Romans 3.21-26

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"THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS "THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF CHRIST'S DEATH" OF GOD'S FREE, GRACIOUS JUSTIFICATION OF SINNERS" (Romans 3:21-26) (Romans 3:21-26) (Frank Theilman) (Frank Theilman)

Paul also emphasizes the socially unifying nature of Gods righteousness. It comes to all who believe One of the most important descriptions of God's character in the Old Testament affirms that he is without distinction. Since all without distinction have sinned, God in his righteousness has made justification both merciful and just, but not in equal measure. His mercy is more typical of God's character than his freely available to all without distinction as well (3:22-24c, 27-30). This free, gracious justification of every justice. He describes himself to Moses as human being who believes has both anthropological and social implications. Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping On the anthropological side, it means that no one can boast in his or her "works." Justification is given to steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no those who rely on God to provide release from punishment and reconciliation as a free gift, not to those who means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's work for it by means of obedience to the law. Paul has shown that justification by means of obedience to the children, to the third and the fourth generation. (Exod. 34:6-7) law's requirements is impossible, whether the Mosaic law for Jews or the law written on the heart for gentiles (2:15; 3:20, 22). How can God both forgive sin and refuse to clear the guilty? One answer might be that God forgives those who renounce their sin and turn away from it, just as he expects his people to forgive In practical terms, this means that human beings cannot be in a proper relationship with God if they are one another. This is certainly true, but we learn from Romans 3:24-26 that more is involved in the trying to manipulate God into giving them eternal life. Membership in a particular social group, whether an ethnic group, a nation, a political party, or a particular religious group, including the visible church, does not forgiveness of sin than a willingness to look past the wrong that has been done and to allow the sinner convince God to give them eternal life. God is not persuaded to bless people when they take particular to make a fresh start. As 1:18-32 has demonstrated, the consequences of sin are profound, often theological, social, or political positions. A human being stands in a right relationship with God (is "justified") affecting not just the sinner who repents but leading to generations of people who refuse to worship when he or she relies upon God's promise to reconcile himself to human beings through the death of Christ ...BELIEF God and hate him (Exod. 20:5; cf. Exod. 34:7). For God to be both just in acknowledging the Jesus. As Paul will explain later and as he hints in his comment on not canceling the law in 3:31, the good that profound consequences of human evil and yet gracious in releasing those who have rebelled against believers do flows from a relationship with the triune God that begins with this trust in the gospel, but Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer him from the punishment they deserve, someone must bear the consequences of human sin. obedience to the law does not generate the relationship and therefore it provides no ground for boasting. Already in Exodus 34:6-7 there is a hint of the identity of this person. When God describes himself On the social side, justification by faith alone means that God's people will come from all ethnic groups as forgiving iniquity he uses a Hebrew term (nasa) that can mean "carry" or "bear." The same term and all walks of life. Within the church, any discrimination among people on the basis of their social status, appears both in Leviticus 16 for the scapegoat who "bears" into a remote area all the iniquities of the their economic resources, or their ethnic origins, for example, emerges from a serious misunderstanding of people of lsrael, and all their transgressions, all their sins" (16:21-22) and in Isaiah 53:12 for the the gospel. This was the problem in the Corinthian church, which was caught up in a competition of social suffering servant who "bore the sin of many." The Old Testament implies, in other words, that God one-upmanship based on the skills and knowledge of the Christian leaders that various groups claimed as himself bears the punishment involved in preserving his righteous character while forgiving human their own (1 Cor. 1:10-4:21). Although Paul's reply to the Corinthians is complex, it is summarized in 4:7, transgression against him and against others. In Romans 3:24-26 Paul shows us precisely how God did "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not this. Through the death of his Son, God demonstrated both his commitment to justice and his even receive it?" The only boasting that was appropriate for them was boasting in the Lord, who had given them greater commitment to mercy. everything that really mattered in life (1 Cor. 