Paul K. Christianson
The prophet Isaiah declares (Isaiah 53:10-12): “Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
We see the purpose and will of God the Father described over and over again in the above verses. Consequently, dear reader, God’s purposes shall not fail for the Son of God will be exalted in the justification of many. His offspring are guaranteed for the Scripture asserts “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied … ” Verse 11 from the interlinear states: “My righteous servant shall justify many.” It does not say “might” justify – but it is “shall justify.”
Do a grammar study on your own and you will see it’s not conditional, it’s not potential, it’s not probable: it is objective, final, and declarative! The plan of God, here revealed from this Old Testament prophecy, was not the offer of a potential salvation, and it is a monstrous suggestion that God the Father would bruise his only begotten Son in a plan which only hoped that people would be redeemed; that only wished people could be saved!
Can you imagine, dear reader, a scene from the throne room of God the Father Almighty where the resurrected Christ enters and says to his Father: “Father, look at the wounds I received on Calvary, look at these wounds which were received for all the people who are now suffering in Hell! Father, all of my agonies of soul were dedicated to these people who are perishing; Father, all of my prayers, and the sweat of my blood in Gethsemane were for people who are now in Hell suffering under your wrath and your curse! Oh Father, my soul is dissatisfied because many still died under your curse.”
Now many today would have the Father respond, “I just could not help it Son, I left it up to the free will of men. I told you before, Son, that there was no certain success of your mission when I sent you to die on Calvary. I reminded you that if they would choose, ultimately, not to believe, I could do nothing to save them. Jesus, my Son, I am so sorry about your sufferings but it is all up to whether or not they believe, and I know you are disappointed, and I am disappointed with you, but I just cannot do anything about it.”
Jesus Christ could never, ever be satisfied to undergo suffering and death for a people that, eventually, would die in their sins. In our text of Scripture the Son was promised, by the Father, of the sure accomplishment of His designs: ” … and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in His hands.” God’s “elect” would be justified and sanctified, for all that the Father had given to the Son would come (see the Gospel of John chapters 6,10,17). Jesus Christ faced the enemy, he faced the wilderness, he faced the hatred and cruelty of men knowing that his mission would be entirely successful.
Now this text of Scripture is an embarrassment to those who believe the death of Jesus Christ only made salvation possible for all- but only guaranteed it for none! Jesus Christ will see his offspring, for he is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world for his people. He looks down the corridors of time before creation and is satisfied in what he sees, for what he will set out to do will be accomplished according to God’s predestinating purpose … not someone’s theory that everybody must be given a chance.
You see, dear reader, heaven is not a democracy, and election is not ratification. What God purposes to do, he does in spite of man’s inherent depravity and sinfulness, for “Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of Thy power… ” (Psalm 110:3).
Well, dear reader, if you are the offspring of the Lord Jesus Christ, these verses should be cherished by you. If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ, then you are one of the people given to the Son of God before the foundation of the world, and you should take great comfort in knowing that Christ, in executing the Father’s plan, brought you to certain salvation. Praise the Lord salvation is not dependent on man’s fallen will, for none would be saved (see Romans 3:20; Romans 8:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
What a great God we have, what a wonderful and marvelous Savior who delights and draws his satisfaction from your well-being because you are one of his sheep.
Why is he able to save to the uttermost those who come to him? Because he fulfilled the purpose of the Father, and because the Father promised him absolute success: for the many for whom he died – will be justified, and in their justification he will be satisfied. Truly, in the words of Matthew, ” … thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)