5 Results of Christ’s Death
John Owen (1616–1683) was an English scholar, theologian, chaplain, tutor, pastor, vicar, dean of Christ Church College, and author.
In The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Owen writes of 5 benefits that flow from Christ’s death for us.
First, Reconciliation with God
God reconciles us to himself by removing and slaying the enmity that was between him and us. For “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,” Rom. 5:10. “God was in him reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them,” 2 Cor. 5:19. He has “reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ,” verse 18. If you want to know how this reconstruction was effected, the apostle will tell you that “he abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments consisting in ordinances, to make one new man in himself from two, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,” Eph. 2:15, 16: so that “he is our peace,” verse 14.
Secondly, Justification
Christ justifies us by taking away the guilt of our sins, procuring remission and pardon for them. He redeems us from their power, along with the curse and wrath that are due to us for them. For “by his own blood he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us,” Heb. 9:12. “He redeemed us from the curse, being made a curse for us,” Gal. 3:13; “his own self bearing our sins in his own body on the tree,” 1 Pet. 2:24. We have “all sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” but are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins,” Rom. 3:23-25. For “in him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins,” Col. 1:14.
Thirdly, Sanctification
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us by purging away the uncleanness and pollution of our sins, renewing in us the image of God, and supplying us with the graces of the Spirit of holiness. For “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God, purges our consciences from dead works that we may serve the living God,” Heb. 9:14. In fact, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin,” 1 Jn. 1:7. “By himself he purged our sins,” Heb. 1:3. To “sanctify the people with his own blood, he suffered outside the gate,” Heb. 13:12. “He gave himself for the church to sanctify and cleanse it, so that it would be holy and without blemish,” Eph.5:25-27. Uniquely among the graces of the Spirit, “it is given to us, for Christ’s sake, to believe on him,” Phil 1:29; God “blessing us in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places,” Eph. 1:3.
Fourthly, Adoption
We are adopted, with that evangelical liberty and all those glorious privileges pertaining to the sons of God. For “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons,” Gal 4:4, 5.
Fifthly, Glorification
Nor do the effects of the death of Christ rest here. They do not leave us until we are settled in heaven, in glory and immortality forever. Our inheritance is a “purchased possession,” Eph 1:14. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb. 9:15. The sum of all this is that the death and blood-shedding of Jesus Christ has wrought, and effectually procures, for all those who are concerned, eternal redemption. That consists in grace here, and glory hereafter.