The Nature of the Atonement and Christ's Obedience

This is my second reflection on the second chapter of John Murray's book, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. In that chapter, he talks about The Nature of Atonement. You can find my first piece here.

How the Scripture describes Christ's sacrificial endeavors and accomplishments pertains to the nature of the atonement. Murray contends that obedience is the unifying concept, citing Isaiah 53 as a major chapter that presents Christ's atonement in terms of obedience.

"Obedience" was the most fundamental of these characteristics offered in the reading. The suffering servant is portrayed in Isaiah 53 as being obedient, and Jesus confirms this by saying that He came to carry out the Father's purpose and voluntarily gave His life (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied. 1955. Reprinted April 1980, p. 19).

Additionally, Murray addresses the potential for misunderstanding on the matter. One of which was "passive obedience," the term simply does not mean its literal connotation—that Christ was passive and has done nothing, as if he was the victim of involuntary obedience, instead even in His suffering and death, he was actively obedient (ibid., p. 20). Besides, the idea of Christ's obedience should not be categorized as a separate event; rather, both aspects of his obedience, active and passive, encompass his entire earthly existence. For to do so, would be a misunderstanding of Christ's obedience (ibid., p. 21).

Building upon the above premise, according to Murray, the goal is to highlight Christ’s “two distinct obedience” (ibid.) to the law and its appropriation to humanity.

Firstly, it acknowledges that God's law contains both requirements for obedience and penalties for disobedience. Christ, as the representative of humanity, bore the penalty for sin while also fulfilling the righteous demands of the law. His obedience, therefore, encompasses both aspects: passively enduring the consequences of sin and actively fulfilling God's commands. This comprehensive obedience serves as the basis for the forgiveness of sins and our justification (ibid., p. 22).

After concisely explaining Christ’s two distinct obedience, Murray goes on to explicate the subheadings into which they are concerned: sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, and redemption. An important takeaway in this paper for the writer was the idea of sacrifice.

Murray understood that the Old Testament view of sacrifice is the basis for interpreting the work of Christ; they were not the fulfillment but the shadow of a coming great sacrifice. So, in light of the Old Testament sacrifice, we see that they are “expiatory” (ibid., p. 25). They had reference to sin and guilt. The sacrifice therefore is the provision of covering the sin that instilled God’s wrath and cursing. An example provided here was a worshipper entering the altar, in which he brought in himself an animal (e. g. a lamb), the substitute for his wrongdoings, and laid his hands upon the poor animal—and there signifies the changing of status, a transaction in view—likewise, Christ and His sinful people.

In short, John Murray gave us a theological interpretation of Christ's atonement, emphasizing the unifying concept of obedience—both active and passive—through Isaiah 53, and its significance in Christ's sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, and redemption for humanity.

Reference:

Murray, John. Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1955. Reprinted April 1980.

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