The Atonement

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ISAIAH 53:5–6

Torrey said of the atonement exactly what he had said of the person of Christ: if a man holds right views about it he will sooner or later get right on everything else, and if he goes wrong here he is likely to go wrong everywhere. His sermon on the subject in The Fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith is long, crowded with texts, and fiercely polemical. Beneath the polemics is a clear and moving account of why Christ died.

One question, asked five times

The sermon contains a story that shows Torrey at his most characteristic. Teaching a Bible class in Minneapolis, he remarked in passing that Christian Science denied the atonement through the blood of Christ. A courteous woman came to him afterwards to say that he misunderstood; Christian Science did teach the atonement. So he asked her a single question: did she believe that Jesus Christ bore her sins in His own body on the cross? She answered that Christian Science was a beautiful system. He asked again. She said it had done her much good. He asked again, and again, and she spoke of Christ’s beautiful life and of lovely people and of following Jesus. At last she said, that is a doctrinal question.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 PETER 2:24

Torrey’s point was not to score off a lady. It was that many people use the word atonement while denying what it means, and the only way to find out is to ask the plain question. He thought the same was true in many pulpits of his day. The word had been kept and the substance emptied out.

The centre of the Bible

Torrey began by showing how central the death of Christ is. It is mentioned directly well over a hundred times in the New Testament, and foreshadowed throughout the Old. Christ took flesh and blood in order that He might die.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. HEBREWS 2:14

When Moses and Elijah appeared with Him on the mount of transfiguration, what they spoke of was His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. And the song of heaven is a song about His death.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. REVELATION 5:9

A gospel that is embarrassed by the cross, Torrey argued, is not the gospel of the Bible. It is not the song of heaven.

Why He died

Torrey then set out, in the orderly way he loved, what Scripture says about the purpose of Christ’s death.

He died as a substitute: the righteous for the unrighteous, bearing what we deserved.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

He died as a ransom, the price paid to set others free. Jesus said so Himself.

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

He died as a sin offering, on the ground of which alone forgiveness is offered. He died as a propitiation, turning away God’s holy wrath against sin. He died to redeem us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us. And He died as our Passover, so that God’s judgement passes over those who shelter under His blood.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. GALATIANS 3:13

What His death has won

The last part of the sermon lists the results of the atonement, and it is here that Torrey’s tone softens into wonder. Through Christ’s death a propitiation is provided for the whole world, so that the gospel can be offered to every person without exception.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 JOHN 2:2

Believers have forgiveness of all their sins. More than that, they are justified — and Torrey was careful to explain that justification is more than forgiveness. Forgiveness puts away our sins; justification reckons us righteous. Because of the blood of Christ, the believer may enter with boldness into the very presence of God.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. HEBREWS 10:19–20

Believers will live with Christ forever and receive an eternal inheritance. And Torrey saw the atonement reaching even to the created order, reconciling all things in heaven and earth. He ended with words that are worth carrying away: the blood of Christ “has a power and efficiency, the fullness of which only eternity will disclose.”

Where care is needed

The substance of Torrey’s teaching here is the teaching of the Reformation and of historic evangelical faith, and it should be held firmly. Its manner is another matter.

He named Mary Baker Eddy and the Unitarians repeatedly, and said the devil had inspired their teaching. He listed denomination after denomination whose pulpits he thought compromised. He was fighting a real battle, and he was right that the substitutionary death of Christ was being quietly abandoned in many places. But the reader who shares his convictions need not share his combative tone, and should be slow to assume the worst of every person who is confused about the cross. The woman in the Minneapolis class was not a teacher of error; she was someone who had never been shown what Christ had done for her.

The better use of Torrey’s sermon is the use he himself would have wanted: not to win arguments but to see, and help others see, that Christ bore our sins.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3

FOR REFLECTION AND ACTION

1. Ask yourself Torrey’s plain question and answer it aloud: do I believe that Jesus Christ bore my sins in His own body on the cross?

2. Read Isaiah 53 slowly, and underline every phrase that speaks of Christ bearing what we deserved.

3. Choose one of the pictures of the atonement — substitute, ransom, propitiation, curse-bearer, Passover — and meditate on it for a week.

4. Next time you pray, come boldly into God’s presence, consciously resting on the blood of Christ and not on your own performance.

5. If you know someone who uses Christian words without their meaning, pray for an opportunity to ask them, gently, what they believe Christ did on the cross.

A PRAYER

Lord Jesus, You were wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities. You bore my sins in Your own body on the tree.

You were made sin for me, who knew no sin, that I might be made the righteousness of God in You. I cannot understand it, but I believe it, and I thank You.

Let me never be ashamed of Your cross, nor empty it of its meaning, nor treat it as a doctrine only.

Teach me to sing even now the song of heaven: Thou art worthy, for Thou wast slain. Amen.