The Interrelatedness of the Design, Nature, and Extent of the Atonement

The doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement teaches that Jesus offered up himself as a sacrifice to vicariously satisfy divine on behalf of sinners. When considered together, the nature and design of this atonement necessarily decide its extent, i.e., that it was for the elect and only the elect that Christ died. Let's first consider three aspects of the nature of the atonement: its objectivity, it vicariousness, and its actual effectiveness. The atonement effected an objective change in the relation of God to those for whom Jesus died; it did not merely effect a change in the attitudes of those people. Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” From God's perspective, Jesus' death caused a group of people to objectively transition from a state of enmity to a state of friendship. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Again, Jesus' death caused a group of people to objectively transition from a state of dominion by Satan to a state of ownership by God. In addition to being objective, the atonement was also vicarious. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” The means by which Christ objectively effected a change in God's relationship with certain people was by becoming a substitute curse-bearer for those people. The third aspect of the atonement, its actual effectiveness, is illustrated both by the above verses as well as by Galatians 1:4, “[W]ho gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of God.” The effect of the atonement was not just a possible or conditional deliverance but an actual one. The decretive will of God was the driving force behind the deliverance, so it was impossible that the deliverance had some contingency. In short, by means of his vicarious sacrifice for a group of people, Christ actually and objectively effected a change in God's relation to that group of people.

This naturally lead to the question, “What is the identify of this group of people for whose sin Christ vicariously paid?” Christ's once-for-all sacrifice and his continual intercession really are two sides of one atonement coin, and Jesus drew clear boundaries around those for whom He interceded in John 17:9, “I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” It would be irrational for Christ to intercede for those for whom He did not die, so we can conclude that He died for those whom the Father gave Him. And Christ said to those whom the Father had given Him, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). Thus, we see that the identify of those for whom Christ vicariously suffered is the elect of God, and Christ objectively and actually effected a change in God's relation to these people alone.