A Study Of The Book Of Romans Lesson #10 Series

Book of Romans

Lesson # 10

Romans 3:25 – 4:5

By Rev. James May

As we continue our lesson tonight on the Book of Romans, Chapter three, let me bring to your remembrance that the Apostle Paul is writing to the saints who were at Rome at the time. Among those saints at Rome there were both Jews and Gentiles who had embraced the cross of Jesus and had become part of the early church.

Now, just in case you didn’t know this already, being Born Again and becoming a disciple of Christ does not mean that you won’t face troubles, or that there will never be dissention in the ranks. Even in the early church there was some argument and division. Most of the differences were concerning the role of the Law of Moses, which we call the Ceremonial Law, and its impact upon the plan of God for the salvation of all men through faith in Jesus’ death upon the cross.

As we begin in verse 25 let us remember that it is by faith alone; faith in what Jesus did for us on Calvary that all men can be saved. We are not saved by the works of the Law, for by works no man can be saved.

Paul’s instruction concerning this matter was very clear. Yet the hearts of the Jews were so founded upon the Law that they found it very hard to let go and just believe that all of the Law was fulfilled in Christ and that obedience to the Law alone would never be enough to obtain eternal life and salvation. Paul’s whole point is that the sacrifice of the perfect blood of God’s Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon the cross, was all that was needed to fulfill every requirement of the Law.

Thus Paul says in verse 25 of chapter 3:

Romans 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;

God sent forth his only Son, Jesus, for one purpose – to make a way for man to return to God in full relationship and communication. God wanted children to bring into his household, and Jesus had to make that possible by paying the price that was required for the cleansing of sin from the hearts of those men and women who would choose to believe upon Christ and accept his sacrifice instead of trying to “earn” their own salvation through obedience to the Law.

Thus Jesus became our propitiation – first by redeeming us though the shedding of his innocent blood upon the altar of sacrifice of the cross, taking upon himself the guilt and shame of our sin. He was our blood sacrifice, fulfilling he requirements of the shedding of blood for the forgiveness and cleansing of sin.

Secondly, through his sacrifice, Jesus also made the way that we may be reconciled back to the Father in Heaven through the plan of salvation by repentance, accepting Jesus as our substitute, and then exercising faith in what he did for us. Then, by grace, the door is opened and we are able to boldly enter into the very Throne Room of God to obtain mercy in times of need.

In in far greater reality than the type and shadows of the Tabernacle of Moses, Jesus became the “Mercy Seat” where the Shekinah of God could come and meet with the souls of mortal men and accept the sacrifice of Christ’s blood so that our sin could be taken away.

Just as the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies once a year, to sprinkle the blood of the lamb upon the Mercy Seat, and God’s presence would appear as a shining, glorious light above the Mercy Seat to show that he had accepted the sacrifice after all the Law was fulfilled, so do now have the privilege of entering into the Holy of Holies in Heaven, in the spiritual realm, and there have Jesus’ blood applied to us making us acceptable to the Father. Jesus did it all!

Jesus death on the cross did not turn a hatred of God for fallen man into a love for saved man. No – God loves all men all of the time. There is no hatred of sinful men in the heart of God. God is Love – He is perfect, eternal, unchanging love and he loves all men the same whether they are lost or saved.

But even though God loved all men, there was an impossible barrier between man and Holy God so that men could not experience or know God’s great love. What Jesus did was to open the door, take away that obstacle, and allow all men to pass on to being in the very presence of that great Love! The way is open and now God awaits man’s response to exercise his faith in Jesus to approach God’s Glory and be accepted.