The Blood of the Lamb: Full Atonement
Scripture clearly shows the
inability of any person to deliver himself from the guilt of sin and from the consequent sentence of God: death (
Rom. 3:10-18). The law of God cannot provide a way of deliverance (
Gal. 3:10). There is simply no way to escape the condemnation of the righteous God through our own efforts.
God provided the way out of this horrible situation. He sends His own Son, the second person of the Trinity, into our flesh (
Gal. 4:4). Christ provided His life to redeem His people. He bore the curse of God to remove the curse from them (
Gal. 3:13).
This payment was full and complete: once made for all of His own (
Heb. 10:12). Nothing more need be added to meet the just requirements of the righteous God. Salvation has been merited by Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Neither man’s work nor the intercession of saints or other creatures can add to that which Christ has already accomplished (
Heb. 10:14,
18).
This work of Christ was the fulfilment of God’s word spoken in Genesis 3:15. The “seed of the woman” crushed the head of the serpent on the cross. Christ accomplished all of this for His people—not for all people (Matt. 1:21). He would deliver all those “given Him of the Father” (John 6:37). He gives His life for “His sheep” (John 10:11). He did not give His life, then, for those whom He says are “not of my sheep” (John 10:26). Christ unconditionally assures “His sheep” that He gives them eternal life. They shall never perish nor shall any man pluck them out of His hand nor out of the hand of His Father (10:28-29).
We may not, then, tell all who hear, “Christ died for you.” Nor have we the right to say, “God loves all of you.”
This is the great wonder of salvation: that God should deliver poor, miserable sinners, no more deserving than any others, and provide them with forgiveness and adoption unto sons. This is the power of God’s grace which He has shown in Christ’s cross (
Eph. 2:8-10). Salvation is of grace—
all of grace, grace only to the glory of God’s name. We can never then boast in our works nor claim salvation on the basis of what man does.
Do you know this great Saviour? Do you belong to Him because He has redeemed you of your sins? Then you are blessed indeed. Are you troubled of heart? Are you weary because of your sins? To such Christ says, “Come unto me … and I will give you rest” (
Matt. 11:28). With the apostle Paul, we too can state emphatically, “
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house!” (
Acts 16:31).
Rev. Hanko