1:30-31). To the extent that churches today have become Theology exclusive clubs for people of a certain income bracket, social group, or How can God bear the consequences of sin when it is his Son political persuasionApplication they are not bearing faithful witness to Paul's teaching who dies? As Martin Hengel has said, "We can only talk about the on justification by faith alone. saving significance of the death of Jesus in appropriate theological Paul also reminds believers in this passage that if they are boasting in terms if we talk of him in a 'trinitarian context." It is because of the their social group, they are failing to bear witness to the unity and unity of God the Father with God the Son that Paul can say, "God sovereignty of God (3:29-30; cf. Deut. 6:4). The implication of living as if commends his own love to us because while we were still sinners one particular group has some ground for boasting before God is that Christ died for us."(Rom 5:8) God is the god only of that group, not the one God who created all the The understanding of the atonement that Paul articulates in peoples of the earth and who looks forward to that day when many nations 3:24-26 should remind Christians of God's commitment to justice, of shall join themselves to the LORD... and shall be my people" (Zech. 2:11). his great mercy, and of the serious consequences of human sin. Like Churches today need to make sure that they make it easy for people of God, Christians too should be committed to justice and should be various economic brackets and ethnic groups to worship and work characterized by mercy. In addition they should allow the together. Cultivating an atmosphere within the church that welcomes implications of this passage about the seriousness of sin to give social diversity is often complex and difficult, but it is also a necessary part them pause before taking sin lightly. of the church's witness to the gospel. DEFINITION RESULTS (Meaning) Hamartiology (Consequences) Summary The Doctrine of Sin 1. Immediately - sin brings Sin is any failure to conform to the INTER-DEPENDENT pain, alienation and conflict moral law of God in act, attitude, - Gen. 3:8-24. or nature (1 Jn 3:4). In these 2. Imputation - we are guilty ways we fall short of God’s glory and separated from God - (Rom. 3:23) and break relation- Rom. 5:12-21. ship with Him. IMPUTATION OF SIN INHERITANCE OF SIN 3. Inheritance - We sin and are sinners - Ps. 51:5. (Guilt through Adam) (Nature through Parents) 4. Death both physical and Old Testament Words spiritual is a central conse- af*j** “Imputation” Defined Scriptural Support quence of sin - Gen. 2:15; Chata - to hit the wrong mark Rom. 5:12-13; Eph. 2:1-3. ur* A Latin term used to reflect the meaning of Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 5. When a Christians sins his Ra - inferior, wicked, injurious the greek word ⌦μ⇤⌦ - logizomai - mean- Ephesians 2:3b legal standing before God uv*p* ing “to reckon”, or “charge to one’s account”. Surely I was sinful at birth, does not change (Rom 8:1) Pasha - revolt, rebelion sinful from the time my mother conceived me. but fellowship is broken /w)u* Psalm 51:5 Three Biblical Imputations (1 Jn 3:21) & discipline is Awon - crooked, iniquity, guilt Even from birth the wicked go astray; a response of a loving God gg*v* 1. Adam’s sin imputed to all - Rom. 5:12-21 from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Shagag - to err, go astray, sin Psalm 58:3 (Heb. 12:6-10). inadvertantly 2. Man’s sin imputed to Christ - 2 Cor. 5:19 6. A believer living in persis- uv*r* 3. Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers tent sin is in danger of Rasha - wickedness, guilty - Rom. 5:12-21; 2 Cor. 5:21 Extent of Corruption physical death. One par- hu*t* ticular sin is not defined Taah - to wander, go astray Four Views of Imputation Every part of our being is affected by sin. Our here (1 Jn. 5:16-17). intellect, emotions, desires and will are corrupt. 7. The “unpardonable sin” 1. No imputation from Adam. Each man is New Testament Words Our heart - the center of desire and decision - is seems to be a specific case free and only guilty because of his own sin. desperately corrupt - Jer. 17:9. There is nothing of malicious and willful re- ⇤μ⇤⇣✓⌦⇤* 2. The tendency to sin is inherited from Adam. good in us that merits God’s favor - Rom. 7:18. jection of the work of the Harmatia - sin, missing the mark Each man is guilty because of his own sin. Holy Spirit through Christ ↵⇤↵⇥ 1. Intellect Blinded - 2 Cor. 4:4 Kakas - bad, moral wrong 3. Every person is seminally present in & attributing it to Satan 2. Mind depraved - Rom. 1:21, 28 (Mt. 12:31-32). It may ✏ ⇣⇥ Adam and thus guilty. Poneros - evil, moral evil 4. Adam is a representative of the human race and 3. Understanding inhibited - Eph. 4:18 have only been possible ⇤⌘⌥⌅⌥⌦⇤ we are guilty because of his sin - Rom. 5:12-21. 