Book II — The Specific Purpose and Effect of Christ's Death
Book 2, Chapter 1 Some Preliminary Considerations Before Defining the True Purpose and Result of Christ's Death The central issue in the entire debate about the death of Christ—the point upon which everything turns and the most weighty matter in the controversy—is now before us. Everything we've said so far has been aimed at preparing for this key discussion. The question is this:
What is the proper purpose of Christ's death? Whoever can rightly define and clearly explain this purpose will be well positioned to settle the entire debate.
If the true end of Christ's death is what many of our opponents claim it is, then we will not deny that Christ died for all people without exception. But if the end is what we assert it to be, then it cannot be extended beyond the elect—those who believe. This is the heart of the issue. And those who hope to defend the truth must settle this matter clearly and convincingly.
We stated earlier that the purpose of Christ's death is to bring sinners near to God. That is a general expression which includes the entire work of recovering and restoring sinners—from a condition of alienation, guilt, and wrath—into a state of grace, peace, and everlasting fellowship with God.
Now, in any work, there is a twofold "end" to consider:
1. The intent of the person doing the work (the agent), 2. And the effect that the work actually produces.
And we've already shown that, unless the worker either (1) lacks wisdom in choosing proper means to achieve his goal, or (2) lacks the power and skill to make those means effective—then the result will always match the intention. In other words, a wise and powerful worker will always accomplish what he sets out to do.
In our case, the worker is the blessed Trinity—the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. The means they used to accomplish their purpose were the death (or offering) and the intercession of Jesus Christ.
These two cannot be separated, and they are aimed at the same outcome, as we have previously demonstrated.
So unless we want to blasphemously suggest that the triune God lacked wisdom, power, or skill, or that the death and intercession of Christ were somehow unfit or insufficient for achieving the intended goal, then we must affirm this:
Whatever the triune God intended to accomplish by Christ's death and intercession was actually accomplished.
Whatever we see Scripture attributing to Christ's death as its fruit, we must conclude that God meant to produce that very thing.
Therefore, there is no need to examine Christ's death and intercession separately—except when we want to argue from one to the other. For instance, when something is said to be a result of Christ's death, we may rightly conclude that God intended to bring about that result through it. And the same logic applies in reverse.
So then, when we speak Two-Fold Purpose of Christ's Death As we now turn to define the true purpose and effect of Christ's death, it is important to distinguish two aspects of that purpose—one ultimate, the other intermediate and subordinate.
1. The Ultimate Purpose: The Glory of God The highest and most ultimate end of Christ's death is the glory of God. In everything God does, He ultimately aims to magnify His own nature and attributes—His holiness, justice, mercy, grace, wisdom, and power. He is the supreme good, in and of Himself. Unlike created beings, God's goodness is not derived from anything else, but exists in Himself, fully and eternally. And so, in all His works— especially in this greatest work of redemption—God first and foremost intends the display of His own glory.
Scripture is full of this truth:
"The Lord has made everything for its purpose—even the wicked for the day of trouble" (Proverbs 16:4).
"It is all for your sake, so that as grace extends… it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15).
Even Christ himself is said to be "God's" (1 Corinthians 3:23)— meaning, he serves the glory of the Father in the full administration of redemption that was entrusted to him.
All of God's choosing, redeeming, and blessing of His people is aimed at "the praise of the glory of his grace" (Ephesians 1:6,
12).
The fruit of our salvation, including righteousness and sanctification, is "to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians
1:11), and ultimately "every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).
In Romans 9, Paul emphatically states that God's sovereignty and freedom are displayed in all His dealings with humanity—He acts according to His own will, for His own glory, without depending on anything outside Himself.
And at the end of all things, this will be universally acknowledged when every creature proclaims:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13).
2. The Subordinate Purpose: The Salvation of the Elect There is also a subordinate—but still essential—purpose to Christ's death: the salvation of His people. This is not an end in opposition to the glory of God, but one that serves it, and through which God's glory is displayed most fully. This is the purpose that directly concerns us: bringing us to God (1 Peter 3:18).
Even though the death and intercession of Christ serve one unified purpose, we can still distinguish two key aspects in how this goal is accomplished:
One is the means (the way to the end), and The other is the end itself (the goal reached by the means).
This distinction is based on how God has designed the plan of salvation. He has established a connection between grace and glory, faith and salvation, in such a way that the one leads infallibly to the other. In God's plan, some things (like faith) are means and conditions, while others (like eternal life) are the rewards or results. But both are equally and effectively purchased by the death of Christ.
Here's what this includes:
Faith and all other saving graces (like repentance, love, hope).
The preaching of the gospel and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
All the benefits of being in Christ, such as justification, adoption, sanctification, and every spiritual blessing in this life.
And finally, the full and everlasting glory of eternal life—perfect communion with God in the life to come.
These are not just made possible by Christ's death, but are effectively and certainly secured for all those for whom He died.
Christ's death is not a general offer, but a powerful act of redemption. It actually purchased a right to these blessings for the elect, and in due time they will certainly and infallibly receive them.
Put simply: