OUR FOURFOLD MESSAGE OF GRACE
Isaiah 40:1-2
The Lord God
commands all who preach the gospel, saying, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my
people... Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare
is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins." In response to that command, for the
comfort of God's elect, it is my joy to constantly declare a fourfold message
of grace to all who trust Christ.
1. PERFECT ATONEMENT!
The Lord Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself, paid for them,
completely satisfying the just demands of God's holy law, and forever put them
away. Redemption is accomplished! We are redeemed by the blood of Christ (II
Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12).
2. PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS!
It is not enough for the sinner to be pardoned. We are required to keep
the law. "Cursed is he that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them" (Gal. 3:10). This too Christ has done!
By his faithful obedience to the law of God as our Representative, he has
brought in everlasting righteousness for us (Rom. 3:19-22; 5:19).
3. PERFECT IMPUTATION!
Christ has given us life, light and understanding by the gospel,
enabling us to see and receive the imputation of his righteousness to us by
faith in him (Rom. 1: 16,17; 4:3-8,9.0-25). Righteousness is not imputed to us
upon the basis of our faith, but upon the basis of Christ's faithfulness as our
Representative. This imputed righteousness is received by faith. Righteousness
is imputed to us without works. And it is an unconditional, irrevocable
imputation (Rom. 4:6-8).
4. PERFECT LIBERTY!
Since justice has been satisfied, the law has been honored, and
righteousness has been imputed to us, God's elect are completely freed from all
possibility of condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4). Where there is no debt, there is no
liability. Where there is no sin, there is no curse. Where there is no guilt,
there is no fear. And where there is no fear, there is perfect liberty.