The good news of Christ’s definite atonement is that it means He is a complete Mediator. He both merits and applies salvation. Both are necessary because we are unable to do either. Christ must be a full Savior because sinners are spiritually dead and cannot independently receive a Christ presented to them. Though Christ has merited everything, God’s people know that they have no legs to run to Him, no arms to embrace Him, no lips to kiss Him. He must do everything – both the meriting and the applying. Thus, He receives all honor and glory as the Alpha and Omega for His own.

Joel R. Beeke, Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism, Loc. 1276.