RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
ROMANS 3:21-31
THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHERE SHORT SIMPLE WORDS CAN HAVE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. CONSIDER THE HUSBAND IN THE WAITING ROOM AT THE HOSPITAL GOES BANANAS WHEN HE HEARS THE DOCTOR SAY “IT’S A BOY” OR “IT’S A GIRL”, OR THE SHEER LOOK OF TERROR IF THE DOCTOR UNEXPECTANTLY SAYS “TWINS”.
SOLDIERS WAIT IN NERVOUS ANTICIPATION FOR THE COMMAND TO “FIRE” AND THE BATTLE BEGINS. A YOUNG MAN ON ONE KNEE AWAITING AN ANSWER TO A PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE CAN BRING EXTACY IN HIS LIFE IF SHE SAYS “YES”, OR GREAT DESPAIR IF SHE SAYS “NO”.
THE TWO SHORT WORDS AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR PASSAGE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. “BUT NOW” INDICATES A TRANSITION IN PAUL’S THOUGHT. IT IS A WONDERFUL TRANSITION FROM SPEAKING ABOUT THE UNISVERSAL GUILT AND ENSLAVEMENT TO SIN, TO THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM THAT CAN BE FOUND THROUGH SALVATION IN CHRIST. IT TELLS US OF THE PLAN FOR THAT SALVATION, AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO ATTAIN IT.
WE KNOW THAT PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS IS A GENERAL LETTER OF INTRODUCTION, MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN HIS OTHER LETTERS BECAUSE HE HAS NEVER BEEN TO THE CHURCH IN ROME. HE WILL DEAL WITH A VARIETY OF ISSUES IN THIS LETTER, SOME OF WHICH WERE A REALITY IN THE CHURCH IN ROME, AND OTHERES WERE SITUATIONS THAT HE FACED IN THE WORLD AROUND HIM.
HIS POSITION ON SIN AND SALVATION HAD TO BE PRESENTED CLEARLY TO THE PEOPLE OF ROME, AND HE CHOSE TO INCLUDE THAT IN HIS LETTER AS OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. HE MOVES INTO THIS KEY ISSUE RIGHT AFTER HIS WORDS OF INTRODUCTION, AND WILL DEAL WITH ISSUES INVOLVING SALVATION UP TO AND INCLUDING CHAPTER FIVE.
PAUL WAS AN EVANGELISTIC MISSIONARY. HE WAS INTERESTED IN STARTING CHURCHES AND PRESENTING THE “GOOD NEWS” OF SALVATION IN CHRIST TO ALL WHO WOULD LISTEN.
THE PROBLEM THAT HE FACED IN DEALING WITH THE SIN ISSUE WAS LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF A MISUNDERSTOOD BELIEF. THE JEWS BELIEVED THEY WERE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, AND OVER TIME THEIR BELIEF CHANGED TO ALSO BE GOD’S PRIVILEGED PEOPLE. THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD SPECIAL STATUS AS THEY HAD THE LAW, AND THE OUTWARD SIGNS OF SALVATION, AND THEREFORE WERE SUPERIOR TO THE REST OF THE WORLD. THEY BELIEVED THAT WHAT THEIR HERITAGE WOULD NOT COVER, THEIR WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WOULD.
GENTILES ON THE OTHER HAND HAD NO SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUE GOD. ROME WAS A CITY FILLED WITH TEMPLES AND GODS OF EVERY SORT. EVEN ROMAN EMPERORS WERE CONSIDERED DEVINE. SACRIFICES WERE MADE TO GENTILE GODS TO WAYLAY THEIR ANGER, WOO THEIR AFFECTION, AND TO WIN THEIR FAVOR.
THE GENTILES WERE SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THE TRUE GOD WOULD OFFER ANYTHING FREE, THAT HE WOULD PROVIDE HIS OWN SACRIFICE, AND TURN AWAY HIS OWN WRATH, AND THAT ONCE TURNED AWAY, IT WOULD STAY AWAY.
