Section 1

I would show what is here intended by Christ's purchasing redemption. There are two things that are intended by it namely his satisfaction, and his merit. All is done by the price that Christ lays down. But the price that Christ laid down does two things: it pays our debt, and so it satisfies: by its intrinsic value, and by the agreement between the Father and the Son, it procures a title to us for happiness, and so it merits. The satisfaction of Christ is to free us from misery, and the merit of Christ is to purchase happiness for us.

The word purchase, as it is used with respect to the purchase of Christ, is taken either more strictly or more largely. It is oftentimes used more strictly to signify only the merit of Christ; and sometimes more largely, to signify both his satisfaction and merit. Indeed most of the words which are used in this affair have various significations. Thus sometimes divines use merit in this affair for the whole price that Christ offered, both satisfactory and also positively meritorious. And so the word satisfaction is sometimes used, not only for his propitiation, but also for his meritorious obedience. For in some sense, not only suffering the penalty, but positively obeying, is needful to satisfy the law. The reason of this various use of these terms seems to be, that satisfaction and merit do not differ so much really as relatively. They both consist in paying a valuable price, a price of infinite value; but only that price, as it respects a debt to be paid, is called satisfaction; and as it respects a positive good to be obtained, is called merit. The difference between paying a debt and making a positive purchase is more relative than it is essential. He who lays down a price to pay a debt, does in some sense make a purchase: he purchases liberty from the obligation. And he who lays down a price to purchase a good, does as it were make satisfaction: he satisfies the conditional demands of him to whom he pays it. This may suffice concerning what is meant by the purchase of Christ.

I want to explain what is meant by Christ's purchasing redemption. Two things are meant by it: His satisfaction and His merit. Everything is accomplished through the price Christ paid. That price does two things: it pays our debt — and so it satisfies. And by its intrinsic value, and by the agreement between the Father and the Son, it obtains a title to happiness for us — and so it merits. The satisfaction of Christ frees us from misery; the merit of Christ purchases happiness for us.

The word purchase, as used in connection with Christ's work, is used in either a narrower or a broader sense. It is often used in the narrower sense to refer only to Christ's merit, and sometimes in the broader sense to include both His satisfaction and His merit. In fact, most of the terms used in this area of theology carry more than one meaning. Theologians sometimes use merit to refer to the entire price Christ offered — both the satisfactory element and the positively meritorious element. And the word satisfaction is sometimes used not only for His atoning work but also for His obedient life. In some sense, not only bearing the penalty but actively obeying is necessary to satisfy the law. The reason these terms are used in overlapping ways seems to be that satisfaction and merit do not differ so much in substance as in relation. Both consist in paying a price of infinite value. The difference is only this: that price, considered in relation to a debt that must be paid, is called satisfaction; considered in relation to a positive good that must be obtained, it is called merit. The difference between paying a debt and making a purchase is more a matter of perspective than of essential substance. The person who pays a price to discharge a debt does in some sense make a purchase — he purchases freedom from the obligation. And the person who pays a price to obtain something good does in some sense make satisfaction — he satisfies the conditions set by the one to whom he pays. This is sufficient to explain what is meant by the purchase of Christ.