THE ATONEMENT, by Arthur W. Pink

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Steve West

 

About the Author

A.W. Pink was a popular Baptist writer in the early to mid twentieth century. He wrote on a wide variety of topics, including biblical commentaries, but it was his writings on the sovereignty of God and related “Calvinistic” themes that were most widely influential.

 

Introduction

 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Atonement – Introduction
Chapter 2 The Atonement – Its Source
Chapter 3 The Atonement – Its Necessity
Chapter 4 The Atonement – Its Pre-requisites
Chapter 5 The Atonement – Its Nature
Chapter 6 The Atonement – Its Nature (continued)
Chapter 7 The Atonement – Its Nature (continued)
Chapter 8 The Atonement – Its Nature (continued)
Chapter 9 The Atonement – Its Design
Chapter 10 The Atonement – Its Efficacy
Chapter 11 The Atonement – Its Application
Chapter 12 The Atonement – Its Application (concluded)
Chapter 13 The Atonement – Its Results
Chapter 14 The Atonement – Its Results (continued)
Chapter 15 The Atonement – Its Results (continued)
Chapter 16 The Atonement – Its Results (continued)
Chapter 17 The Atonement – Its Results (Righteousness continued)
Chapter 18 The Atonement – Its Effects
Chapter 19 The Atonement – Its Extent
Chapter 20 The Atonement – Its Extent (concluded)
Chapter 21 The Atonement – Its Typification
Chapter 22 The Atonement – Its Proclamation
Chapter 23 The Atonement – Its Reception
Chapter 24 The Atonement – Its Rejection

 

Summary

 

Chapters 1 & 2

No event in history is more remarkable than the death of Christ. His suffering was prophetically foretold, and supernatural phenomena surrounded his death. After his death, Jesus was raised to life. Meeting the risen Christ transformed the disciples, and the apostolic message was centered on the cross. Christ is worshipped in heaven and on earth for his atoning death. It demands our best attention and thought to understand God’s design for the cross. We need to see it as God’s wisdom, not our own, since it is foolish to the natural man. Scripture needs to be our authority, and we need to accept its teaching that people are ruined and dead in sin. The atonement cannot serve as a mere example that awakens our natural goodness and leads us to God. Only by the Spirit can we understand the mystery of Immanuel dying on our behalf. There is no human analogy to the great love of God the Father and the Son in the provision of atonement. Yet, in God’s wisdom and grace, he provided a series of types to help us understand. The word “satisfaction” is better than “atonement,” since it is more precise.

Only God could provide satisfaction for God. Redemption finds its source in God’s sovereign will (as does everything else, since God works all things according to his will). The will of God is the ultimate standard of righteousness, because it is part of his nature. If he had not willed Christ’s death, there would be no atonement. God’s love is the source of his grace and goodness to his people. No higher love could be displayed than God sacrificing his Beloved for redemption. Atonement was necessary for God to be gracious and yet uphold his righteous law and holy justice. Without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins and removal of guilt. God’s own glory is always the chief end for which he acts. Glory is the manifestation of God’s excellences and perfections. It is through the everlasting covenant that God exercises his will for redemption. . . .

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