PAUL USES ROMANS 1:18-3:20 TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE GUILT OF SINNERS. HE SHOCKED THE JEWS BY TELLING THEM THAT WHILE THEY WERE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, THEY WERE STILL SINNERS, THAT THEY HAD NO SPECIAL STATUS AND WERE EQUALLY IN NEED OF THE GIFT OF SALVATION AS WERE THE GENTILES.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THINGS HAVEN’T CHANGED THAT MUCH OVER THE YEARS. HOW MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY ARE IN A RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS WERE CHRISTIANS, OR BELIEVE THEY HAVE SPECIAL STATUS IN THE EYES OF GOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF A CHURCH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS?
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY BELIEVING THAT THE GIFT OF SALVATION IS OFFERED FREELY TO HUMANITY. ONE OF HUMANITY’S MOST DIFFICULT TASKS IS TO ACCEPT RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A GIFT. WITH EVERY FIBRE OF OUR MORAL BEING WE WANT TO BE IN CONTROL OF IT, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO EARN IT.
OSWALD CHAMBERS WROTE:
“THERE IS A CERTAIN PRIDE IN PEOPLE THAT CAUSES THEM TO GIVE AND TO GIVE, BUT TO COME AND ACCEPT A GIFT IS ANOTHER THING. I WILL GIVE MY LIFE TO MARETYRDOM; I WILL DEDICATE MY LIFE TO SERVICE. I WILL DO ANYTHING. BUT DO NOT HUMILIATE ME TO THE LEVEL OF THE MOST HELL-DESERVING SINNER, AND TELL ME THAT ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”
THE DIFFICULT THING THAT PAUL HAD TO DO, WAS TO GET THE BOTH THE JEWS AND GENTILES TO FORGET THEIR HISTORY AND LEARN ABOUT THE NEW ERA OF SALVATION. THEY WERE A PEOPLE WHO WERE AS ONE WRITER SAID “THEOLOGICALLY DISFUNCTIONAL.”
COMPARE IT TO RENOVATING A HOME RATHER THAN BUILDING NEW. WHAT MUST HAPPEN IS THAT THE EXISTING STRUCTURE MUST BE BROKEN DOWN IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE NEW STRUCTURE TO TAKE FORM. PAUL HAD TO BREAK DOWN THE PRECONCEPTIONS OF BOTH THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES IN ORDER TO TEACH THE TRUTH ABOUT SALVATION.
PAUL WOULD DO THIS BEGINNING AT ROMANS 1:17 AND CONTINUING ALL THE WAY THROUGH ROMANS 3:20. HE WOULD PROCLAIM THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE THEOLOGICALLY BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GENTILE. HE WOULD FURTHER SAY THAT WE ALL STAND EQUALLY GUILTY IN OUR SIN BEFORE GOD, WITH NO WAY OF RESTORATION.
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND IS THE FACT THAT WE ALL STAND EQUALLY GUILTY BEFORE GOD. WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK OF NICE PEOPLE GOING TO HEAVEN AND BAD PEOPLE GOING TO HELL. THIS IDEA THOUGH IS NOT BIBLICAL. OUR SALVATION IS NOT BASED ON OUR ACTIONS BUT ON OUR FAITH.
HANDLEY MOULT AN ENGLISH BISHOP STATED:
“THE HARLOT, THE LIAR, THE MURDERER, ARE SHORT OG GOD’S GLORY, BUT SO ARE YOU. PERHAPS THEY STAND AT THE BOTTOM OF A MINE, AND YOU ON THE CREST OF AN ALP, BUT YOU ARE AS LITTLE ABLE TO TOUCH THE STARS AS THEY.”
