We believe and preach without apology the great, glorious, soul-cheering, gospel doctrine of limited atonement. That is to say, we declare according to the Word of God that…
Proposition: Our all glorious Christ, the Son of God, effectually accomplished the redemption of his people by the sacrifice of himself at Calvary.
As I have said before, all men who claim to be Christians believe in and teach limited atonement. The Arminian, free-will, works monger, who asserts that Christ died for all men, for those who perish in hell as well as those who are saved, limited the atonement of Christ contrary to Scripture. They limited the merit and efficacy of Christ's blood and the atonement made by his blood, asserting that the blood of Christ must be supplemented by man's decision, man's faith, man's obedience, man's baptism, etc.
We assert, according to the Word of God, that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO LIMITED TO THE MERIT AND EFFICACY OF CHRIST'S BLOOD AND THE ATONEMENT OBTAINED AND ACCOMPLISHED FOR GOD'S ELECT BY HIS BLOOD. However, according to the Word of God, the atonement of Christ is limited in intent, scope, design, and purpose to God's elect. TO SUGGEST, IMPLY, OR TEACH, INDEED, TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME IN HELL FOR WHOM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SHED HIS BLOOD AND MADE ATONEMENT IS TO BETRAY AN IDOLATER'S AND BLASPHEME THE SON OF GOD, DENYING HIS VERY GODHEAD!
Some of you may yet wonder why I make such an issue about this doctrine. I want you to know. Listen carefully. Such blasphemy, the blasphemy of universal redemption, makes the Son of God a failure. The doctrine of universal, ineffectual redemption, of universal, ineffectual atonement is just as damning to the souls of men as any other doctrine which inherently denies our Savior's divinity.
With those things in mind, I want to answer this very important question from the Word of God: FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? We will begin in Matthew 20:28. I want you to read and hear the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, as he describes his mission in this world in Matthew 20:28…
Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
He declares that they are many indeed for whom he has given "his life a ransom", a ransom price, the price of their redemption. They are described as "MANY" not all because these many a distinct and peculiar people. They are…
The objects of redemption, those for whom Christ died, for whom he made atonement by the shedding of his blood, for whom he obtained eternal redemption, are a special and distinct people. The Scriptures declare that they are "redeemed from the earth" (Rev. 14:3), from among all the other inhabitants of the earth. As explained in the very next verse, they are "redeemed from among men" (Rev. 14:4). One end of Christ's redemption of them is, "to purify to himself a peculiar people" (Tit. 2:14).
The inspired writers seem to delight in using the pronoun "us", when speaking of the death of Christ, and our redemption by it. Thus the objects of redemption are identified as a distinct, particular people…
The Scriptures everywhere teach limited atonement, particular, effectual redemption accomplished and obtained for God's elect by the sin-atoning death of Christ as our Substitute. There is not a hint, suggestion, or implication of universal atonement anywhere in the Word of God. The Word of God tells us specifically and clearly who those sinners are for whom Christ died.
I hope there are some here tonight who have much more than a mere theological concern about these things. I hope that God the Holy Spirit has brought some here who are seeking the Lord and desire to know the answer to this question personally, for themselves. Do you wonder whether or not the Son of God died for you and obtained eternal redemption for you when he entered into heaven with his own blood? If so, listen carefully, as I give you eight answers from the Word of God to this question - FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
I. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR EVERY SINNER IN THIS WORLD LOVED OF GOD WITH AND EVERLASTING LOVE.
The objects of Christ's redemption and the objects of God's love are the same. Redemption, as we have seen, flows from the love of God and Christ.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world (THE WORLD OF HIS ELECT), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
This love from which redemption flows is much, much more than some imaginary, universal benevolence, and much, much more than that general kindness shown in providence to all men, as the creatures of God. This is a special and discriminating love. It is the special, saving favor which God bears to his own people alone, as distinct from others. The Lord God declares, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."
This special, redeeming love which Christ expressed in the sacrifice of himself is towards his own that were in the world.
John 13:1 "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
All who are thus loved by Christ were redeemed by Christ. They are "his" people, "his" sheep, "his" church. To suggest, or imply that Christ died for reprobate sinners, who are the objects of his just wrath and contempt, such as Esau, is utter nonsense.
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? Look in Romans 8:30-33, and you will see that… II. OUR ALL GLORIOUS CHRIST DIED FOR GOD'S ELECT.
Romans 8:30-33 "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
The objects of election and redemption are the same. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?--It is Christ that died!" That bold challenge of faith makes sense only if you understand that Christ died for God's elect and infallibly secured the salvation of the elect by his death.
The "us all" for whom God delivered up his Son are the same as those whom he foreknew, and whom he predestinated; and whose calling, justification, and glorification were secured from eternity by God's sovereign purpose of grace toward them.
We see the same thing in Ephesians 1:4 and 7.
Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
The "us" who are said to be chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world are the same as those who have redemption in him through his blood. Election and redemption are of equal extent. No more were redeemed by Christ at Calvary than were chosen in him before the foundation of the world.
