Chapter 6
Free Grace Salvation – The Work of God the Son
There are many different facets to the work of Jesus Christ in salvation, far too numerous for me to outline in this one chapter. Therefore, I want to focus my comments here on the atonement of Jesus Christ and, in particular, one aspect of that atonement which deals with free grace. To do that, we need to have an understanding of the word “atonement” and some other theological terms associated with it. We also need to have some basic Old Testament knowledge for that is where we first get a glimpse of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Background
The word “atone” means to make amends or payment for sin. Atonement is what Jesus Christ did on the cross. He died to make payment for our sins. This was necessary because God’s wrath against sin had to be appeased or satisfied. A holy and righteous God requires judgment and punishment for the sins of disobedience against Him. Another word that is synonymous with atonement is the word “redemption”. Redemption is a payment to buy back something or someone who is lost. Atonement also involves reconciliation or restoration between God and man.
Here is where we come to another theological term relating to this atonement. It was a vicarious or substitutionary atonement. In other words, in God’s plan, someone else could atone or make payment for another person’s sin. The sinner himself didn’t have to atone if an acceptable substitute could be found that would satisfy God. Now let’s take a look at the Old Testament examples of atonement instituted by God to see the basis for the atonement of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
As you will recall, God instituted the animal sacrificial system and gave it to His chosen people Israel. He did this when He explained in great detail to Moses how the people would sacrifice certain animals that were without spot or blemish at the tabernacle. God was showing His people the biblical principle that there was no remission or forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Lev. 17:11)
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Heb. 9:22)
Therefore, in His wonderful plan of grace, God allowed the blood sacrifice of these animals when the people sinned. His anger for their sins was satisfied or appeased as He judged these innocent animals in place of the sinner. The theological term for this appeasement or satisfaction is propitiation. We see the details of this animal sacrificial system in the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch.
The point God was making to His people is that He hates sin which is disobedience and disrespect toward Him. For God to be a holy and righteous Judge, He must punish people for their sins. The Old Testament said that “…The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) He instituted the animal sacrificial system in His grace so that these animals could die in the place of His people who committed sins against Him. God was showing the people He was serious about dealing with sin but was also a God of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
The animal sacrificial system was inadequate for a number of reasons. First, it was not a like kind sacrifice. A human should die for the sins of men. Two, the animal was not as valuable to God as a perfect, sinless person. Three, these sacrifices had to be continually repeated because they could not make the person perfect. Four, the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin, it would just cover it.
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Heb. 10:1-4)
The animal sacrificial system of the Old Testament was just a shadow, or type, of the perfect sacrifice to come later, that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on the cross. Jesus satisfied all the four points mentioned in the previous paragraph. The animal sacrifices pointed to the day when Jesus’ one sacrifice would take away sins and would not have to be repeated.
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb. 10:11-14)
The point I would like to make here is that God instituted the animal sacrificial system for His chosen people the Jews in the Old Testament. It was His people, Israel, who benefitted from these sacrifices, not the people of other nations. He loved His people and wanted to provide a substitutionary atonement for their sins. This atonement would point forward to the perfect substitutionary atonement of His coming Son, the Messiah. The heathen and uncircumcised nations did not have their sins atoned for by these sacrifices, only God’s chosen people whom He loved did. Notice verse 14 above. Christ’s one sacrificial atonement was to perfect forever those who are being sanctified. This can only be referring to Christians. Those in hell can never be made perfect.
The Old Testament salvation plan and sacrificial atonement was for God’s people the Jews mainly, with some Gentiles being saved if they converted to Judaism by their Jewish acquaintances. In addition, this atonement was not for all Jews, only those who were saved by repentance of their sins and faith in the coming Messiah.
The New Testament salvation plan is the same. It is still for God’s chosen or elect people, which graciously now includes the world (Jews and Gentiles alike). To be saved, one must have repentance for sin and saving faith in Jesus Christ, just as in the Old Testament. God is immutable and His salvation plan has not changed. He just has graciously opened the doors of salvation to include Gentiles who receive Jesus Christ by faith.