PAUL TEACHES THAT ALL HUMANITY HAS BEEN MADE EQUAL IN THE EYES OF GOD ON THE BASIS OF THREE THINGS:
1. OUR EQUALITY IN NEED. ( WE ARE ALL GUILTY)
2. OUR EQUALITY IN WHAT WE CAN RECEIVE (REDEMPTION IS ONE
GIFT FOR ALL)
3. OUR EQUALITY IN HOW WE RECEIVE THAT GIFT (BY FAITH)
CHAPTER 3:21-31 SERVES AS A TRANSITION OF THOUGHT FOR PAUL. THE LESSON THAT PAUL TEACHES US HERE IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT SPEAK OF THE SINFULLNESS OF HUMANITY, WITHOUT SPEAKING OF THE SOLUTION TO THAT SINFULLNESS. IT IS THE EQUIVILENT OF INVITING SOMEONE TO DINNER, AND NOT ALLOWING THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE.
THIS PASSAGE IS LOADED WITH THEOLOGICAL TERMS AND CONCEPTS. PAUL, IN TWO SHORT PARAGRAPHS TAKES US TO THE TEMPLE, THE LAW COURTS, AND THE MARKETPLACE, IN HIS EFFORT TO EXPLAIN SALVATION. IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO ADEQUATELY DEAL WITH THEM ALL TODAY, AND IF NOT WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE PASSAGE ON THE 30TH.
F.F. BRUCE WRITES:
“PAUL HAS PRESSED INTO SERVICE THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW COURT (JUSTIFIED), THE SLAVE-MARKET (REDEMPTION), AND THE ALTAR (PROPITIATION) IN THE ATTEMPT TO DO JUSTICE TO THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S GRACIOUS ACT IN CHRIST. PARDON, LIBERATION, AND ATONEMENT- ALL ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO MEN AND WOMEN BY HIS INITIATIVES AND MAY BE APPROPRIATED BY FAITH.”
COMMENTATORS ARE UNANIMOUS IN THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ELEVEN VERSES.
C.E.B. CRANFIELD: “THIS IS THE CENTRE AND HEART OF THE WHOLE
OF ROMANS”.
ROBERT MOUNCE: IT IS GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS
PASSAGE IS THE MOST THEOLOGICALLY
IMPORTANT SEGMENT OF THE ENTIRE NEW
TESTAMENT.
LEON MORRIS: THIS IS POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE
PARAGRAPH EVER WRITTEN.
W. BARROWS: THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE OUGHT TO BE
REGARDED AS ONE OF THE CLIMATIC PORTIONS OF
THE WHOLE BIBLE. THE METHOD OF OUR JUSTIFIC-
ATION IS HEREIN MADE KNOWN. WE ARE TOLD
EXACTLY HOW A GUILTY SINNER CAN STAND RIGHT-
EOUS BEFORE GOD.
MARTIN LUTHER: CALLED VERSES 21-26 “THE CHIEF POINT, AND
THE VERY CENTRAL PLACE OF THE EPISTLE, AND
OF THE WHOLE BIBLE.
LET’S BEGIN OUR STUDY OF THIS PASSAGE.
ROMANS 3:21-24:
BUT NOW APART FROM THE LAW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN, TO WHICH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS TESTIFY. 22 THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE, 23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, 24 AND ALL ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME BY CHRIST JESUS
WE MADE THE CLAIM IN OUR INTRODUCTION THAT SHORT SIMPLE WORDS CAN SOMETIMES HAVE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR LIVES.
THIS IS CERTAINLY TRUE OF THE TWO WORDS THAT BEGIN VERSE 21.
“BUT NOW” ALLOWS HIS ROMAN READERS, AND OURSELVES, TO KNOW THAT PAUL IS SHIFTING TO A NEW THEME. PAUL HAS, IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS, PAINTED A DRASTIC, BUT ACCURATE AND REALISTIC, PICTURE OF THE SPIRITUAL AND MORAL CONDITION OF THE HUMAN RACE.