God's elect are special to him above all people in the world. Special things belong to them which belong to no one else. Yet, we see that everything which is said to be true of the elect is also true of the redeemed. Therefore, we must conclude, according to the Scriptures, that the elect and the redeemed are the very same people.
Are the elect the beloved of the Lord? Does the act of election spring from love? Election presupposes love. So the redeemed are the beloved of God and Christ. And their redemption flows from love.
Are the elect a people whom God has chosen for his peculiar treasure? The redeemed are purified by Christ, to be a peculiar people to himself.
Do the vessels of mercy, afore prepared for glory, consist of Jews and Gentiles alike? So Christ is the propitiation, not for the sins of the Jews only, or the Redeemer of the Jews only; but for the sins of the Gentile world also, the Redeemer of his people among the Gentiles.
Are God's elect a great number, a multitude which no man can number out of all nations, kindred, peoples, and tongues? So Christ's redeemed ones are those he has redeemed unto God, out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.
Is it true of the elect that they shall never perish, that they cannot be totally and finally deceived and perish? So, too, it is true of the ransomed of the Lord. They shall come to Zion with everlasting joy. Christ will never lose any part of the purchase of his blood.
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
III. OUR GREAT SAVIOR'S SACRIFICIAL WORK AS OUR SIN-ATONING SACRIFICE AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST WAS MADE FOR THOSE FOR WHOM HE UNDERTOOK TO A SURETY IN THE COVENANT OF GRACE BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN (Heb.. 7:22).
Hebrews 7:22 "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament."
Those for whom Christ died, and have been redeemed by his blood, are the same people as those for whom he became a Surety.
He was the Surety of the better testament, or covenant of grace; and of course became a Surety for those, and for none other than those, who were interested in that covenant. In that great covenant the Son of God engaged himself to be our Surety and Redeemer.
This is very important. It is Christ's suretyship which is the ground and foundation of redemption. This is the reason why our sins, and the punishment of our sins, were laid upon him, the reason why he bore and endured the wrath of God for our sins, and paid all our debts as his people and of redeeming us out of the hands of divine justice. The Son of God pledged himself to God the Father as a Surety, and laid himself under obligation to do all these things for us. He became responsible for us in all matters! But for those for whom he did not become a Surety, he was not obliged to pay their debts, or to suffer and die in their room and stead.
"Christ's suretyship and redemption are of equal extent, and reach to the same objects; they are the Lord's Benjamins, the sons of his right hand, his beloved sons, that Christ, the antitype of Judah, became a surety for, and laid himself under obligation to bring them safe to glory, and present them to his divine Father." — John Gill
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? He died for the objects of God's everlasting love. He died for God's elect. He died for those for whom he stood as Surety in the everlasting covenant. And Isaiah 53:8 declares plainly that…
IV. OUR ALMIGHTY, ALL GLORIOUS REDEEMER AND SAVIOR DIED FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."
The objects of redemption are described by such words and characteristics as show them to be a special and distinct people;. Particularly, those who are the objects of redemption are called, the people of God and Christ; "for the transgressions of my people", saith the Lord He "was he stricken" by the rod of justice, to make satisfaction for our sins, and to redeem us from them.
When he was about to come and redeem us, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, at his birth said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! for he hath visited and redeemed his people"; by sending Christ, the dayspring from on high, as he called him. He visited his people in the flesh and redeem them by his blood (Luke 1:68,78).
Therefore the angel that appeared to Joseph, and instructed him to call the Son who was to be born of his wife, Mary, by the name of Jesus, gave this reason, "for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
Someone may say, "All men are the people of God." In a sense that is true, inasmuch as they are his creatures. Yet the Scriptures expressly tell us that they are not all his redeemed people. Those who are redeemed by Christ are redeemed "out of every people" (Rev. 5:9).
The redeemed are God's covenant people; of whom he says, "They shall be my people, and I will be their God." We are his portion and his inheritance…
V. THE SON OF GOD LAID DOWN HIS LIFE AND DIED FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED AS HIS SHEEP.
John 10:15 "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."
John 10:26 "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you."
John 10:29 "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
The objects of redemption, those for whom Christ laid down his life a ransom price, are described as "sheep". They are the sheep of Christ, his special property as the Good Shepherd. As such, they were given to him by his Father from eternity. These sheep are represented as being everlastingly distinct from others, who are not his sheep.
The whole human race is divided into two groups: sheep and goats. Sheep never become goats. And goats never become sheep. All of us are one or the other, either sheep or goats. Some of the sheep are saved. Some are lost. But all are safe. They are his sheep! Some are folded. Some are straying. But all are redeemed. They are his sheep!
The Word of God tells us certain, specific things about these sheep, things which distinguish the sheep from the goats.
He says, "I know my sheep", not merely by his omniscience, so he knows all men; but he knows them distinctly as his own. "The Lord knows them that are his", from others. That is just another way of saying, Christ loves his sheep. He has knowledge of them, joined with special love and affection for them; as he has not for others, to whom he will say, "Depart from me: I know you not".
Christ is "known" by those sheep of his for whom he laid down his life. They all know him in his person, offices, and grace. Whereas there are some that neither know the Father nor the Son.
