The teaching of the Bible that Christ died for the elect should not trouble but comfort us. When we comprehend God's particular grace through particular atonement, we properly grasp the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

I explicitly refer to the words, "He loved me and gave Himself up for me." In Paul's mind there is not a vague understanding of the death of Christ for the generality of humankind. Paul knew the saving work of Christ in a vital, personal, particular, and immediate way.

Paul understood the words of the Savior when he says, "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Christ's sacrifice is not for creatures in general. Nor does Jesus lay down his life for the goats (unbelievers). He has his sheep (believers) in mind. Jesus goes on to say, "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me" (vs. 14). Christ knows his sheep by name. "He calls his own sheep by name" (vs. 3). This is not a general call but a particular one. Jesus comes to lay down his life for sheep whom he calls by name.

There are sheep the Father gives to Jesus. Our Lord distinguishes between these sheep — these people — and the thronging masses of humanity in general. Jesus tells his Father, "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me" (John 17:6). Jesus prays for these sheep; he does not intercede for the world in general. "I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me" (vs. 9). Here is particular love and care for particular people.

This is a particular group of people for whom God prepares his kingdom in glory. When the sheep of Christ stand before his judgment throne, they will hear glorious words. "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). Before you took your first breath, the eternal kingdom of glory was prepared, and God prepared this kingdom for Christ's sheep.

These are certain people who have their names written in the book of life. The Bible also speaks of those who reject Christ in terms of the book of life. "Those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast" (Revelation 17:8). Our names must be in the book of life from the beginning, from before the foundation of the world.

With our names in this great book, Christ knows our names. He calls us by name; he dies for us by name. This is particular love, particular atonement.

Realizing this special love, Paul says of Christ, "He loved me and gave Himself up for me." Here we find the apex of assurance. Here is the pinnacle of personal peace before God. Here is the summit of serenity. The doctrine most vehemently opposed by many people becomes the centerpiece of our confidence before God. We can and should declare with Paul, "He loved me and gave Himself up for me."