Christ made atonement for all creatures. It was for this purpose He shed His blood, and the heavenly Father has accepted it. Now, He sends all believers to go and preach the gospel to everyone, because the atonement for all creatures has been made. Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ justifies and makes us beneficiaries of His atonement.

Salvation, healing and deliverance are benefits in Jesus Christ’s atoning work at Calvary. Despite the provision of the atonement for our salvation and healing, we cannot be saved or healed if we do not ask God in prayer to save and heal us. “Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.” It is on the basis of that personal responsibility of asking the Lord in prayer that salvation, restoration and healing become ours.

Every believer enjoys sanctification and holiness through Jesus Christ’s atoning blood. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” After salvation, we need the second work of grace to be wrought in our lives. The blood of Jesus Christ makes this possible and gives us the assurance and “boldness to enter” into the presence of God, not the works of our hand or the tears on our faces.

Although the blood has been shed for our sanctification, it is our duty to appropriate it by visiting Calvary if we discover any depravity or propensity to sin in our lives. Jesus Christ’s blood will avail for earnest seekers. To make it to our heavenly habitation, sanctification is very important. That is the only way we can obtain spiritual fullness and heavenly hope provided for all believers in the atonement.

Faith in the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ affords us spiritual fullness and heavenly hope. Salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, gifts of the Spirit and attaining the measure of the fullness of Christ are greatly available through the blood He shed on the cross. However, it is not automatic. Each of us has the personal responsibility to seek spiritual fullness and live with hope of possessing “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for (us)” and procured by Christ’s atonement.

The consequence of the atonement on the cross is to get rid of inward filthiness. “And said unto them, hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.” When the Lord sanctifies us, He takes away unclean things out of our inner man. His atonement regenerates and gives us the power to sin no more.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Apostle Paul declared that there was nothing between him and the world because he had been “crucified with Christ.” The purpose of the atonement is for the root of sin to be “destroyed” so that we will “have (our) fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Due to Christ’s atonement at Calvary, the powers of principalities are crushed and their plans against our lives destroyed. “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Christ became man so that He will take all our problems away. If we come to Him, acknowledging the power and provision of His atonement, principalities or powers will have no influence in our lives. Having delivered us, the devil and his demons have no power or authority over us.

God, having reconciled us to Himself by the atonement of Jesus Christ, “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” He has commissioned all saints to announce the atonement of Christ: that whosoever calls on Him shall be saved. As Ambassadors of Christ, we are expected to go from city to city to declare His redemptive work to all, so, they would be “reconciled to God.” Even though the price for our atonement has been paid, everyone must believe and have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. As we declare Him to the world, there will be salvation, great joy, healing and deliverance wherever we go. “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

• Further Reading (King James Version): Leviticus 17:11; Romans 5:8-11. Leviticus 17:11; Romans 5:8-11; Acts 4:9-12; Psalm 103:3,12; Ezekiel 36:37; Hebrews 10:14,16-19; 13:12-14,20,21; 9:14,15,22,27,28; Galatians 3:2,13,14; John 16:7-13; 1 Peter 1:3-5,15,16,18,19; 2 Chronicles 29:5,15,16,23,24; 1 John 2:1-6. Galatians 6:14; 2:20; Romans 6:6,18,22. Colossians 2:14,15; Hebrews 2:14,15; John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 8:4-8.