Romans Chapter Three
Lesson
45
Review:
Definition: Propitiation is the accomplishment of Christ
[His death] whereby the demands of God's righteousness are satisfied.
3:25b-26 The vindication of
God
- The perspective of this section, time wise is that we
are standing at the cross and we're looking down the road of history all the
way back to Adam!
In fact the cross is the only basis for forgiveness of
sin!
* There are 4
aspects or features of Christ's propitiatory work in view.
#1 What
propitiation did! 3:25b
"this was
to demonstrate His righteousness"
- To what does righteousness refer? Is the emphasis on His character of being
righteous or just or does it refer here to what logically flows out of His being +R/J that He acts in a righteous and just way?
- How does it demonstrate the righteousness of God to
display Christ publicly as a propitiation??
It shows the impossibility of God
ignoring sin.
God's
public display of Christ as hilasterion, the place of
propitiation, has at least as one of its
purposes to demonstrate, to give proof
that God is righteous and just!
#2. [feature] Why was it needed? 3:25c
"because in
the forbearance of God He passed over the sins
previously committed;"
- So in the OT God forgave without His justice being
satisfied!
- He forgave, for the individual it was a real
forgiveness, but He did not forget; at the right time He remembered and
they were paid for when they were poured out on Christ on the cross!
- "forbearance" pa,resij when used as here with respect to legal charges from sin
it means postponement of punishment or neglect of prosecution; idea being that of to set aside;
- "previously committed" proginomai
perfect tense which points to the fact that the sins in question have
taken place earlier in time, Adam to the cross,
and to the impact or force of those sins persisting until the
cross!
TXLN: "Whom,
[Christ Jesus,] God
displayed publicly as a propitiation by
His blood, through faith. In
order to demonstrate [or show] that God is just, acting in accordance with His own character
because He had passed over sins
committed before, in the time of His forbearance."
What this does not mean or infer; have several
things.
1. That God failed to punish or overlooked sins committed before
Christ.
2. Nor does it mean that God did not really forgive sins under the Old
Covenant. He did! [noted this in Psa. 32:1-2]
3. Paul's meaning here is that God postponed the full penalty that is
due sins during the Old Covenant, allowing sinners to stand before Him without
there having been an adequate satisfaction of His Holy justice! no legal payment; no
redemption/propitiation; as yet!
4. The important aspect to remember is that God's righteousness is not
vindicated for these past sins until the cross of Christ!
#3
Point here is that Propitiation resolves a problem:
The
cross is the centerpiece, the core of history as far as proving that God is
R/J.
The
second part of the verse specifically spells it out!
1- About God's
character; He is just dikaiosj
2- About God's
activity, His actions;
He is Justifier dikaiow
So what
do we have, all of the problems associated with sin and its punishment are
solved at the cross!
Therefore God is
now free to justify the one
believing!
Summary Observations on 3:24-26
1. In 3:24-26 we have discovered some foundational truths, BD's.
Redemption and propitiation.
Both
occurred at the cross;
what's the difference??
#1
Redemption is the work of
Christ on the cross dealing with our bondage to sin; paid the price for our
freedom! Rem: All under Sin!!
#2
Propitiation is the work
of Christ on the cross dealing with our liability to God.
* What's between God and us??
It is Christ's death;
He poured out His life for us!
Christ was there for you and me, He died in our place!
* Its important to remember that for the one who believes:
There is
no condemnation, no wrath,
for those who are in Christ!
Those who
are in Christ are new creations; [2 Cor
He
becomes to the one who believes all the things we have seen in this context and
more! 1 Cor
2. The basis of forgiveness before the cross and after the
cross is expressed this way!
before it is
prospective after it is retrospective
3. What is the primary message of redemption for us as
believers?
- that is for us who are
believers and therefore have experienced the reality of redemption, the release from slavery to sin.
- 1 Cor
What are
our rights as a believer?? look at vs:19
Our true right and obligation as a believer is clearly stated in vs:20.