The prebyterty of San Diego publishes a document outlining the essential tenets of the Reformed faith. Here's what they say about the atoning work of Jesus Christ:
Jesus’ death on the Cross was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. In this
act of obedience to God’s will and love for humankind, Jesus acted as the divine
agent for the salvation of the world. In his death he perfectly fulfilled the office of
High Priest and was also the perfect sacrifice for sins—“the Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world.” (Jn 1:29) The Cross became an altar on which his life
was sacrificed as a substitute for ours, and satisfaction and expiation for sins were
completely accomplished. On the sole basis of the finished work of Christ on the
Cross, sinners may now be reconciled to a holy God and set free from their bondage
to sin and death to live for God in holiness and joy.
Exalted to the place of honor beside God the Father, Jesus Christ the eternal Son,
now Lord of heaven and earth, continues his saving work, advocating and
interceding on behalf of the church and functioning as our eternal prophet (God’s
living and revealed Word), priest (ever making intercession and mediation for us),
and king (ruling his church by Word and Spirit and with sovereign love and power).
Scripture
Matthew 1:21; Romans 3:25; 1 Corinthians 1:23-25; 2:2; 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21;
Galatians 3:13; 6:14; Ephesians 1:19-23; Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:2
Confessions
Scots Confession 3.09
Heidelberg Catechism 4.031, 4.037
Confession of 1967 9.09
What Is Not Affirmed
Any theology—
• that does not affirm as biblical and true the death of Christ as the central saving
act of our Christian faith, or
• that rejects these teachings—atonement, substitutionary sacrifice, expiation for
sins on the basis of Christ’s death—as obsolete, unworthy, unessential, or
irrelevant, or
• that seeks to substitute some other basis or to promote some “more culturally
relevant paradigm” for our salvation, justification, and reconciliation with God
than Christ’s death on the Cross for us.
We also do not affirm the notion that Christ’s atoning work is universally applied to all or
most of the human race, so that all or most are saved, regardless of their religion or nonreligion
and apart from hearing the gospel and believing in Christ.