PAUL’S ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMAN CONDITION IS FOUND IN ROMANS 3:11-12:
THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD. 12 ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY, THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
“BUT NOW” GOD HAS INTERVENED TO INAUGURATE A NEW ERA, AND ALL WHO RESPOND IN FAITH – NOT ONLY AFTER THE CROSS, BUT AS ROMANS 4 SHOWS, BEFORE THE CROSS AS WELL, WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE NEW ERA.
PAUL INTRODUCES US TO A NEW ERA OF RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT BASED ON WORKS BUT BY FAITH.
“BUT NOW” IN THE GREEK INDICATES THAT THE TIME HAS COME, AND THE TIME OF WAITING IS OVER. THE OLD COVENANT AND THE LAW TESTIFIED TO THE FACT THAT A TIME WAS COMING WHEN THE COVENANT WOULD BE FULFILLED AND PAUL IS SAYING THAT THAT TIME WAS NOW HERE, THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST.
WHAT GREAT “BUT NOW” MOMENTS WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN SCRIPTURE.
VERY SOON A GREAT “BUT NOW” MOMENT WILL COME, WHEN PAUL TEACHES THAT THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST, AND THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR. THIS IS THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
“BUT NOW” IS THE TIME OF SALVATION. “NOW” IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR DECISION FOR CHRIST. “NOW” IS THE TIME TO SECURE YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY. “NOW” IS THE TIME TO BEING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
ANOTHER “BUT NOW” MOMENT THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, IS WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT I LEAVE THIS WORLD AND GO DIRECTLY INTO THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME THAT THOSE IN CHRIST WILL DWELL FOREVER IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE THINGS BUT ONE DAY THE TIME WILL COME AND INSTEAD OF LOOKING FORWARD WE WILL BE SAYING “BUT NOW” THE TIME HAS COME. IT IS NO WONDER DR. MARTIN LLOYD JONES WROTE:
“THERE ARE NO MORE WONDERFUL WORDS IN THE WHOLE OF SCRIPTURE THAN JUST THESE TWO WORDS, “BUT NOW.”
THE KEY QUESTION THAT PAUL WISHES TO ADDRESS IS “HOW DOES ONE ATTAIN A RIGHTEOUS STANDING BEFORE GOD, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW FOR OUR LIFE BEYOND THIS EARTH?”
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A MAJOR THEME IN PAUL’S WRITINGS. IT IS CONTAINED IN THIS BRIEF PASSAGE SEVEN TIMES IN VARIOUS GREEK FORMS, MORE IF YOU INCLUDE THE TERM “JUSTIFY” TO WHICH IT IS EQUIVILENT. YOU CAN LITERALLY SUBSTITUTE THE WORD “JUSTIFY” WHEN YOU SEE THE WORD “RIGHTEOUSNESS”, AND THE MEANING WOULD BE THE SAME.
A “RIGHTEOUS” STATE IS WHAT WE SHOULD ALL DESIRE, FOR THIS IS THE STATE IN WHICH WE WERE ORIGINALLY CREATED. AFTER GOD HAD FINISHED CREATION HE LOOKED AT ALL HE HAD CREATED AND HE STATED:
GENESIS 1:31: GOD SAW ALL THAT HE HAD MADE, AND IT WAS VERY GOOD. AND THERE WAS EVENING, AND THERE WAS MORNING—THE SIXTH DAY
THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF CREATION WAS THAT WE SHOULD REFLECT THE GLORY OF GOD.
GENESIS 1:26: THEN GOD SAID, “LET US MAKE MANKIND IN OUR IMAGE, IN OUR LIKENESS, SO THAT THEY MAY RULE OVER THE FISH IN THE SEA AND THE BIRDS IN THE SKY, OVER THE LIVESTOCK AND ALL THE WILD ANIMALS, AND OVER ALL THE CREATURES THAT MOVE ALONG THE GROUND.”