4. Conscience corrupted - Titus 1:15 when Christ was on earth. Asebea - godless, apostate 5. Will enslaved - Rom. 6:20 ⌥⇧⇥ Objections Answered Enochos - guilt, worthy of death 6. Total Being Sinful - Rom. 1:18-3:20 REMEDY ⇤⌃⇤↵⌦⇤ 1. Without imputation we would still be Adakia - unrighteousness guilty because of our own personal sin(s). (Solution) ⇤⇤μ⇥ 2. Without the pattern of imputation of sin Total Depravity Anomos - lawless, iniquity ✏⇤⇤⌅⇤✓ ⇥ from Adam established the imputation of Sinfulness extends to each & every person 1. The remedy for the guilt of Parabates - transgressor, sinner Christ’s righteousness would be unfair. (Rom. 3:23) and effects every aspect of his being imputed sin is receiving the 3. The doctrine of imputation demonstrates ✏⇤⇤◆ (Rom. 7:18) so that nothing he does - either righteousness of Christ Planao - to go astray, wander both the wisdom and grace of God. through faith - Eph. 2:4-10; ✏⇤⇣⇤✏✓◆μ⇤ 4. The doctrine of imputation does not good or bad - merits the favor of God or meets Rom. 5:12-21. Paraptoma - step over the line deny personal freedom. God’s standard of holiness. 2. The remedy for personal sin is confession - 1 Jn 1:9. The Gospel Message The Acomplishments Soteriology of Salvation Now, brothers, I want to remind you of The Doctrine of Salvation the gospel I preached to you, How shall we escape if we ignore which you received and on which INTER-DEPENDENT such a great salvation? you have taken your stand. Hebrews 2:3 1 Corinthians 15:1 Substitutionary Atonement Christ died for our sins (in relation to Sin’s Penalty) THE INITIATION THE RESPONSE Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 2:24 (1 Cor 15:3-4a) Redemption •according to the Scriptures (15:3b) OF GOD OF MAN •Proof: Burial (15:4a) (in relation to Sin’s Bondage) Christ was raised Gal 3:13; 1 Col 6:20 But God demonstrates his own love for us For it is by grace you have been saved, Forgiveness from the dead in this: While we were still sinners, through faith —and this not from yourselves, (1 Cor 15:4b-8) Christ died for us. it is the gift of God — not by works, (in relation to Sin’s Offense) •according to the Scriptures (15:4b) Romans 5:8 so that no one can boast. Eph 1:7; Col 2:13 •Proof: Appearances (15:5-8) Common Grace Ephesianss 2:8-9 Reconciliation “Grace” (in relation to Man’s Alienation) “God’s general care for all.” Col 1:21-22; 2 Cor 5:18-19 Matt 5:45; Acts 14:17; Ps 145:8-9 “The unmerited favor of God through which Propitiation The Order of Salvation •Not redemptive - Rom 1:20• we get what we do not deserve” (in relation to God’s Justice) Election/Predestination Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2;4:10 And those he predestined, “Faith” he also called; those he called, “God’s choice of some for salvation” he also justified; those he justified, Eph 1:3,5; Rom 9:11; 2 Tm 1:9 “The appropriation of God’s provision by trust.” Justification he also glorified. •of persons/not facts• Eph 2:8; John 3:16; 5:24; 17:3 (Legally) Romans 8:30 •not on the basis of faith• •esp. John whose purpose Temporal Order •not on the basis of good deeds• is evangelistic (20:31) •Provision•Response•Transformation• Calling Romans: Doctrinal Treatise on Gospel (God) (Me) (Us) General Call to All (Mt 22:14;1Tim 2:3-4) (4:21-22) •My sin imputed to Christ Biblical Order Effective Call of Elect (Rom 8:30) “Not by Works” 2 Cor 5:21 •Predestined•Called• Heretical Additions to Man’s Response •Justified•Glorified• Regeneration (Romans 8:30) “Impartation of New Life” •Faith + sorrow over sin (part of conviction) Logical Order Titus 3:5; Eph 2:5; Jn 3:3-5 •Faith + baptism (symbol of commitment) •Election•Call• Adoption •Faith + confession (expression of faith) •Christ’s Righteousness imputed to •Faith + surrender (subsequent result of growth) Me •Regeneration•Conversion• “New relationship as God’s Sons” •Justification• •Faith + a changed life (expected outcome) Rom 3:21-4:5; 5:19 Rom 8:15,23; Gal 4:5-6; Eph 1:5 •Sanctification•Glorification• •Faith + fruit (can’t be quantified)“ Adoption (Familially) Atonement Theories Rom 8:15,23; Gal 4:5-6; Eph 1:5 The Security of the Believer Peace Ransom to Satan - Origen (Relationally) Recapitulation - Iraneus I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Peace with God Satisfaction - Anselm John 10:28 Rom 5:1 Moral Influence - Abelard Assurance of Salvation Eternal Security Peace with Others Example - Socinius, Liberalism “Confidence that one has eternal life.” Once the gift of salvation is genuinely Eph. 2:14-18 Governmental - Grotius •Objectively based on the promise of God received, it cannot be lost Dramatic Victory - Aulen Jn 5:24; 1 Jn 5:1,13 Jn 10:28-30; Rom 8:31-39 Revelatory - Barth •Subjectively based on our maturity and growth Substitution - Calvin 1 Jn 2:3,9-11,29; 3:14; 2 Cor 5:17 Soteriology Soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, must be the grandest theme in the Scriptures. It embraces all of time as well as eternity past and future. It relates in one way or another to all of mankind, without exception. It even has ramifications in the sphere of angels. It is the theme of both the Old and New Testaments. It is personal, national and cosmic. And it centers in the greatest Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. Charles Ryrie Romans: The Righteousness of God The Roman Church GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS… 1. The Roman church was not Valued Needed Imputed Developed Validated Demonstrated started by Paul. It is likely made up of converts from Pentecost who later returned to Rome (Acts 2:10).