The whole purpose of the animal sacrificial system in the Old Testament atonement was for the innocent animal, without spot or blemish, to be killed with the shedding of its blood and to suffer in place of the sinner so that the sinner would not have to receive the punishment for his sins. Jesus’ atonement in the New Testament worked the same way. The perfect Son of God, without spot or blemish, shed His blood on the cross and died in place of those who believe in Him. Those in hell are suffering for their sins and unbelief; therefore they never received Christ’s atonement for their sins.
Verses that Prove that Christ’s Atonement Was for Christians Only
With this background, let us move forward into the area that is somewhat controversial but must be discussed if we are to understand free grace salvation regarding the work of the Son. The question we want to answer now is: for whom did Christ die? Did Jesus’ atonement apply to every single person in the world or just to Christians who are believers in Christ, God’s elect? What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth? Was it to redeem or make payment for every single person or to redeem only believers, God’s chosen people?
Again, let’s recall a passage given previously that addresses what God’s will was in sending His Son Jesus to the earth.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (John 6:37-39)
Jesus makes some things very clear here as to why He came to earth. First, He came down from heaven to do His Father’s will. Second, His Father’s will was for Jesus to save everyone the Father had given Jesus. When did the Father give these people to Jesus? As we have seen, He did it before the foundation of the world at the very beginning. Third, Jesus will not lose one of the Father’s elect, and He will raise them all up at the resurrection on the last day.
So it stands to reason that, if the Father sent Jesus to earth to save all the Father’s elect, those He gave to His Son, Jesus’ saving death on the cross was intended to save only those individuals, not every single person. Jesus came not to do His own will but the will of His Father. Would Jesus do something contrary to the Father’s wishes? Would He try to save everyone if the Father sent Him to earth to save only those the Father gave Him? The answer is no. Jesus always was submissive to the will of His Father. He always did what His Father wanted Him to do rather than His own will. (vs. 38)
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5-6)
Clearly, the purpose of Christ’s blood atonement was to cleanse believers of their sins. Blood, as well as water, are biblical symbols of cleansing. Let me ask you a question. Did Christ’s atonement cleanse from their sins all those suffering in hell? The answer to that question is obvious. They are in hell paying for their sins because those sins were never atoned for or forgiven. Christ’s blood has washed away the sins of Christians but has never cleansed those being punished in hell. Not only did Jesus shed His blood for us, He also made us kings and priests of God. This is never true of those who perish. As a consequence, there was no blood atonement or cleansing of sins applied to those in hell.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Rom. 5:8-11)
Atonement involves reconciliation between God and man. The “we” refer to the believers in Rome to whom Paul is writing. In these verses, we see that Christians were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Only Christians are justified or made just by His blood. Are those in hell justified or reconciled with God? Have they been saved from wrath through Christ’s blood sacrifice? Do they rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ? Clearly, the answers to these questions is no. This means they received no atonement for their sins.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (Rom. 3:21-25)
These verses are telling us that those who believe in Jesus have the righteousness of God. Those believers have received justification (were made just before God) freely by His grace through Christ’s redemption on the cross. As mentioned previously, the word “atonement” is synonymous with the word “redemption”. Believers, who are the redeemed, have received the propitiation or satisfaction of God by Christ’s blood. God has passed over their sins because of that satisfaction.
Christ’s atoning sacrificial death is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover when God’s people were in bondage to Egypt. God passed over and did not kill the first born of the houses that had the blood of the lamb on their doors. (Ex. 12) This Old Testament example shows us that this blood atonement was applied only to believers who had faith in the Word of God. There was no protection for those unbelievers who did not put the blood of the lamb on their doors. Christ is our Passover Lamb. (1 Cor. 5:7) The atonement or redemption by Christ’s death is applied only to the sins of believers, God’s people, not to the sins of those who are in hell suffering for their unbelief and sins. God has never passed over their sins nor will they ever receive His satisfaction or propitiation.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”, (Gal. 3:13)
Only Christians have been redeemed by Him who hung on the tree of Calvary. He became a curse for them. Are those in hell redeemed from the curse of the law? No; they are paying the penalty of the law for their sinfulness and are receiving the curse themselves. Only Christians have had their curse transferred to Christ who died for them on the cross.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb. 9:12-14)
Jesus’ blood atonement obtained eternal redemption for the sins of believers only. Those in hell are receiving eternal wrath. They are never counted as part of the redeemed. Their consciences are never cleansed by the blood atonement of Christ.
