When we talk about the purpose of Christ’s death, we are considering two aspects:
- What God the Father and Christ Himself intended to achieve through it.
- What was actually accomplished and brought about by His death.
Let’s look briefly at how Scripture describes both these aspects.
Christ’s Intentions in His Death
If you want to know why Christ came into the world, let’s ask Him directly. He, who knows His own purpose and all the secrets of His Father, tells us plainly: “The Son of Man came to save the lost” (Matthew 18:11). His goal was to rescue lost sinners. This is confirmed in Luke 19:10: “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”
Paul, His apostle, adds, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Who are these sinners Christ intended to save? He Himself explains: “The Son of Man came to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Elsewhere, these “many” are identified as believers, distinct from the world. As Paul writes, “He gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4). God’s will was for Christ to give Himself for us so that we would be saved and set apart from the world.
These people are identified as His church:
“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
The purpose of His death, then, is clear: to make His people fit for God and draw them near to Him. This is also affirmed in Titus 2:14: “He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”
In summary, the intention of Christ and the Father in this great work was to save us, deliver us from evil, cleanse us, make us holy and zealous for good works, and bring us to God. Through Christ, “we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:2).
The Accomplishments of Christ’s Death
What did Christ’s death actually achieve? Scripture is equally clear on this, often describing its effects in great detail.
Reconciliation with God
Christ’s death removed the enmity between us and God:
“While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10).
Paul adds, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This reconciliation was achieved by Christ abolishing the hostility through His death on the cross, making peace (Ephesians 2:15-16).
Justification
Christ’s death secured the forgiveness of sins, freeing us from guilt and the curse of the law:
“He redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).
“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).
By His sacrifice, Christ bore our sins and secured eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).
Sanctification
Christ’s death cleanses us from sin’s pollution and transforms us into God’s likeness:
“The blood of Christ cleanses our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).
He suffered and died to sanctify His people (Hebrews 13:12).
Adoption
Christ’s death grants us the privileges of being God’s children:
“God sent His Son… to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4-5).
Eternal Glory
Finally, the effects of Christ’s death culminate in eternal life:
“For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15).
In summary, Christ’s death secures eternal redemption, encompassing grace in this life and glory in the next.
The Debate Over Universal Atonement
Despite the clarity of Scripture, many question this doctrine, particularly regarding the extent of Christ’s atonement. Some claim that Christ died to save all people universally, not just the elect. If this were true, however, one of two problems arises:
- Either God and Christ failed to achieve their intended purpose, which is unthinkable and dishonoring to God’s wisdom and power.
- Or all people must be saved, which contradicts Scripture and experience.
To resolve this, proponents of universal atonement argue that Christ’s death was not intended to secure salvation for anyone specifically but only to make salvation possible for all. Any actual benefit, they say, depends on individuals exercising faith, which Christ’s death did not guarantee for them.
This view undermines the value and effectiveness of Christ’s death. Therefore, I will, by God’s grace, demonstrate from Scripture both the truth of particular redemption and the errors of universal atonement. May God lead us into all truth.
A Modern English translation of Book 1, Chapter 1 of John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
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