John Murray: Redemption Accomplished and Applied-Part I, Ch. 1

Part of this blog will be dedicated towards looking at important Christian literature.  The first book that I am going to provide a summary of is John Murray's Redemption Accomplished and Applied published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company in 1955.  John Murray was a Scottish born theologian who spent many years teaching at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

This chapter is titled the Necessity of the Atonement. 

Murray makes the claim that the atonement is based on the free and sovereign love of God and that God himself is love; necessarily, inherently, and eternally.

It is the love of God that elects and predestinates his people.

It is the atonement itself that secures what God's love has predestinated.

At this point he offers two views on the necessity of the atonement:

               1)  Hypothetical view-Shared by Augustine/Aquinas.  In this view, the atonement through the method of the Son’s vicarious sacrifice was the way chosen by God in his wisdom.  God could have saved without this atonement but did not.

                2) Consequent absolute necessity-This is the Classic Protestant position. Because salvation was purposed for man as a result of his sinfulness, it was necessary for an atonement to be executed through the death of his son as a necessity of God's own perfections.

Murray offers the following scriptures in support of the second view:

Hebrews 2: 10,17

John 3:14-16

Hebrews: 1:1-3, 2:8-19, 9:9-14, 22-28

In these verses he highlights the necessity of the Levitical offerings which were a direct pattern of Christ’s future sacrifice.

He points out that the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice is based on the impact of sin which is not a hypothetical but an absolute, real problem.

Christ’s priestly office is directly tied to his person.  Prophet, priest and king are his offices as Messiah and these cannot be divorced from the Son.

Salvation implies forgiveness and justification.  Justification requires a real, not hypothetical righteousness.  Salvation without justification is unthinkable.

The cross of Christ is the supreme demonstration of God’s love.

Sin must meet divine judgment, a judgment that is faced not by the saved, but by the Son.

Salvation from sin without expiation and propitiation is inconceivable.  Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.

Commentary:  Thank God for his gracious and eternal love that led to His salvation of sinners through the sacrifice of His Son.  Thank the Son for His work in securing not only forgiveness from our sin but justification in His righteousness.  Thank the Spirit for sealing and applying the plan of the Father and the work of the Son in our life.