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:   3:26

 

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 5:17]

He becomes to the one who believes all the things we have seen in this context and more!   1 Cor 1:30

 

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 6:19-20 

 

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.