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John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus’ atoning death on the cross represents the apex of His passive obedience and the supreme demonstration of God’s love (Rom. 5:6–11). Yet as we read the Scriptures and consider the relation of the atonement to other biblical doctrines such as unconditional election, we find ourselves having to address at least one more issue: the value and intent of the atonement.
With respect to the value of the atonement, Christians across theological traditions have agreed that the worth of our Lord’s sacrifice is limitless. This must be so because Jesus is the infinitely worthy Son of God. As Petrus van Mastricht writes, “The divine nature [of Christ] furnished to his sufferings an infinite weight, value, and price.” Impenitent sinners must suffer for eternity because their enduring of divine wrath is not of infinite worth; Christ, being of infinite worth, could satisfy in a few hours the complete debt of punishment that His people owe and could not pay themselves even were they to suffer eternal death in hell.
Consequently, Dr. R.C. Sproul argues, “Christ’s death is of enough value to save everyone.” Had God intended to save all people, Jesus would not have had to suffer any more than He did in terms of intensity or duration. We know, however, that our Creator did not intend to save all people but only His elect (Rom. 9:1–29). Jesus came to “save his people from their sins,” not all people (Matt. 1:21). Thus, we recognize that while the value of the atonement is limitless, God’s intent in the atonement is limited. He ordained that the scope of Jesus’ atonement would not be universal and would not cover all people but would be definite and would apply only to His people. Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of His people alone. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep, not for the goats (John 10:11).
This is the doctrine of limited or definite atonement, which says that the atonement is inherently effectual and will certainly save all those for whom it was intended and performed. Dr. Sproul writes: “The intent of the atonement was to save the elect, and it actually saves the elect. We must believe in Christ in order to be saved, but our faith is a gift to us out of God’s irresistible saving grace, which comes as a consequence of the atonement. We do not add our faith to the work of Christ to secure our forgiveness; Christ’s work secures our forgiveness and our faith is a consequence of Calvary.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
If Jesus atoned for the sins of all people, then God would be unjust to send anyone to hell, for that would be to require a second payment of a satisfied debt. God maintains His justice in sending some to hell, because those who are in hell are those for whom Christ did not die. Understanding definite atonement helps us have a consistent view of divine justice, and it assures us of God’s power to save all whom He wants to save.
For further study
- Isaiah 10:23
- John 10:14–16
The bible in a year
- Psalm 119:49–104
- 1 Corinthians 4
- Psalm 119:105–176
- 1 Corinthians 5–6