. N. D.’s writings in support of these statements. It may be added that this doctrine has been developed from J. N. D.’s peculiar views of the Jewish Remnant and the Saviour’s identification with them in His sufferings, so as to be their Redeemer and Messiah in the future.
The 26th verse of the 69th Psalm is the foundation more or less of these views.[3] If correct we never ought to sing again―
“Gethsemane can I forget,
Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and bloody sweat,
And not remember Thee?”
For we have no part in His sufferings there; the cup
- ↑ Present Testimony, Vol. ii., p. 376.
- ↑ A Solemn Appeal, etc., by W. H. Darby, p. 9.
- ↑ See The Sufferings of Christ, etc. , by J. N. Darby, p. 71, et seq.
