THE FOURFOLD
MESSAGE OF GRACE
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 (2 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.
AMEN.