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:15)
Christians alone, who are “the called” (Rom. 8:28), receive the eternal inheritance purchased by the death of Christ. The unsaved in hell receive no redemption for their transgressions and no eternal inheritance, but, instead, they receive the wrath of God which abides on them. (John 3:36)
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Here, Peter is clearly referring to Christians only. He is writing to believers. Only Christians have been healed by the stripes of Christ. Jesus died on the tree, that we (believers Peter is writing to) having died to sins might live for righteousness. Did those who are enduring eternal damnation in hell live for righteousness when they were alive? Were they healed in salvation by the stripes of Christ? No. Therefore, Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross was not applied to them.
…who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
Paul, a believer, is writing to Titus, a fellow believer. The use of the word us refers to believers. Jesus redeemed us, believers, who have been purified as His own special people, His elect, who are zealous to do good works.
Have the unsaved in hell been redeemed and purified by our Lord’s death? Were they zealous for good works in serving God? No, as they must suffer in hell for all eternity for rejecting Christ and living a life of sinfulness.
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. (Heb. 9:27-28)
Here we see the Scripture telling us that Christ’s atonement was for many, not for every single person. The many refers to Christians alone who are saved by His grace through faith.
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:27-28)
Again, we see that many, not every single person will receive remission of their sins by the sacrificial blood of our Savior. What does the word “remission” mean? It means to cancel the guilt or penalty of sins and to obtain forgiveness. Do those in hell have remission or forgiveness of their sins? Has their guilt and punishment been cancelled? No; so it is clear that those in hell did not have the blood of Christ shed for them as stated in verse 28.
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (Heb. 13:12)
To “sanctify” means to make holy or to consecrate. Jesus’ blood atonement sanctified believers only. Are those in hell ever made holy or consecrated to God?
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1 Cor. 15:11)
The “our” in verse three of 1 Cor. 15 refers to the believers or brethren in the church of Corinth (vs. 1) to whom Paul is writing. We know this is referring to believers because of verse 11 in the chapter. Jesus died for our sins, the sins of believers, not for the sins of those who are in hell suffering for their own sins.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (Eph. 1:7-8)
Paul is writing here to the Ephesian believers who were chosen by God the Father in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4-5) They, like all believers, had their sins forgiven through the blood atonement and redemption of Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus made His grace abound to us who are believers in Christ. Only Christians have the forgiveness of sins by the redemption of the blood of Christ.
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Gal. 1:3-4)
Jesus Christ gave Himself on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins to deliver us from this present evil age. Only Christians are delivered from this evil age. Those in hell are never delivered. This deliverance was all done according to God’s will, not according to man’s will, because God chose from the very beginning those He planned to deliver and save.
…for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Tim. 2:9-10)
The Apostle Paul was willing to endure all suffering, even death, so that the elect would become saved through Jesus Christ. This willingness to suffer was only for God’s elect. If this willingness to die only for God’s elect was true of the Apostle Paul, how much more so was it for Christ Himself to be willing to die only for the elect, those the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world. It was His mission from the Father to not lose one of these that were given to Him by His Father. (John 6:37-39)
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— (Col. 1:21-22)
Only Christians have been reconciled to God through Jesus’ death. They only are holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight. This is never how the unsaved are described either on earth or in hell. They would not be suffering in hell for their sins if they were holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Eph. 1:13-14)
These verses prove that Christ’s blood atonement on the cross was only meant for and applied to Christians, the Church of God. He paid the price of the punishment for their sins so that they would not have to pay for them in hell. The Holy Spirit guarantees believers their inheritance by Jesus’ purchased redemption of them on the cross. Those in hell who rejected Christ and His blood atonement suffer damnation for their sins which were never forgiven. There is no blood atonement, redemption, or reconciliation for them.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1 Thess. 5:9-10)
Here we see clearly those whom Christ died for. Paul is writing to believers in Thessalonica. We know that believers are being referred to because only believers have been appointed or chosen to obtain salvation and not wrath. Paul says that Jesus Christ “died for us” that we should always live with Him. Those in hell will never live with Him.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim. 4:10)
Paul is writing to Timothy as one Christian to another, both of whom trust in the living God. Who is this living God? He is the Savior of all men, meaning both Jews and Gentiles. Notice Paul adds a further clarification in this verse. He says “especially” of those who believe. Believers are Christians or God’s elect. Jesus Christ is the Savior of Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him. Those who reject Him are not saved by Him, thus He is not their Savior. His atoning death was meant for believers, Christians, the elect, and not for those who die in unbelief.
