Perfect Atonement and Thanksgiving

Salvation is a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9), not of the free will choice of men (Jn 1:12–13), nor of the works of righteousness done in the flesh (Rom 4:5). It is imputed righteousness to God’s chosen people, the Israel of God (Is 49:3, 6; Rom 9:6; Gal 6:16; 1 Pet 2:9).

Salvation is by grace, alone. This means it is one hundred percent the work of our triune God. God the Father elected a people for Himself in eternity past (Eph 1:4-5; Rev 13:8; 17:8). He sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:16). It is the Holy Spirit, sent from the Father and Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26), who has applied the benefits of Christ’s meritorious work on the cross, to God’s chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). This includes the faith to believe in Christ (Phil 1:29).

Atonement is the work of reconciling unjust sinners to God (2 Cor 5:18–20). The estrangement of holy God, from depraved humanity, occurred in the Garden of Eden at the fall of man and creation (Gen 3). Adam’s consequential state of spiritual death is propagated to everyone conceived “in Adam (Rom 5:12–21).” All people are conceived in sin, thus, born with sin nature, as children of wrath (Ps 51:5; Eph 2:2-3).

In the eternal counsel of God, in accord with His eternal good pleasure, He has decreed the salvation of His predestined elect ones (Rom 8:30). These, He has given the right to be called, “children of God (1 Jn 3:1),” having been granted the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15). He has set His love upon these from eternity and poured out His love in their hearts (Rom 5:5). He has revealed to them His perfect atonement.

The Arminian wrongly believes and teaches the false doctrine of universal redemption, which states, “Christ died for everyone without exception.” Perverting Bible passages to support their errors, they claim God loves the whole world (Jn 3:16), and Christ died for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn 2:2). Because Arminians refuse to learn and teach the truth of the diverse uses of “world” (kosmos), they lead the masses astray, ignoring correct Bible interpretation.

Perfect atonement means, “Christ died to save God’s chosen people, who are all saved through the work of the Trinity.” Not one of Christ’s sheep is missing from His flock (Jn 10:28–29; Rom 8:35–39). Simply put, Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21), and every one of them is saved (Titus 3:5). The precious blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of the sins (1 Pet 1:19) — the sins of God’s elect from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Rev 5:9). People from the whole world gather to worship God and the Lamb upon His throne in heaven (Rev 4, 5).

Those without God in the world have received Christ, by receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11), according to the unconditional and eternal covenant of grace. Those without hope, in the world (Eph 2:12), have been born again to a new and living hope (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). The Mediator of the covenant between God and man (1 Tim 2:5), the man Christ Jesus, has finished His redemptive work on the cross (Jn 19:30), achieving perfect atonement. Salvation was not made possible; it was made perfectly.

Christian, God has been most merciful in delivering you from the just consequences of your sin and rebellion (Rom 9:15), according to His own will and gracious choice (Rom 9:16; 11:5). He has been most gracious in giving you new life in Christ (Col 2:13). Together, our right response is to give thanks to God for choosing us (Jn 15:16; 1 Pet 2:9). We give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, for making atonement for our sins and delivering us from the wrath of God (1 Thess 1:10).

Christ’s work of atonement made way for the Holy Spirit’s application of Christ’s suffering substitution. For us, this successfully imputed our right standing before God. In God’s providence, He cares for nature and all of His creation, including totally depraved humanity. In God’s grace, He has made our salvation sure, and in this, He has redeemed His people to become worshipers of God.

Our giving thanks to God for His indescribable gift is right worship (2 Cor 9:15). Giving thanks is made manifest because of Christ’s perfect atonement. In other words, we worship the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit because we have been gifted and have received perfect atonement. Give thanks, and again I say, “Give thanks!”

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

November 25, 2021