November 15 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph. 1:7).

Devotional

O reader, do not be satisfied to rest upon the mere surface of the truth that Christ has made an atonement for sin. You may believe this, and yet not enjoy the full blessedness, peace, and sanctification of it.

And why not? Because you do not enter fully into the experience of the truth. Shall we not say, too, because your views of sin rest only on the surface of sin's exceeding sinfulness? Deep views of sin will ever result in deep views of the Sacrifice for sin—inadequate knowledge of sin yields inadequate knowledge of Christ; low views of self yield high views of Christ.

Do not be satisfied, then, to rest upon the surface of this wondrous truth. The completeness of Christ's atonement arises from the infinite dignity of his Person. His Godhead forms the basis of his perfect work. It guarantees, so to speak, the glorious result of his atonement. It is that Jesus is fully God—God incarnate—that gave perfection to his obedience and virtue to his atonement. It is this that made the blood he shed efficacious in the pardon of sin, and the righteousness he worked complete in the justification of the soul. His entire work would have been wanting except that he is fully God.

The pardon of a believer's sins is an entire pardon. It is the full pardon of all his sins.

It would be no pardon at all to him, if it were not an entire pardon. If it were but a partial blotting out of the thick cloud, if it were but a partial canceling of the bond, if it were but a forgiveness of some sins only, then the gospel would be no glad tidings to his soul. The law of God has brought him in guilty of an entire violation. The justice of God demands a satisfaction equal to the enormity of the sins committed and of the guilt incurred. The Holy Spirit has convinced him of his utter helplessness, his entire bankruptcy. What rapture would kindle in his bosom at the announcement of a partial atonement, of a half Savior, of a part payment of the debt? It would not produce one throb of joyous sensation. On the contrary, this very mockery of his woe would but deepen the anguish of his spirit.

But, go to the soul, weary and heavy laden with sin, mourning over its vileness, its helplessness, and proclaim the gospel. Tell him that the atonement which Jesus offered on Calvary was a full satisfaction for his sins. That all his sins were borne and blotted out in that awful moment. That the bond which divine justice held against the sinner was fully cancelled by the obedience and sufferings of Christ, and that, appeased and satisfied, God was ready to pardon. How beautiful will be the feet that convey to him tidings so transporting as these!

And are not these statements in perfect accord with the declarations of God's own Word? What did the ark symbolize—alluded to in Hebrews 9—which contained the manna, Aaron's rod, and the tables of the covenant, over which stood the cherubim of glory, shadowing the mercy-seat? What, but the entire covering of sin? For, as the covering of the ark hid the law and testimony, so does the Lord Jesus Christ hide the sins of his chosen, covenant people—not from the eye of God's omniscience, but from the eye of the law. They stand legally acquitted. So entire was the work of Jesus, so infinite and satisfactory his obedience, the law of God pronounces them acquitted, and can never bring them into condemnation.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). "Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died" (Rom. 8:34). How could the apostle, with any truth, have made a declaration so astounding, and uttered a challenge so dauntless as this, if the point we are now endeavoring to establish were not exactly as we affirm it to be?

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain—
for me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

(Charles Wesley, 1738; alt. 1990)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2011.