Many have made the redemptive
work of Christ a point of theology to be discussed and debated. We are told
that it is not an essential point of doctrine, and we must not be too insistent
upon it. I do not presume to speak for others, but I am determined not to
compromise this fundamental gospel truth, or to dishonor my Redeemer by simply
being silent while his redemptive work is whittled down to nothing but an
attempt to make salvation a long shot possibility for men who will ultimately
perish. To deny the vicarious, effectual atonement of Christ is, so far as I
can see, to deny the whole gospel.
Our Lord died as a vicarious
sacrifice in the place of God's elect, his sheep, all who believe. Had he died
in the place of every man in the world and born all their sins, every man would
be saved. But, in as much as all men are not saved, one of two conclusions must
be drawn. Either Christ failed in his efforts to redeem some of those whom he
represented, which is blasphemy, or he actually died as the Substitute only of
those who are in fact redeemed and saved by him, which is the truth of
Scripture. "For the transgression of my people was he stricken",
saith the Lord.
And our Lord's once for all sacrifice for sin was an
effectual atonement. That is to say, he did actually put away the sins of his
people, redeem us from the curse of the law, and secure our everlasting
salvation by his death and resurrection in our place. He did not make the
pardon of sin, redemption, and salvation possibilities for all men, he actually
accomplished those things for some men. "Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law." "By his own blood he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." He has "put away
sin by the sacrifice of himself". The believer's faith does not give merit
to the blood of Christ and make it effectual. The blood of Christ gives merit
to the believer's faith and make it effectual.
If Christ died only for a specific people, how can I
know that he bore my sin and died for me? I know that Christ died for sinners,
and I know that I am a sinner. I know that he died for every sinner who
believes on him and that all who believe on him will be saved, because God said
so. Now as a guilty sinner I do with all of my heart trust the Lord Jesus
Christ as my only and all-sufficient Savior. Since I trust him, I know that he
died for me. Will you trust him too? If you can, then he died for you!