The article "The Captain Made Perfect" by Don Fortner explores the theological significance of Jesus Christ as the "Captain of Salvation," emphasizing His necessary suffering to fulfill the role of a perfect Savior. Fortner argues that this perfection is not about moral improvement but rather about attaining the official status required to save humanity effectively. Key Scripture references include Hebrews 2:10, which addresses Christ's suffering, and John 17:2 and Hebrews 7:25, which underline His power and merit as Mediator. The significance of this doctrine lies in the Reformed understanding of Christ's dual nature as both fully God and fully man, equipping Him with divine merit, power for salvation, and the capacity for sympathy, making Him the complete Savior for believers.
Key Quotes
“He was made perfect officially as the Captain of our salvation.”
“The only way he could obtain all three was by those things which he suffered which consummated in his death as the sinners' Substitute.”
“The Lord Jesus Christ is a perfect savior... He has made a perfect expiation of sin.”
“Only one who has suffered can be touched with the suffering of others.”
What does the Bible say about Christ's perfection as our savior?
The Bible teaches that Christ was made perfect through sufferings, allowing Him to be our complete and perfect Captain of salvation (Hebrews 2:10).
Hebrews 2:10
How do we know Christ's merit is sufficient for our salvation?
Christ's merit is sufficient for our salvation as He has infinite worth to satisfy divine justice (Hebrews 7:25).
Hebrews 7:25
Why is sympathy important for Christ as our Savior?
Sympathy is crucial for Christ as our Savior, as He must be able to understand and relate to our sufferings (Hebrews 4:15).
Hebrews 4:15
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. - Hebrews 2:10The Captain Made Perfect
Christ was the Captain of our salvation from eternity. He was our Savior from everlasting. But in order to save us, in order to bring us to glory, the Lord Jesus Christ had to be perfected as a Savior. He had to experience something himself if he would be a perfect and complete Savior. What does that mean?
Christ was not made perfect in his character by suffering. He was always perfect, both as God and as man. But he was made perfect officially, as the Captain of our salvation. To perform the office of a Savior, to save lost sinners from their just and righteous condemnation, Christ had to possess three things: merit, power and sympathy. The only way he could obtain all three was by those things which he suffered, which consummated in his death as the sinners' Substitute.
Merit
The Savior of men must have such merit with God that God can, consistently with the perfections of his nature and the requirements of his law, reverse the sentence of condemnation passed upon those for whom Christ suffered and died. He must have such infinite merit that we can through his merit alone obtain all the blessings of grace and glory, without any works of our own, without any merit of our own.
Power
The Captain of our salvation must possess all power, in heaven and in earth, so that he may, by the sheer power of his will make ignorant, depraved, helpless, miserable sinners, wise, and good, and happy. He must have such absolute control of all things that he can make all things work together for the salvation of his people.
Sympathy
Moreover, the Savior of men must be able to sympathize with, he must be able to enter into the feelings of, those whom he is to deliver and save. All these things are necessary if the Son of God is to be a perfect Savior; and all these things were obtained by him through the things which he suffered.
By his incarnation he became a Savior of infinite merit. The Savior of men must be a man, because man had sinned and man must suffer. But man, even a perfect man, does not have merit of infinite worth for the saving of other men. Our Savior must also be God, because none but God has infinite merit to satisfy the claims of divine justice. Christ, the God-man, is both fully man and fully God.
The Lord Jesus Christ obtained the power to save as the reward of his obedience unto death as our substitute (John 17:2; Heb 7:25). This power is the legal, judicial power given to him as our Mediator, the power he earned as the God-man by his obedience unto death as our Substitute.
The Son of God became a sympathizing Savior by the things he suffered as a man for us (Heb 2:18; 4:15). Only one who has suffered can be touched with the suffering of others.
Made Perfect
Now, the Captain of our salvation has been made perfect. The Lord Jesus Christ is a perfect savior. He has made a perfect expiation of sin. He has brought in a perfect righteousness. His holy heart is filled with a perfect sympathy for his needy people. He is a perfect example for us to follow. He has perfect power, and is able to save all who come unto God by him perfectly!
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