2. Tensions between Christian andAD non-Christian 49-54 Jews increased until Claudius expelled all Jews in 49 AD. 3. All Jews were allowed to return to the city in 54 AD; but the tensions remained.

4. The church in Rome grew Unity (15:1-13) signiﬁcantly with leaders such as Phoebe, Priscilla & Aquilla, perhaps Mark and later (after the letter) Peter. 5. Paul is writing to this church in order to establish a home baseAD connection 56-57 for his mis- sion work in Spain. 6. Paul is likely in Corinth when he writes Romans after Abraham: The Father of Faith Abraham: The Father The Condemnation of the Jews God's Past Relationship to Israel The Fruits of Righteousness The Fruits Righteous Living in the World:

gathering a collection to Relationship to Israel God's Future Righteous Living in the Church: The Condemnation of the Gentiles God's Present Relationship to Israel God's Present God's Righteousness through Faith God's Righteousness through The Condemnation of All Humanity take to the Jerusalem church Christ God's Righteousness through (cp. 15:26-28; Acts 20:1-3). Salutation and Greeting Epistolary Prescript: Thanksgiving for a Faithful Reputation Thanksgiving for a Faithful Paul's Prayer and Desire to Visit Rome to Visit Paul's Prayer and Desire Righteous Living with Weaker Brothers: Righteous Living with Weaker Liberty (14:1-12) Peace (14:13-23) Liberty (14:1-12) Peace The Triumph of Grace over the Power of Sin the Power of Grace over The Triumph The Triumph of Grace over the Power of Law the Power of Grace over The Triumph Spiritual Gifts (12:1-8) Relationships (12:9-21) Spiritual Citizens (13:1-7) Neighbors (13:8-14) Imputation: Adam - Sin / Christ Righteousness THEOLOGY IN ROMANS and Benediction Greetings Personal Epistolary Postscript: The Triumph of Grace in the Power of the Holy Spirit of Grace in the Power The Triumph The Righteousness of God through Faith The Righteousness of God through 1. Natural Revelation (1:19-20) 3 3 4 5 5 1:1-7 1:8 1:9-15 1:16-17 1:18-32 2:1-3:8 3:9-20 6:1-23 7:1-22 8:1-39 9:1-33 10:1-21 11:1-33 12:1-21 13:1-14 14:1-15:13 15:14-16:27 2. Hamartiology - sin (3:9-20) 21-26 27-31 1-25 1-11 12-21 3. Justification (3:21-24;4:25) Salutation Sin Salvation Sanctification Security Service 4. Propitiation (3:25) 5. Justification by Faith (4:1-25) 6. Original Sin (5:12) Probatio Peroratio Narratio Exordium Postscript 7. Union with Christ (6:1-10) Prescript Propositio 8. Life in the Spirit (8:1-39) Paul wrote to the believers in Rome setting forth a clear, systematic, and compelling presentation of the gospel 9. Election/Sovereignty (9-11) message which he proclaimed–A Righteousness of God which comes through Faith in Christ–in order to unite the 10. Spiritual Gifts (12:3-8) church in preparation for his visit, and gain their support as he travelled to take the gospel to Spain. 11. Christian Liberty (14:1-15:13) Ken Wilson 2020 Romans: The Righteousness of God The Roman Church GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS… 1. The Roman church was not Valued Needed Imputed Developed Validated Demonstrated started by Paul. It is likely made up of converts from Pentecost who later returned to Rome (Acts 2:10).

