The Satisfaction of Christ.

Herman Witsius has written:

“III. The Lord Jesus obtained for the elect, by his satisfaction, an immunity from all misery, and a right to eternal life, to be applied unto them in effectual calling, regeneration, sanctification, conservation, and glorification, as the scripture declares. Thus Matt. xxvi. 28. “this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Gal. i. 4. “he gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Tit. ii. 14. “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it, that he might present it to himself a glorious,” &c. In a word, “this is that faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” 1 Tim. i. 15. By these and many other passages to the same purpose, which it would be needless to mention here, it evidently appears, that the effect of Christ’s satisfaction was not a bare possibility of the remission of our sins, and of our reconciliation with God, but an actual remission and reconciliation, and abolition of the dominion of sin, and at length salvation itself: and it is not possible the elect should have no share in this, unless Christ should be deemed to have satisfied for them to no purpose. It is certainly incumbent on us, never to weaken the force of the words of the Holy Ghost, especially in those places and expression of scripture, where the subject of our salvation is treated of; not to detract in any thing, for the value of the satisfaction of our Lord.”

“IV. This truth also appears from those places of scripture, in which the satisfaction of Christ is called [greek] a redemption, made by the payment of [greek] a ransom, or [greek] a price of redemption. For, the proximate effect of redemption, and of the payment of a ransom, is the setting the captive at liberty, and not a bare possibility of liberty. It is neither customary, nor equitable, that after paying the price, it should still remain uncertain, whether the captive is to be set free or not. A true redeemer procures the restitution of liberty to the miserable captive, wherever good faith and an agreement are of force. One may possibly be upon terms about the price, though uncertain of the event, but is neither prudent nor just, to make any payment, before what is stipulated be made sure and firm. The scripture itself declares, that the proximate effect of redemption is the actual remission of sins, and restoration to liberty, Rom. iii. 24. “justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Eph. i. 7. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” and Col. i. 14. to the same purpose: in like manner, Heb. ix. 12. “by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for us;” the fruit or effect, which is eternal liberty and salvation.”

“V. Of the like nature are those phrases, by which the elect are said to be “bought with a price, purchased with blood, redeemed by Christ’s subjection to the law:” as 1 Cor. vi. 20. “ye are bought with a price.” Acts xx. 28. “to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Gal. iv. 4, 5. “made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.” But whoever makes a purchase of any thing has an unquestionable right to it, and it not only may, but actually does become his property, in virtue of his purchase, upon paying down the price. And herein consists our liberty and salvation, that we are no longer our own, nor the property of sin, nor of Satan, but the property of Christ. Whence it appears, that the effect of Christ’s satisfaction is not a bare possibility of our salvation, but salvation itself.”

(Witsius, Herman. The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man, Volume I, Kingsburg, CA: den Dulk Christian Foundation, 1990, pp. 235-236.)