Christ Died In Vain?

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21 KJV)

"I do not frustrate the grace of God" avows Paul. "I do not preach any doctrine that makes the death of Christ to have been in vain, or useless, or of none effect," he steadfastly affirms. Christ's death was not, in any sense, or to any degree, a failure, or "in vain." The grace or God, exhibited in Christ and his death for sin upon the cross, was a success, did not fail, and will fully accomplish all that God intended to accomplish by it.

Had Christ remained in the grave, without a resurrection, he had surely "died in vain," and the gospel, faith, and hope of the Christian, yea, of all men, would be "vain." (See I Corinthians 15) Were any for whom Christ vicariously suffered and died condemned, and not justified, then the death of Christ would have been "in vain."

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8: 31-35 KJV)

The "elect" are identified with the number for whom Christ died upon the cross, as a divine substitute and representative. Paul, like a defense attorney, asks any and all pretended juries to consider the questions he rhetorically asks and the inquisitive interogatives he puts forth. "Who is able to condemn the one whom God and the law has justified?" Who are the justified? They are they for whom Christ died and shed his blood, for whom he was substitute.

"Who can condemn those for whom Christ died?" Who can punish again the sinner when Christ has already suffered for him? Can the law exact its punishment twice and yet be just? Is God guilty of "double jeopardy"?

Paul affirms the success and victory of Christ's atonement. He affirms again that it was "NOT in vain." It did not fail to accomplish all that the Father designed and intended.

Christ's legal death for a sinner is a way in which God has shown sinners, believing and elect sinners, that he is "for them." God being "for" them, in this regard, pro-elect or pro-believer, justifying them for the sake of Christ, "who can be against them?" Can the law? No, for it cannot punish twice. Can Satan? No, for he has been "destroyed" by the death of Christ. (Hebrews 2:14)

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God (once for all). " (Romans 6: 5, 8-10 KJV)

In other words, "if we have been represented by Christ in his death, we have also been represented in his resurrection." Because we are represented in Adam we "die." But, if we are represented in the second Adam, we will "live." (I Corinthians 15)

If, says Paul, we have "died with Christ," or been "crucified with Christ," then we have also been "raised with Christ," and "exalted with Christ," the one thing guaranteeing the other. If we have "died with Christ," we shall be saved. There is no such creature who it may be said "died with Christ" but who was not also "raised," "exalted," and "glorified" with Christ. All for whom Christ died to save will be saved, for Christ did not die in vain nor fail.

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53: 11 KJV)

"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law." (Isaiah 42: 4 KJV)

Did any for whom Christ died as a substitute fail to be justified or saved, then Christ's death would have been "in vain" as regards them. Yet, Paul affirms that Christ did not die in vain. The prophets also, as the verses above demonstrate, testified that the Messiah would not fail, nor even be "discouraged" but only fully succeed. No doubt it was this kind of victory that Christ foresaw as the result of his substitutionary death and was able to "rejoice," which he could not do if all whom he intended to save, by his death, were not saved. (See Hebrews 12: 2)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10: 11, 14, 15, 27, 28 NKJV)

We know who are the "sheep," just as we know who is the "shepherd." The sheep are equated with the "elect." Who are the "elect"? They are equated with those who believe in Jesus, who are his disciples, who hear his voice and obey his word, and who perseveringly "follow" him as sheep do their shepherd. These, and these alone, are they for whom Christ died. He died for no unbeliever, nor for any fallen angel. He did not lay down his life for any who are not sheep, who do not follow him or know his voice. They are sheep that belong to some other shepherd. Christ, however, dies for his sheep, not for someone else's sheep.

None of the sheep, for whom the shepherd died and sacrificed his life, are destroyed or perish. All are saved because of the death of the shepherd. That was why the shepherd died. How could we say he "did not fail" if many, or any, of his sheep are destroyed?

"Charity (love) never faileth." (I Corinthians 13: 8 KJV)

If God's love does not fail, then all whom he loved will be saved. No man whom God loves will be lost. No one, wrote Paul, who is loved by the Father and Christ can ever be "separated from" it, but will certainly be loved forever. "God is love" (I John 4: 8) and therefore God never fails. Christ never fails.

When one trusts Christ as Lord and Savior, and hears his voice, and follows his teachings, he can then be assured of being one whom God has chosen and for whom Christ died.