2. Tensions between Christian andAD non-Christian 49-54 Jews increased until Claudius expelled all Jews in 49 AD. 3. All Jews were allowed to return to the city in 54 AD; but the tensions remained.

2400 Gospel Opportunities {Romans 3:21-26 is} the chief point, and the very central place of the whole Epistle, and of the whole Bible.

Martin Luther Rarely does the Bible bring together is so few verses so many important theological ideas: the righteousness of God, justiﬁcation, the shift in salvation history, faith, sin, redemption, grace, propitiation, forgiveness, and the justice of God. Doug Moo Most scholars rightly acknowledge this paragraph as the heart of the epistle. Romans 3:21-26 turns the corner in the argument. The saving righteousness of God is not available through the law, but has been revealed in Jesus Christ and his atoning death. Those who put their faith in him are thereby right with God. Thomas Schreiner Paul has been waiting for this moment since announcing the theme of the letter in 1:16-17. There he had said that he was not ashamed to announce the good news of what God has done in Christ even in Rome because the good news had the power to bring salvation to everyone who believed, whatever their social or ethnic location. Frank Theilman “But now”, Paul suddenly breaks in, God himself has intervened. “Now” seems to have a threefold reference—logical (the developing argument), chronological (the present time) and eschatological (the new age has arrived). After the long dark night the sun has risen, a new day has dawned, and the world is ﬂooded with light. John Stott This may possibly be the most important single paragraph ever written.

Leon Morris There are no more wonderful words in all of scripture than just these two, “But now.”

Martin Lloyd Jones Some Big Important Theological Words

• Gospel: “announced good news” • Justiﬁcation: “declared not guilty, acquitted” • Redemption: “purchased from bondage/slavery” • Propitiation: “satisfaction of a consequence” Romans 3:21-26 The Good News of the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον)

Romans 3:21-22 The Good News of the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: Romans 3:21-22 The Good News of the Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον)

• Content: The righteousness of God is available to us.

• Epistemology: OT Prediction & Foreshadowing

• Means: Faith in Jesus Christ

Romans 3:21-22 Jewish Holy Calendar: Leviticus 23 Spring Summer Fall Barley Harvest Wheat Harvest Fruit Harvest March/April May/June Sept/Oct Unleavened Bread Pentecost Trumpets Booths Nissan 15-22 Sivan 7 Tishri 1 Tishri 15-22 Passover First Fruits Atonement Nissan 14 Nissan 17 Tishri 10

Resurrection Rapture Living with Death of of Christ Birth of Church Removal God Christ 1 Cor. 15:20-23 of Church 1 Thes. 4:16 of Sin 1 Thes. 4:16 1 Cor. 5:7 Acts 2 1 Thes. 4:16 The Righteousness of God is “revealed”… (φανερόω)

• God is righteous and sin is an oﬀense to him.

• God is righteous in judging us for our sin.

• God’s righteousness is available to us in Christ.

Romans 3:21-22 The Good News of the Gospel (available to all)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: Romans 3:21-22 Justiﬁcation (δικαιόω)

Romans 3:21-22 Justiﬁcation (δικαιόω)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift (freely), through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:23-24a Justification is a legal or forensic term, belonging to the law courts. Its opposite is condemnation. Both are the pronouncement of a judge. In a Christian context they are the alternative eschatological verdicts which God the judge may pass on judgment day. So when God justifies sinners today, he anticipates his own final judgment by bringing into the present what belongs properly to the last day.

John Stott The qualifying phrase “freely, by his grace” emphasizes that when God declared believers righteous he does not do so as a response to any metaphorical payment they might give him. The adverb “freely” is a ﬁnancial term meaning “without payment of money,” and the metaphorical money to which it refers here is the “works of the law” in 3:20. Frank Theilman Fundamental to the gospel of salvation is the truth the saving initiative from beginning to end belongs to God the Father. No formation of the gospel is biblical which removes the initiative from God and attributes it to either us or even to Christ.

