Particularly Applied (Atonement – Part 4) - GBC Bulletin Column #41

Salvation by the atoning work of Christ is applied only to those who repent and believe. As Jesus said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Salvation is of the Lord, and enjoyed only by those who trust in him. It is this innumerable host of believers in particular for whom Christ gave his life. The purposeful particularity of God’s redemptive plan is again revealed in Scripture:

“By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?” – Is. 53:8

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matt. 20:28

^“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:11, 15

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” – Jn. 15:13-14

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours… I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” John 17:9, 20

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

And if I may backtrack from Thessalonians to my personal favourite, Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” It boils down to the question: did Christ give himself up for his Bride, or for his Bride and some other ladies on the side? I think the Scriptures are clear, but are we?

To be continued. This is from the unedited version of an article published in the January edition of Grace Magazine.This was printed in the worship bulletin of Grace Baptist Church (Wood Green) on 09 February 2014.