Clearly, Jesus knew before coming to this earth, who would believe and who would not believe in Him. He died on the cross to save those He knew would have faith in Him. His death or blood atonement had no relevance, meaning, purpose, or value for those who rejected Him and His atonement and then suffer eternally in hell for their sins which would never be forgiven nor atoned for.
Verses that Appear to Support a Universal Atonement
Next, I would like to examine a number of verses in the Bible that appear to say or suggest that Jesus died for every single person. I believe after this examination, it will be clear that Jesus died for Christians or believers only, not for every single person who has ever lived since the time of Christ.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
At first glance, it appears this verse is saying that Jesus, in His death as the Lamb of God, took away every sin of every person who lived after Jesus’ crucifixion. Let me show you how this understanding of the verse could not possibly be the correct interpretation.
When the word “world” is used in the New Testament, especially when salvation is being referred to, it is not necessarily referring to every single person in the world. It may be talking about the world which includes the only two groups of people that make up the world, Jews and Gentiles. Remember, salvation was opened up to include Gentiles in the New Testament. This was a major aspect of the gospel or the good news of grace. So, Jesus’ atoning death would now take away the sins of the world which consists of Jews and Gentiles.
The word “world” can also refer to two different groups of people, the world of God’s elect people who are or will be believers or the world of the non-elect who will never believe in Christ. Let me give you two verses that show this difference.
Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
Here the words “Savior of the world” clearly refer to God’s chosen or elect people of the world, those who will become Christians who are saved by Jesus by their faith. Notice these people said, “Now we believe…” Did Jesus save anyone in hell today? The answer is no. Otherwise, they would not be in hell. Therefore, was He their Savior? No, He wasn’t because He didn’t save them from punishment in hell because of their unbelief and sins. Jesus cannot be a Savior to people He didn’t save. To think otherwise just doesn’t make sense.
Now let’s take a look when the word “world” is used to refer to the non-elect only or those who will never be saved because of their unbelief.
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. (John 17:9-10)
Here we see that the Lord Jesus said in his high priestly prayer that He would pray for His chosen people whom He would save, who were His and His Father’s, and who had been given to Him by the Father. He also said He would not pray for the world. Well, we can’t interpret the word “world” here to mean every single person in the world, for the elect are being prayed for here. So, the only possible understanding of the word “world” here is the world of the non-elect, those who were not chosen by God and will never come to faith. Now, if Jesus would not even pray for this group, would He have died for them? If He would not have interceded in prayer for them to be saved, He certainly would not have died to save them.
This would also be the proper understanding of the word “world” in John 3:16. For God so loved the world [His chosen of both Jews and Gentiles] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Notice that the “world” God so loved was limited in the last part of the verse to believers or God’s elect.
The only people that know the Father are those to whom Jesus has chosen to reveal Him. Since only few are saved (Matt. 22:14), Jesus only died for those few to whom He revealed the Father. What sense would it make for Jesus to die for people He was not willing to reveal the Father to?
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (Matt. 11:27)
The most powerful evidence that Jesus did not take away the sins of every single person in the world after His crucifixion is hell itself and those who have died and gone there. Did those who are suffering and being punished in hell at this very moment have their sins taken away, pardoned, forgiven, and atoned for? If their sins have been atoned for, why are they in hell being punished for them? The whole purpose of the atonement of Christ is for someone else to pay the penalty for one’s sins so that they would not have to. That was why the animal sacrifices