John Stott Justiﬁcation (δικαιόω)

• Meaning: Right Standing before God

• Origin: The Gracious Gift of God

• Means: Redemption in Christ Jesus

Romans 3:21-22 Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις)

Romans 3:24b Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 3:24b Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις)

• Meaning: Free from Enslavement to Sin

• Means: The Work of Jesus Christ

Romans 3:24b Redemption has the basic sense of “to liberate by paying a price.” In Paul's day the words referred to the way in which people could pay money to buy the freedom of slaves or prisoners of war.

Doug Moo How is it possible for the righteous God to declare the unrighteous to be righteous without either compromising his righteousness or condoning their unrighteousness? That is our question. God’s answer is the cross. John Stott Atonement/Propitiation/Satisfaction (ἱλαστήριον)

Romans 3:25-26 Atonement/Propitiation/Satisfaction (ἱλαστήριον)

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 was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justiﬁer of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26 Passed over, dismissal (πάρεσις) The term “passed over” is often used in legal contexts to indicate a dismissal of charges against someone in order to avoid a trial. When this word is combined with the word for “proof” (ἔνδειξις) it is abundantly clear that Paul is thinking in legal terms as he describes the salvation of sinners by God’s grace. Romans 3:25 Atonement/Propitiation/Satisfaction (ἱλαστήριον)

• Meaning: God’s Justice and Wrath is Satisﬁed

• Means: Faith in the Death of Jesus Christ

• Need: The Righteousness of God

Romans 3:25-26 Atonement/Propitiation/Satisfaction (ἱλαστήριον)

• Meaning: God’s Justice and Wrath is Satisﬁed

• Means: Faith in the Death of Jesus Christ

• Need: The Righteousness of God

Romans 3:25-26 In it's only other use in the New Testament (Heb. 9:5) and in 21 of its 27 occurrences in the LXX, hilesterion refers to what the NIV calls “the atonement cover” (what used to be called the mercy seat) the cover of the ark where sacriﬁcial blood was sprinkled as a means of propitiating God's wrath. Doug Moo Ark of Covenant Altar of Burnt Offering

Altar of Incense Footstool

(כַפֹרת) King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. 1 Chronicles 28:2 Footstool (כַפֹרת)

Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying, ‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.’ Psalm 132:7-8 All Intentional Sins (Day of Atonement) Unintentional Communal Sins (High Priest and Community)

Unintentional Individual Sins (Leader and Individual) Meaning: Day of Atonement The essence of the day, Yom Kippur as it is called, was that the blood of the sacrificial animal was sprinkled on the so-called mercy seat in the holy of holies by the high priest to make atonement for himself and for the people, and the sins of the people were placed on the scapegoat that was taken out into the wilderness to die, signifying the complete removal of sin and defilement from the people.

Allen Ross atone, appease, pacify, expiate (כַפֶר) This important word carries the idea of appeasement or satisfying the wrath or anger of God because of sin. God’s reaction to sin is removed so that fellowship between God and man can begin or begin again. Forgiveness and fellowship is the result because the barrier of sin has been removed. Christ, in his sacriﬁce on the cross, is now the place where God takes care of his people’s sin. The meaning, then, is broad, encompassing the acts of both expiation and propitiation.

Doug Moo For everyone who has faith in what God has done through it, Christ's sacriﬁcial death terminates the justiﬁed wrath of God against sin. His death, therefore, is the place of reconciliation between God and human beings. Frank Theilman Good News

Redemption in Christ transforms the convicted into the pardoned.

Romans 3:21-26 The righteousness of God powerfully saves people from God's wrath but maintains God’s fairness and impartiality through the sacriﬁcial and atoning death of Christ. Like the mercy seat in the biblical tabernacle, Christ death on the cross was the “place” where God’s necessary and justiﬁed wrath against human rebellion ceased, allowing reconciliation between God and his people. Frank Theilman Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

Eugene Peterson To summarize Romans 3:21-25: the standard of righteousness has never been anything less than moral perfection, which no mere mortal can ever achieve. Therefore, our only hope is to be declared righteous by the gracious gift of God. We received this gift through faith in Jesus Christ, who took our punishment on our behalf, thus satisfying the heavenly courts requirement that justice be served. Chuck Swindoll NEXT STEPS Embrace the Good News of God’s gracious provision in Christ Jesus. Share the Good News with your lips and your life.