WE WERE ORIGINALLY CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. WE ENJOYED SWEET FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THIS WAS A RELATIONSHIP THAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE ETERNAL. THERE WAS NO SIN. ALL WAS AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. IT WAS THEN THEY WAY HEAVEN WILL BE FOR US WHEN WE ARE THERE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR RIGHTEOUS STATE? HOW DID SIN ENTER INTO OUR LIVES?
WHEN ADAM AND EVE ATE OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL THEY SACRIFICED THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND THE SINFUL NATURE THAT EVERYONE IS BORN WITH CAME INTO EXISTANCE.
IT WAS NOT EATING OF THE FRUIT THAT CHANGED THEM. GOD COULD HAVE SAID “DON’T GO DOWN A CERTAIN PATH” OR “DON’T WEAR THE COLOR “BLUE” AND THE SAME CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAPPEN.
WHEN THEY ATE THE FRUIT, THEY GAINED THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR NOW THEY COULD SEE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. BEFORE THEY ATE THE FRUIT THEY WERE LIVING ONLY IN “OBEDIENCE” TO GOD, AFTER THEY ATE THEY WERE NOW LIVING WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONSEQUENCES OF “DISOBEDIENCE”. THEY HAD THE “KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT WAS A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THE REDEMPTION PROVIDED BY CHRIST ENABLES US TO BE BROUGHT BACK INTO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. APART FROM THE WORK OF CHRIST WE ARE UNABLE TO REGAIN THAT RELATIONSHIP.
JAMES DENNEY WROTE:
“THERE CAN BE NO GOSPEL UNLESS THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD FOR THE UNGODLY. BUT JUST AS LITTLE CAN THERE BE ANY GOSPEL UNLESS THE INTEGRITY OF GOD’S GHARACTER CAN BE MAINTAINED. THE PROBLEM OF THE SINFUL WORLD, THE PROBLEM OF ALL RELIGION, THE PROBLEM OF GOD IN DEALING WITH A SINFUL RACE, IS HOW TO UNITE THESE TWO THINGS (THE JUSTICE OF GOD AND THE SINFULLNESS OF MAN).”
THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN HUMANITY TO ACHIEVE A GOOD STANDING BEFORE HIM AND BE DECLARED “RIGHTEOUS.” THE OLD TESTAMENT STANDARD WAS WHAT IS CALLED “THE LAW”, AND THE NEW TESTAMENT STANDARD, THE STANDARD WHICH WE LIVE UNDER, IS THE COVENANT OF GOD’S GRACE THROUGH THE ATONING WORK OF JESUS IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.
BEFORE WE LOOK AT RIGHTEOUSNESS AS PROVIDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, LET US LOOK AT FOUR ASPECTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT PAUL POINTS OUT IN THIS PASSAGE. IT WILL HELP US AS WE EXAMINE THE COVENANTS.
1. PAUL REITERATES THE REVELATION OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AS RELATES IT TO THE OLD TESTAMENT (V.21). WE’RE ABOUT TO LOOK AT THIS.
2. PAUL FOCUSES ON THE WAY IN WHICH ALL HUMANS, EQUAL IN THEIR SIN, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS ALSO TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS THR OUGH FAITH. (VV. 22-23). THIS IS PROBLEMATIC WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT SYSTEM.
3. THE SOURCE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IN THE GRACIOUS PROVISION OF CHRIST AS AN ATONING SACRIFICE.(VV. 24-25A). THIS IS NOT INCORPARATED WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT SYSTEM.
4. PAUL SHOWS HOW THE ATONEMENT NOT ONLY PROVIDES FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF SINNERS, BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE JUSTNESS OF GOD THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS (VV. 25-26).
RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD IN BOTH THE OLD ERA AND THE NEW AN INITIATED BY GOD NOT MAN. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO INITIATE OR CREATE OUR OWN “RIGHTEOUSNESS. ACCORDING TO PAUL, FOR A HUMAN TO SPEAK AUTHORITATIVELY ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS, WOULD BE LIKE AN IRATE PERSON SPEAKING ABOUT ANGER, A DESTITUTE PERSON COMMENTING ON WEALTH, OR AN ARROGANT PERSON COMMENTING ON HUMILITY.
