PARTICULAR REDEMPTION – Charles Spurgeon
Particular Redemption (Limited Atonement)
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28
Introduction: The Change in Ministry
When I first began preaching in this hall, my congregation appeared as a random collection of individuals gathered from various parts of the city. At that time, I was simply an evangelist, preaching to many who had not heard the gospel before. However, by the grace of God, a blessed transformation has occurred. Instead of an irregular assembly, my congregation has become a stable and faithful body. Today, I can see the faces of my regular hearers, many of whom occupy the same seats week after week. I now have the privilege of serving as your pastor, and I feel a deep bond of love and respect for each of you.
As our congregation has become more fixed, so has my ministry. When I first arrived, I was preaching to a group that was perhaps more casual, but now, with you all having “tasted that the Lord is gracious,” it is time to go deeper into the truths of Scripture. I will no longer merely speak of surface-level matters, but will venture into the foundational doctrines of our faith. I will not hesitate to preach the truths of divine sovereignty, election, the final perseverance of the saints, and the effectual calling of God’s elect. These are doctrines we must embrace and be built up by as believers.
The Doctrine of Redemption
Today, I begin with the doctrine of Redemption, specifically “He gave His life a ransom for many.” Redemption is central to the Christian faith. A misunderstanding of this doctrine leads to misunderstanding the entire system of our belief. Though all Christians acknowledge that Christ died to redeem, there is a vast difference in how we understand what His death accomplished.
Theories of Redemption
Arminians, for instance, believe that Christ died with the intention of making salvation possible for all people, but not securing the salvation of any particular individual. In their view, Christ’s death is not a guaranteed salvation for anyone but a mere opportunity for salvation. They assert that if a man’s will does not cooperate with God’s grace, Christ’s atonement is rendered ineffective for that person.
In contrast, we believe that Christ died with a specific, definite purpose — the salvation of a great multitude that no one can number. Christ’s death, according to our understanding, is not a mere potential for salvation, but a sure and certain guarantee for all for whom He died. For those who are saved, there is no question that Christ’s atonement was specifically intended to secure their salvation.
The Greatness of Christ’s Redemption
Now that we have established the nature of Christ’s redemption, let us turn to measure its greatness in five ways.
I. The Greatness of Redemption Measured by Our Own Sins
First, we measure the greatness of Christ’s redemption by considering our own sins. Believers, reflect for a moment on the pit from which you were drawn. Think of the guilt that has stained your soul, of the habitual rebellion against God, and of the countless times you turned from His will. Even one sin, we know, is enough to separate us eternally from God. But how many sins have we committed? It is impossible to count them.
Consider your childhood, when disobedience and lies began to take root. Remember how, in your youth, you plunged deeper into sin, becoming a leader in iniquity. As you grew older, though perhaps more outwardly restrained, your heart remained prone to sin. Even as you age, can you honestly say that you are free from sin’s taint? How great, then, must be the redemption Christ offers when it covers all these transgressions!
If you have sinned as much as the sand of the sea or the stars in the sky, Christ’s redemption is more than sufficient to cover it all. His atonement is all-sufficient for even the greatest of sins. All the guilt accumulated over a lifetime, and even the sins of all mankind, are washed away by His blood. The power of Christ’s redemption is beyond comprehension.
II. The Greatness of Redemption Measured by Divine Justice
Secondly, we measure Christ’s redemption by the sternness of divine justice. While God is love, He is also just. The Bible does not portray God as overlooking sin. He is a God of justice, and He has declared that sin must be punished. The soul that sins, it shall die.” God will not allow any sin to go unpunished. His justice demands satisfaction.
We cannot understand the full magnitude of Christ’s atonement until we grasp the truth of God’s justice. Every sin, no matter how small, demands punishment. Either you will bear that punishment for eternity, or Christ will bear it on your behalf. Because God is infinitely just, He will never overlook sin, and the punishment for sin is eternal separation from Him.
Christ’s atonement is so great because it satisfies this divine justice. He took upon Himself the penalty for sin — the full weight of God’s wrath — so that those who believe in Him need not suffer the punishment they deserve. Through Christ, the believer’s debt is paid in full. There is no longer anything left to pay; the believer is completely freed from condemnation.
III. The Greatness of Redemption Measured by the Price Christ Paid
Thirdly, we measure the greatness of Christ’s redemption by the price He paid. Christ’s suffering was unimaginable. From the moment He was born, He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. His sufferings culminated in the agonies of the cross, where He endured not only physical pain but also spiritual torment that is beyond our understanding.
The flogging, the crown of thorns, the mocking — all of these were mere preludes to the true horror of Christ’s suffering. The spiritual anguish He endured, bearing the full weight of God’s wrath against sin, was far greater than any physical pain. Imagine, if you can, the weight of the sins of all of God’s people being placed upon Christ and His experiencing the torment of hell on their behalf. He endured this willingly, out of His great love for His people.
Christ’s suffering was the price He paid to redeem us. He gave His life — not just in a physical sense, but by enduring the full penalty for sin, so that those who believe might be set free from its power.
IV. The Greatness of Redemption Measured by the Deliverance Christ Achieved
Fourth, we measure the greatness of Christ’s redemption by the deliverance it brought. For those who believe in Christ, there is deliverance from sin, from guilt, and from the fear of death. When Christ died, He set us free from the penalty of sin and gave us the gift of eternal life. He has delivered us from the wrath of God, from the power of sin, and from the fear of hell.
