The depth of the mystery of the atonement is so sublime that it nearly eludes us. Sometimes it is best to let the ones who have already spoken, speak again. John Calvin unfolded the sublime truth thus: "…there are two things which must be considered, not only in the person of Christ, but even in his human nature. The one is, that he was the unspotted Lamb of God, full of blessing and of grace; the other is, that he placed himself in our room, and thus became a sinner, and subject to the curse, not in himself indeed, but in us, yet in such a manner, that it became necessary for him to occupy our place. He could not cease to be the object of his Father’s love, and yet he endured his wrath. For how could he reconcile the Father to us, if he had incurred his hatred and displeasure? We conclude, that he 'did always those things that pleased' (John 8:29) his Father. Again, how would he have freed us from the wrath of God, if he had not transferred it from us to himself? Thus, 'he was wounded for our transgressions,' (Isaiah 53:5) and had to deal with God as an angry judge. This is the foolishness of the cross, and the admiration of angels (I Pet. 1:12), which not only exceeds, but swallows up, all the wisdom of the world." Well said, brother Calvin! – Pastor Schlegel |
