( Rom 3:24)“ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness….(26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”  Why the stressing of the declaration of “His righteousness”? A judge is not righteous who does not hold those before him accountable. God is righteous to justify (forgive the sin) because the sin was paid by another. God remains righteous.

 (Rom 3:25)  “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”  The last part of this verse proves “propitiation” speaks of the sacrifice upon the altar. Before the crucifixion of Jesus, when God saw the blood, the sacrifice, it appeased Him and He restrained His judgment knowing that the true sacrifice was coming – His Son bearing our sins upon the cross. I say, “You are wonderful, merciful, loving. You are my Savior!”

  (Rom 3:25)  “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,…”   The word “propitiation” literally speaks of the sacrifice upon the altar.  Sin had to be paid by blood beginning with Adam’s, all the way through the ministry of the Lord Jesus to the cross itself. It is an appeasement of justice for “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). This is what Jesus did for you and me.  He bore our judgment so that we might live forever! 

WATER   (Rom 3:25)“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,…”  “Set forth”: the God of universe has sent Jesus, gave Him in payment for our sins, raised Him from the dead, and now “singles Him out” as the means and only means of forgiveness and everlasting life. (Act_4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

(Rom 3:24)  “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”   To “redeem” is to buy back to oneself. The price paid, the act,  is called “redemption”. The Bible says the price of the redemption from man’s sin was Jesus’ blood: (Col_1:14)  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”  I ask you, “Can you still cling to your sins knowing of the price paid to free you from them?”

(Rom 3:24)  “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”   Whenever you see the word “just”, understand it is speaking of one’s standing before the Judge of the earth. It is a judicial term. To be just is to be found innocent of a crime. So, because of the blood of Jesus, the repentant sinner is forgiven, put in Jesus, and thus pronounced before God’s holy throne, innocent of breaking the laws of holiness!

(Rom 3:24)“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”  Your sin condemns you before God, but the action of faith can move you through grace (favor God will bestow even though you do not deserve it) to be saved. Will you turn your back upon your sinful life and be saved? 

 (Rom 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Add to this, (12) “…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  You are I look at the outward and judge the actions of others by ourselves. Wrong standard: you, me, others, are judge by the standard of perfection – the Person of Jesus Christ. Yes, we fall “way” short of the glory of God. The standard is perfection from birth to death, not here and there, off and on. God’s holiness demanded perfection to enter His presence. We could never achieve that – so Jesus lived perfectly and died in our place. At the salvation experience God places the holiness of Jesus upon us so that we can enter His presence.

(Rom 3:22) “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”   Faith: not  the acknowledging in the mind as true, but acting, responding to that truth. In this case, the act is the response of heart that says, “I’m sorry for what my sin cost the Lord Jesus your Son. Please forgive me and save my soul.” You see, the truth needs to affect the heart: (Rom 10:10) “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;”  The heart will say, “I want Jesus more than the sin.”

(Rom 3:22) “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”   Faith. How is it that some can speak of having faith but lack the heart of genuine salvation: the change of heart that comes through the new birth. Reason: a misunderstanding of the word, “faith”. They see faith as believing the words spoken. No. Bible faith is not only believing but acting upon that which is believed.  More on this subject tomorrow.