Jesus Made a Surety

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” (Hebrews 7:22)

Many often refer to the death of Christ as an ‘atonement’ and speak of Him as having ‘secured’ salvation for His Church. But is such language Biblical?

First, the notion of Christ’s death as atonement does not adequately define what He accomplished. The word ‘atonement’ means ‘a covering’ and is used throughout the Old Testament concerning the blood sacrifices of animals. In the Old Testament economy, it is right to refer to those sacrifices as ‘atonement’ because they could not put away sin, Hebrews 10:4-6. Those sacrifices were but a typical covering before God, enabling Him to be just in forbearing with the sin of His elect until Christ came and fulfilled it completely in His obedience unto death, Romans 3:25. Christ’s death, however, is not properly an atonement (a covering) but a definitive putting away of sin. The reason why we do not find the same word used in the New Testament concerning Christ’s death is that His death did put away sin and satisfied God’s law and justice for His people and therefore is a true propitiation (satisfaction) [1 John 2:2] and reconciliation, Romans 5:11. You may say, ‘Ah! Romans 5:11 uses the word atonement in the KJV!” Yes, that is the word the translators used but in the original, the word is ‘reconciliation,’ as used in Romans 5:10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”.

Second, the notion that Christ secured salvation for His people at the cross does not adequately describe His finished work. Many will argue that He secured salvation, but security is not necessarily a full payment. They argue that the LORD Jesus ‘secured’ salvation at the cross but does not save the sinner until they appropriate His when they believe. Here again is language that is foreign to the testimony of God’s Word. The Scriptures speak of Christ being MADE A SURETY (a full payment) of a better covenant through His death, 2 Corinthians 5:21. A surety assumes the entire debt. He is not merely security against God’s wrath but THE SURE SACRIFICE that forever removed it for His people, Hebrews 10:10.

The LORD Jesus did not merely make man salvable but he ‘became’ the Surety in time, having fulfilled what God the Father purposed in before the foundation of the world, pictured in the Old Testament in type, picture and promise but accomplished at the cross and revealed in the heart by the Spirit of God. As Surety, God and Man were united together in His person and His death brought reconciliation between God and men (sinners) through THE MAN Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5. As God, He has laid His hand upon chosen sinners in covenant mercy. As Man, His blood shed unto death is all the satisfaction necessary before the Holy God for Him to show mercy, love, pardon and once and for all justify those He represents, having completed the work at Calvary, Romans 4:25. May the LORD grant us eyes to behold Him not as mere security but as God’s Surety for His chosen, beloved sinners!