Romans 3:23-25 / The Propitiation by Christ

Introduction

Today is what is referred to in the Christian calendar as Palm Sunday.

Romans 3:23–25 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

It commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Everyone Cheered for Jesus that day as entered and laid palm branches in His path.

But Jesus wasn’t there to celebrate. He was there for a specific Purpose.

Jesus arrived there to provide Atonement for our sins.

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Three Aspects of Atonement:

Justification

Redemption

Propitiation

Read:

Romans 3:23–25 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ()

Here is the starting point.

You may have heard it said “all sin is equal”

We sinned and that relationship was broken

God created man and He USED to live peacefully with His creation.

Man

Man has this separation.

God USED to live peacefully with His creation

But sin came into the picture and ruined the relationship

This separation effected EVERYONE

You might be a great person, the best person,

Compared to every other person that you know.

But you still fall short of God’s glory.

Because of the GLORY OF GOD

He exists by certain “standards”

He doesn’t just “live” with sin.

Sin has to be dealt with and removed.

How could a good God send us to hell for our sins?

Can’t God just choose to REMOVE SIN?

Yes! and one day he will.

But since all have sinned

Simply removing sin would mean removing US!

He doesn’t want to do that.

Because God loves us, He chose to deal with our sin so we can be with Him. That process is called atonement.

The next couple verses covers “how” God provided that atonement and how we accept it.

Justification

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans

“… and are justified by his grace as a gift...”

Justified = Legal term.

You went before a judge and as a guilty person

Left the courtroom deem as innocent of any wrongdoing.

more than just “Not Guilty”

“AS a gift”

reminds us that this wasn’t for anything we have DONE.

We didn’t serve it, & we didn’t earn it.

How was this possible?

How can verse 23 tell me that I am guilty.

Then verse 24 tell me that I’m innocent?

(first part is …)

Redemption

Romans 3:24 ESV

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

“through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

You have been redeemed.

Might say you have been rescued.

You were captive to you sin

and BOUND by the effects of you sin.

So Jesus rescued you from your bondage.

So Christ rsued you from your bond

So that is where we are so far in this series.

God created you for a relationship with Him.

Because of our sin, we are separated.

Even though we are all guilty..

We have been offered the change to deem Innocent. (Justified)

We have been given the change to set free from our sin. (Redeemed)

So how exactly was this accomplished?

By Christ Jesus

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

“…whom God put forth as a propitiation...”

Not a term we use anymore.

It means to turn away God’s wrath by offering a gift.

Pagans used the term as well.

But they didn’t understand the realtionship

And didn’t realize the TRUE, in His love, is one who offered the gift.

Propitiation answers the question. How was our redemption paid for?

We should understand how it was given.

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

“…By His Blood”

Blood

Did Jesus really die on the cross?

Yes! That was part of the sacrifice for atonement.

“Without the shedding of blood there is nor forgiveness of sins. (:22ESV

The high cost of our sins points out the severity of our sin.

Sometimes you hear SIN called Mistakes.

That doesn’t really get it done.

It is disobedience to our creator.

It was by HIS blood.

There really is not anything YOU can do to earn this.

Jesus live a sinless life.

There is ONLY one way to God!

That is exclusive!

But there is a reason. (what other way could there be?)

We should understand how it is received.

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans

“… to be recieved by faith.”

“Received”

It is a gift

It is not earned.

You need to choose to receive it.

You can also choose to reject it. (most will)

“Faith”

Wouldn’t it be great if we could PROVE that Jesus died on the cross for our sins?

I imagine we wold live a much different place right now.

We can make a great logical argument for it

But we cannot PROVE it.

Of ours doubter cannot prove it didn’t happen either.

But that would be faith. that would be a response.

We shouldn’t be afraid of living by faith.

We should understand what it means.

Romans 3:25 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

“This is to show God’s righteousness...”

It’s one thing to realize that God is perfect. (righteous)

Does that just mean He is way better than us?

Part of His perfection is His perfect love.

From that perfect love … He offered us a second chance to be with Him.

He is going to remove sin but he doesn’t want to remove us.

He made a way to do both.

That way THEY ONLY WAY is through Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.