Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

VI. The Purpose and the Extent of the
Atonement
A. THE PURPOSE OF THE ATONEMENT.
The atonement was destined to affect the relation of God to the sinner, the state and
condition of Christ as the Mediatorial author of salvation, and the state and condition of
the sinner.
1. ITS EFFECT WITH REFERENCE TO GOD. It should be emphasized first of all that the
atonement effected no change in the inner being of God, which is unchangeable. The
only change that was brought about was a change in the relation of God to the objects of
His atoning love. He was reconciled to those who were the objects of His judicial wrath.
This means that His wrath was warded off by the sacrificial covering of their sin. The
atonement should not be represented as the moving cause of the love of God, for it was
already an expression of His love. It is often represented as if, on the satisfaction theory,
God could not love the sinner until His just demands were met. But then the fact is
overlooked that Christ is already the gift of God’s love, John 3:16. At the same time it is
perfectly true that the atonement did remove obstacles to the manifestation of God’s
redeeming love in the pardoning of sinners and in their sanctification, by satisfying the
justice of God and the demands of the law, both in its federal and penal aspects.
2. ITS EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO CHRIST. The atonement secured a manifold reward for
Christ as Mediator. He was constituted the life-giving Spirit, the inexhaustible source of
all the blessings of salvation for sinners. He received:
a. All that belonged to His glorification, including His present Messianic glory.
Hence He prayed, when in His high priestly prayer He by anticipation already thought
of His work as completed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self
with the glory which I had with thee before the world was,” John 17:5.
b. The fulness of those gifts and graces which He imparts to His people. Thus we
read in Ps. 68:18: “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; thou
hast received gifts for men; yea for the rebellious also, that the Lord might dwell among
them.” Paul applies this to Christ in Eph. 4:8.
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