Chapter 145—Sealed by Christ’s Atonement
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Ephesians 1:7
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Christ on the cross not only draws men to repentance toward God for the
transgression of His law—for whom God pardons He first makes penitent—
but Christ has satisfied Justice; He has proffered Himself as an atonement.
His gushing blood, His broken body, satisfy the claims of the broken law,
and thus He bridges the gulf which sin has made. He suffered in the flesh,
that with His bruised and broken body He might cover the defenseless sinner.
The victory gained at His death on Calvary broke forever the accusing power
of Satan over the universe and silenced his charges that self-denial was
impossible with God and therefore not essential in the human family.
Christ was without sin, else His life in human flesh and His death on the
cross would have been of no more value in procuring grace for the sinner
than the death of any other man. While He took upon Him humanity, it was
a life taken into union with Deity. He could lay down His life as priest and
also victim.... He offered Himself without spot to God.
The atonement of Christ sealed forever the everlasting covenant of grace.
It was the fulfilling of every condition upon which God suspended the free
communication of grace to the human family. Every barrier was then broken
down which intercepted the freest exercise of grace, mercy, peace, and love
to the most guilty of Adam’s race.
In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church—pleading for those
for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages,
can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death,
height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast.
If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it
depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may
seem feeble, but His love is that of an elder brother; so long as we maintain
our union with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand.
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