p. 10 | The Exchange in the Atonement

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 11, 1916

The Exchange in the Atonement

By John Norton Loughborough

By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

DID the offering of Christ upon the cross pay the debt of all mankind, so that none will be called upon to suffer for their own personal transgressions of God's law?

Of that offering we read, "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." Rom. 3:25.

Webster defines "propitiation" as "an atoning sacrifice." Christ's death upon the cross was an atoning sacrifice for all who, in God's appointed way, avail themselves of its benefits.

GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS

Paul's manner of presenting this theme was, "Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world." Gal. 1:3, 4. Paul does not say that Christ gave Himself and thus delivered us, but that He "gave Himself that He might deliver us."

The beloved John stated it thus: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. To the Corinthians Paul said, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3.

In Christ's explanation of His being offered, He "opened . . . the Scriptures" to the two on their way to Emmaus. The Scriptures He used were Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. In Moses' writings was the offering of blood, which was a "figure," "example," and "shadow" of the work Christ would perform for repentant sinners. Heb. 8:5. In Moses' writings, we learn that before the offering could avail, there must be confession of sins, with the hands on the head of the animal that was to be slain, and his blood offered.

"SAVED BY HIS LIFE"

Of those conforming to God's plan of reconciliation, the apostle said: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Rom. 5:10, 11. Having had such experience, we are said to be "in Christ." "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ["new creation," R. V.]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17. As expressed by another:

"In Christ we are as if we had suffered the penalty we have incurred. In Christ we are as if we had obeyed, and rendered perfect obedience to the law, which we cannot obey without Christ imparts to us His merits and His righteousness."

Again: "Faith can present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and defection. The only way he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, and justifies the penitent, believing soul, and loves him as He loves His own Son. This is how faith is counted for righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to greater light."

"God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. To the unbelieving the Saviour said, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40. May we each so yield ourselves to God as to receive in full the atonement provided for our acceptance!