God Set Things Right

July 17, 2016 Background Scripture: Romans 3 Lesson Passage: Romans 3:21 – 31 In last week’s lesson we discussed the struggle that humanity has endured over the ages due to the power of sin. We noted the universal nature of the struggle and the consequences of sin. Given that backdrop, this week’s lesson is nothing but good news! And all of us can use some good news these days. Since all people have been found guilty of sin as evidenced by the struggle, all people are eligible to receive God’s gracious solution for the problem. God simply asks that we put our faith in the saving power of the blood of Jesus to remove our sin and to bring us in right standing (relationship) with Him. What we cannot make right on our own because of the power of sin, God sets it right for us. That’s the good news! Jesus paid the price for our redemption by laying down his sinless life as an offering to God. But we must accept Jesus’ vicarious death in our stead as a free gift from God in order to receive this gracious gift. We sometimes simplify this by stating that Jesus died to pay the price for our sin. However, the word “propitiation” gives the more complete meaning of what Jesus did. Jesus’ atoning death on Calvary’s cross completely satisfies God in regards to a person’s sin if the person accepts Christ’s death as being in their stead. Jesus is our substitute. He received the punishment for our sins that we deserved. This is the only provision God has made available for a sinner to be in right standing with Him. The human struggle under the power of sin over the ages happened under the patient oversight of God who had a plan for our deliverance before he created the world. For thousands of years prophets foretold of a coming deliverer for mankind. Even angels desired to look into the plans of God. But God kept those things hidden in Him until they were revealed to us through His only begotten son, Jesus. The God who judges all sin is both just in His judgment and the justifier of all who accepts His plan of salvation. God judges sin and then rescues the believing sinner from the condemnation wrought by sin. There are no actions a person can ever take to save himself. All human actions combined would never bring about “propitiation” absent the atoning death of Jesus. No one can boast of anything they have done to secure their own salvation. No mere human effort can satisfy the wrath of God against sin. We must place all of our confidence in Jesus—and him alone if we are going to be made right with God. The law is very explicit: The soul that sins shall die. Only faith in Jesus’ death is accepted by God as the atoning price for a person’s sin. In His justice, God upholds the law as righteousness. Therefore, sin is properly judged and punishment is executed. However, through His grace, God accepts a person’s faith in Jesus Christ as righteousness. All sin is against the holiness of God. Sin makes all things wrong in God’s eyes. In Christ, God set things right. Robert C. Hudson July 2, 2016