They know the voice of Christ; that is, the gospel of Christ, the joyful sound. Whereas the gospel is hid to them that are lost:
Those sheep for whom the Good Shepherd laid down his life, once they are called, hearing his voice, follow the Shepherd who die for them.
They follow his Word, his steps, his example, and his Spirit. They imitate him in the exercise of grace, of love, patience, and humility and in the performance of every duty (Baptism, The Lord's Supper, etc.). It is written, regarding all the redeemed from among men; that they "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (Rev. 14:4).
The sheep, being ransomed by the blood of Christ, "shall never perish!"
The goats, set on Christ's left hand, shall he bid to go, as "cursed", into everlasting fire (Matt. 25:33,34). The sheep shall be blessed forever! They are…
VI. OUR GREAT, SIN-ATONING SUBSTITUTE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE AND DIED FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
John 11:52 "And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."
Redemption and adoption belong to the same people. According to the prophecy of Caiaphas, Christ was to die, not for the nation of the Jews only, but to "gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" throughout the Gentile world.
Those who are predestinated to adoption by Christ are said to have redemption in him, through his blood (Eph 1:5,7).
Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."
This blessing of adoption, in the full enjoyment of it, in the resurrection, is called "the redemption of the body". The resurrection is called the redemption of our bodies because redemption, in so far as the application of it is concerned, will not be complete until our very bodies are redeemed from all the consequences of Adam's fall (Ro 8:23; Eph. 1:14; 4:30).
Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE? He died for all the objects of God's everlasting love, the elect of God, those for whom he stood from eternity as the Surety in the everlasting covenant of grace, the people of God, his sheep, and the children of God. I hope you will get this next point, everyone you, especially you who are yet without Christ…
VII. OUR ALL GLORIOUS REDEEMER DIED FOR EVERY SINNER IN THIS WORLD WHO BELIEVES ON HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
The fruit of redemption is the evidence of redemption; and faith in Christ is both the fruit and evidence of redemption. The children of God of whom I have been speaking are a particular number of men, who are given of God to Christ, to redeem. They are the seed promised to him in covenant of grace, that he should see and enjoy, and with whom he shall be satisfied. These are the people to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting Father. They are the people for whom and on whose account he became incarnate, "took part of the same flesh and blood". Thy are the many sons he shall bring to glory (Heb 2:10,13,14).
Hebrews 2:9-14 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. (14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"
These children of God are not all men. "The children of the flesh", those are never born again, they are "not the children of God". They and only they are the children of God who are openly and manifestly the children of God by faith, who believe in Christ.
This faith in Christ is owing to and the result of special grace, to distinguishing love; and is a favor that is only conferred on some (Rom. 9:8; Gal. 3:26; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1).
John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
Romans 9:8 "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? God help you to believe! If you do trust the Son of God, he died for you too!
FOR WHOM DID CHRIST DIE?
VIII. OUR GREAT AND GLORIOUS SAVIOR DIED FOR, MADE ATONEMENT FOR, AND REDEEMED WITH HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD HIS CHURCH WHICH HIS BRIDE AND SPOUSE.
The objects of redemption are the church and spouse of Christ. It is the church he loved and for which he gave himself as a sacrifice and ransom price to redeem. It is the church he has purchased with his blood, even the general assembly, the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. That church is the elect of God, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Eph, 5:25; Ac 20:28)
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Of that church of which Christ is the head and husband, he is the Redeemer. "Thy Maker is thine husband; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel!" (Isa. 54:5).
This cannot be said of any denomination, or of all bodies of men professing to be the church of Christ. The great whore of Babylon is not the spouse of Christ. Those who are drunk with the intoxicating wine of Babylon (Arminian, free-will, works religion) do not belong to and have no part with this church which is the Bride of Christ. That church coming from Babel our Redeemer calls a whore. The church which is his Bride, he calls a chaste virgin! Though there may be "threescore queens, and fourscore concubines" of Babylon's sort; yet, says Christ, "my dove, my undefiled, is but one" (Song 6:9). This is his Bride. This is his spouse.
Application:
Redemption is not universal. Christ is not the Redeemer of all men, but of many. If the redeemed are those who are the objects of God's special love and favor, then not all men are redeemed. There are some of whom it is said, "He that made them, will not have mercy on them; and he that formed them, will show them no favour" (Isa. 27:11).
If the redeemed are the elect of God, and them only, then not all men are redeemed; for all are not chosen; "The election hath obtained it"; and "the rest are blinded" (Rom. 11:7).
If only those are redeemed for whom Christ became a Surety, then not all men are redeemed. Christ did not engage to pay the debts of all men.
If the redeemed are the people of God and Christ, then not all are redeemed. There are some on whom God writes a "loammi", saying, "Ye are not my people; and I will not be your God" (Hos. 1:9).
If the redeemed are the sheep of Christ, to whom he gives eternal life, then the goats, who will go into everlasting punishment, are not redeemed.
If the redeemed are the children of God, and the church and spouse of Christ; then not all men are redeemed. "For all men have not faith!"
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