As believers, we can testify to this deliverance. We were once burdened with the weight of our sins, but when we placed our trust in Christ, our burdens were lifted. We now stand justified before God, and we have peace with Him. Christ’s redemption brings us not only forgiveness but also a restored relationship with God.
V. The Greatness of Redemption Measured by the Extent of the Design
Finally, we measure the greatness of Christ’s redemption by the extent of its design. Christ did not die just to make salvation possible. He died to secure the salvation of a vast multitude — a multitude that no one can number. The redemption Christ accomplished was not merely a potential salvation, but a certain and definite salvation for all for whom He died.
This is where we differ from those who teach that Christ died for everyone in the same way, but that the salvation He secured is not guaranteed for anyone. We believe that Christ’s death was effective and specific. He died for His people, and He will surely save them. The atonement was not limited in its power, but was particular in its design — to secure the salvation of all whom God has chosen.
In conclusion, we do not limit the atonement of Christ; rather, we proclaim that Christ’s atonement is particular and effective for all who believe. Christ died for His people, and through His death, He has secured their salvation. His redemption is complete, it is certain, and it is for those whom He has chosen.
Conclusion
Therefore, let us rejoice in the greatness of Christ’s redemption. His death was not in vain, but secured the salvation of all who trust in Him. If you have faith in Christ, you are part of the great multitude for whom He died. Rejoice, for your sins are forgiven, your guilt is removed, and you stand justified before God through the blood of the Lamb.
The Nature of the Atonement: Limited vs. General
“We will never renounce ours for the sake of it.” Now, beloved, when you hear anyone laughing or jeering at a limited atonement, you may tell him this—general atonement is like a great wide bridge with only half an arch. It does not go across the stream. It only professes to go halfway—it does not secure the salvation of anybody. Now, I had rather put my foot upon a bridge as narrow as Hungerford, which went all the way across, than on a bridge that was as wide as the world, if it did not go all the way across the stream!
I am told it is my duty to say that all men have been redeemed, and I am told that there is a Scriptural warrant for it—“Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Now, that looks like a very great argument, indeed, on the other side of the question! For instance, look here—“The whole world is gone after Him.” Did the entire world go after Christ? “Then went all Judea and were baptized of Him in Jordan.” Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem baptized in Jordan? “You are of God, little children,” and “the whole world lies in the wicked one.” Does “the whole world” there mean everybody? If so, how was it, then, that there were some who were “of God”? The words, “world,” and, “all,” are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture. And it is very rarely that, “all,” means all persons taken individually! The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts—some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor—and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile.
The Importance of Knowing Christ Died For You
Leaving controversy, however, I will now answer a question. Tell me then, sir, who did Christ die for? Will you answer me a question or two, and I will tell you whether He died for you. Do you need a Savior? Do you feel that you need a Savior? Are you this morning conscious of sin? Has the Holy Spirit taught you that you are lost? Then Christ died for you, and you will be saved!
Are you this morning conscious that you have no hope in the world but Christ? Do you feel that you, of yourself, cannot offer an atonement that can satisfy God’s justice? Have you given up all confidence in yourselves? And can you say upon your bended knees, “Lord, save, or I perish”? Christ died for you!
The Righteousness of Christ’s Atonement
If you are saying this morning, “I am as good as I ought to be; I can get to heaven by my own good works,” then, remember, the Scripture says of Jesus, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” So long as you are in that state, I have no atonement to preach to you! But if this morning you feel guilty, wretched, conscious of your guilt, and are ready to take Christ to be your only Savior, I can not only say to you that you may be saved, but what is better still, that you will be saved!
When you are stripped of everything but hope in Christ; when you are prepared to come empty-handed, and take Christ to be your all, and to be yourself nothing at all—then you may look up to Christ, and you may say, “You dear, You bleeding Lamb of God! Your griefs were endured for me; by Your stripes I am healed, and by Your sufferings I am pardoned.”
The Peace of Christ’s Atonement
And then see what peace of mind you will have—for if Christ has died for you, you cannot be lost! God will not punish twice for one thing. If God punished Christ for your sin, He will never punish you.
“Payment, God’s justice cannot twice demand,
First, at the bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine.”
We can today, if we believe in Christ, march to the very throne of God, stand there, and if it is said, “Are you guilty?” We can say, “Yes, guilty.” But if the question is put, “What have you to say why you should not be punished for your guilt?” We can answer, “Great God, Your justice, and Your love are both our guarantees that You will not punish us for sin; for did You not punish Christ for sin for us? How can You, then, be just—how can You be God at all, if You punish Christ the substitute, and then punish man himself afterwards?”
The Assurance of Salvation in Christ
Your only question is, “Did Christ die for me?” And the only answer we can give is—“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Can you write your name down among the sinners? Not among the complimentary sinners, but among those that feel it, bemoan it, lament it, seek mercy on account of it? Are you a sinner? That felt, that known, that professed—you are now invited to believe that Jesus Christ died for you because you are a sinner—and you are bid to cast yourself upon this great immovable rock, and find eternal security in the Lord Jesus Christ!