Many of us who grew up in a Christian environment have been taught since childhood about Christ’s death on the cross. Every year during Holy Week, we hear about the story of Christ’s crucifixion. The atonement of Christ is something we know somewhat. But now that I’m older I thank the Lord for opening my eyes to see a broader and deeper view about the atoning work of Jesus Christ. According to theologian Thomas F. Torrance, “It is curious that evangelicals often link the substitutionary act of Christ only with his death, and not with his incarnate person and life—that is dynamite for them!”
Atonement of Christ
It is only now that I have come to realize that Christ’s atoning work does not only include his death on the cross. The atonement also includes his birth (incarnation), his life, his death (crucifixion), his burial, his resurrection and his ascension. In other words, Christ’s atoning work for all of humanity includes the total person of Jesus Christ who is both human and divine. As Torrance said, “Christ in our place and Christ for us in every respect.” Thanks be to the Lord for this understanding.
Christ For Us in Everything
The atonement involves all that the Lord has done and is doing even up to now as our substitute and representative for all of humanity. The atoning work of Christ did not only begin on the cross. It started even earlier when he was born in Bethlehem. In fact, the atonement began in the triune God’s mind when the Lamb was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).
While the death of Christ is very important, I now realize that something is missing if I only focus on the crucifixion and not on the total person of Jesus Christ. It is equally missing the point if I focus on the incarnation alone or maybe on Christ’s resurrection alone. I now have come to realize that I should look at the atonement of Jesus Christ as a whole, as one complete atoning work of the incarnate person Jesus Christ for all of humanity. It is always good to have a holistic view of salvation.
Christ is Our High Priest Right Now
Right now the Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest who is busy interceding for me and for all of us. He is our only Mediator between God and man and we don’t need any other mediator whether it be saints or whoever. We only have one High Priest and Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). Through the Holy Spirit, God is busy leading us, guiding us, transforming us to become like Christ — until Christ is formed in us (Galatians 4:19). When the Lord Jesus comes back, our atonement with God will have been finally, completely and fully realized. This is the final fulfillment of our “at-one-ment” with the Lord when he returns. We shall see him face-to-face, and we will be with the Lord forever (1 John 3:1-2).
This is something I look forward to even as I am now enjoying atonement, reconciliation, union and communion, life and love with God the Father through Jesus Christ in the Spirit as his beloved child in Christ at the present time. Isn’t that great?! Hallelujah!
For Further Study:
- Incarnation, Atonement and Redemption
- Atonement and the Gap Between the ‘Is’ and the ‘Ought’
- Atonement: An Act of God as Man
- John Calvin on Universal Atonement
Updated: 2/02/2020