VICARIOUS ATONEMENT (9)
For Whom? (5)

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XI. All who can truthfully confess "Christ died for us" (as in Romans 5:8; 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2; Titus 2:13f; 1 Peter 2:21; 3:18; 4:1; Isaiah 53:5). The phrase "Christ died for us" appears about ten times in the Bible. Proponents of a universal view of Christ's atonement aver that Christ died for all without exception, not just for His people. They aver His death did not secure atonement for any, but rather made it possible for all conditioned upon their faith. In indiscriminately telling their hearers "Christ died for us," they indiscriminately emphasize that "Christ died for you." No such indiscriminate statement was ever made by a man of God in Holy Scriptures. Rather, when Christ's ministers declare "Christ died for us," the contexts of their respective declarations prove they were speaking of a particular people, and that the eternal atonement of this particular people was once for all secured by Christ in His death, leaving nothing regarding securing atonement conditioned upon man.

1. In the context of "Christ died for us" in Romans 5:8, the "us" for whom Christ died are identified as ...

i. we who confess to "having been justified by faith" (v.1a) – in contrast to those who boast of being justified by works;

ii. we who "have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.1b) - in contrast to those who ever will be at enmity against Him;

iii. we who "through [Christ] also ... have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (v.2a) – in contrast to those who delude themselves into thinking they have access to God's grace through some merit in themselves or some work they perform;

iv. we who "rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (v.2b) - in contrast to those who live in dread fear of God;

v. we who "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (v.3f) - in contrast to those who complain of their lot in life;

vi. we who confess "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (v.5) – in contrast to those who have a "hope so" salvation;

vii. we who confess that in our native state we were "without strength" (v.6) – in contrast to those who deny the bondage of the will;

viii. we who confess that in our native state we were "ungodly" (v.6) - in contrast to those who boast of self-righteousness; ix. we who confess that in our native state we were "sinners" (v.8) - in contrast to those who boast of being sinless at least for some time in their life, perhaps in infancy;

x. we who by personal experience know that "God demonstrates His own love toward us" in the death of Jesus Christ (v.8) - in contrast to those who believe Christ's death demonstrated God's love toward all without exception;

xi. we who "have now been justified by His blood" (v.9) – in contrast to those who will never be justified by some other means;

xii. we who "shall be saved from wrath through Him" (v.9) – in contrast to those who believe one may be "saved today but lost tomorrow";

xiii. we who "were enemies" but are now "reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (v.10) – in contrast to those who will never be reconciled to God;

xiv. we who "having been reconciled, ... shall be saved by His life" (v.10) – in contrast to those who will experience the Second Death;

xv. we who "rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (v.11) – in contrast to those who rejoice in their religion;

xvi. we who "through Christ have now received the reconciliation" (v.11).

2. In the context of "God ... did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" in Romans 8:32, the "us" for whom Christ died are identified as ...

i. we who have no one against us since God is for us (v.31);

ii. we who graciously receive from God all things with Christ (v.32b);

iii. we who will have no charge against us entertained by God because Christ has justified us (v.33);

iv. we who will never be condemned, for Christ died for us (and we in Him), was resurrected for us (and we in Him), is enthroned for us (and we in Him), and makes intercession for us (v.34);

v. we who will never be separated from Christ (vv.35-37);

vi. we who will never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (vv.38f);

3. In the context of "One died for all" in 2 Corinthians 5:14 & 15, the "all" for whom Christ died are identified as ...

i. we who "died" in Him (v.14b);

ii. we who are "those who live ... no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (v.15);

iii. we who are "in Christ, ... a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (v.17);

iv. we whom "God ... has reconciled ... to Himself through Jesus Christ" (v.18);

v. we who believe "[God] made [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (v.21).

4. In the context of "the Son of God ... loved me and gave Himself for me" in Galatians 2:20, the person who can truthfully make this confession is identified as the one who also can truthfully say ...

i. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (v.20a);

ii. "and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (v.20b);

iii. "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (v.21).

5. In the context of "Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us" in Ephesians 5:2, the "us" for whom Christ died are ...

i. we who have experienced the truth that "you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord" (v.9a);

ii. we who are identified as "children of light" (v.9b).

6. In the context of "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ... gave Himself for us" in Titus 2:13f, the "us" for whom Christ died are identified as ...

i. we who acknowledge Christ did indeed "redeem us from every lawless deed";

ii. we who acknowledge Christ did indeed "purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works".

7. In the context of "Christ also suffered for us" in 1 Peter 2:21, the "us" for whom Christ died are identified as ... i. we who have "died to sins" in order to "live for righteousness" (v.24a); ii. we who have experienced the truth of "by whose stripes you were healed" (v.24b); iii. we who have "now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (v.25).

8. In the context of "Christ also suffered once for sins" in 1 Peter 3:18:

-- He did so for we know that in His death He did "bring us to God".

9. In the context of "Christ suffered for us in the flesh" in 1 Peter 4:1:

-- The "us" for whom He died are we who obey the command to "arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God" (vv.1f).

10. In the context of "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5), those for whom Christ underwent such agonies are identified as ...

i. we who truthfully confess "by His stripes we are healed" (v.5);

ii. we who truthfully confess "by His knowledge we are justified" (v.11);

iii. we who truthfully confess to having believed His gospel (v.1).

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