All heaven saw God’s justice revealed. Lucifer had claimed that the sinful race were beyond redemption. But the penalty of the law fell upon Him who was equal with God, and man was free to accept the righteousness of Christ and by penitence and humiliation to triumph over the power of Satan.
But it was not merely to redeem man that Christ came to earth to die. He came to demonstrate to all the worlds that God’s law is unchangeable. The death of Christ proves it immutable and demonstrates that justice and mercy are the foundation of the government of God. In the final judgment it will be seen that no cause for sin exists. When the Judge of all the earth shall demand of Satan, “Why hast thou rebelled against Me?” the originator of evil can render no excuse.
In the Saviour’s expiring cry, “It is finished,” the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy* which had been so long in progress was then decided, the final eradication of evil made certain. When “the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;… all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Malachi 4:1.
Never will evil again be manifest. The law of God will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never again turn from allegiance to Him whose character has been manifested as fathomless love and infinite wisdom.
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* The great controversy between Christ and Satan is over God’s character, His justice and His law.
Source: Ellen G. White, The Great Hope, pp. 11