PAUL IN VERSE 21 TELLS US THAT THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS TESTIFY TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT DO NOT PROVIDE GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. HOW CAN THIS BE?
VERSE 21 TELLS US THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD “HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN” OR “MANIFESTED” IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. WHAT PAUL IS SPEAKING OF HERE THEN, IS NOT THE WAY GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED, BUT THE WAY IT IS SHOWN. THIS IS THE DIVINE SIDE OF THE PROCESS.
ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, WHICH WOULD HAPPEN ONCE A YEAR, THE HIGH PRIEST WOULD SELECT TWO GOATS. ONE WOULD BE SLAIN AND THE HIGH PRIEST WOULD TAKE SOME OF IT’S BLOOD INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND SPRINKLE IT ON THE MERCY SEAT
(HILASTERION). THIS WOULD MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF, HIS FAMILY, AND HIS PEOPLE.
HE WOULD THEN GO TO THE LIVE GOAT, AND PLACE HIS HANDS ON IT’S HEAD, TRANSFERRING THE SINS OF HIMSELF AND HIS PEOPLE TO THAT GOAT. THE GOAT WOULD THEN BE SET FREEE OUTSIDE THE CITY, SYMBOLIZING THE TAKING AWAY OF THEIR SINS.
YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT IN LEVITICUS CHAPTER 16.
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT CONTAINED THE TABLETS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, REPRESENTING GOD’S MORAL AND RELIGIOUS STANDARDS WHICH HAD BEEN BROKEN. WHEN THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL WAS KILLED AND IT’S BLOOD SPRINKLED OVER THE COVER OF THE ARK, THE MERCY SEAT, THE BROKEN LAWS WERE ATONED FOR BY THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL, INSTEAD OF THE DEATH OF THE ISRAELITES.
LEVITICUS 17:11: FOR THE LIFE OF A CREATURE IS IN THE BLOOD, AND I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOURSELVES ON THE ALTAR; IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR ONE’S LIFE.
THIS LAW WAS GIVEN THROUGH MOSES, AND WAS SOON OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF SIN. THESE SACRIFICES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPEATED ANNUALLY, AND WERE IN FACT A FORESHADOWING OR IN ANTICIPATION OF A GREATER SACRIFICE TO COME.
THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW WOULD POINT TO THIS, BUT ALSO THE PROPHETS. THIS LITERALLY MEANT THE ENTIRETY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
RECENTLY I TAPED A PROGRAM OF “LIVING TRUTH” WHERE REV.DR. CHARLES PRICE WAS SPEAKING ON ISAIAH 53. I FOUND IT INTERESTING BECAUSE HE KEPT REFERING TO OUR PASSAGE IN ROMANS TO SUPPORT HIS THOUGHTS. LET’S REVERSE THE PROCESS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. TURN TO ISAIAH 53.
THE NAME OF CHRIST IS NOT MENTIONED IN THIS PASSAGE, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WHEN ISAIAH WIRTES THE PRONOUN “HE” THAT HE IS REFERRING TO CHRIST. LOOK WHAT “HER DOES” IN VERSES 4-12.
1. HE TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS
2. HE WAS STRICKEN OF GOD, SMITTEN BY HIM, AND AFFLICTED
3. HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES
4. THE PUNISHMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE WAS UPON HIM
5. BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED
6. THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL
7. BY OPPRESSION AND JUDGMENT HE WAS TAKEN AWAY
8. HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING
9. FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE HE WAS STRICKEN
10. HE WAS ASSIGNED A GRAVE WITH THE WICKED THOUGH HE HAD DONE NO VIOLENCE
11. IT WAS THE LORD’S WILL TO CRUSH HIM AND CAUSE HIM TO SUFFER
12. THE LORD MADE HIS LIFE A GUILT OFFERING
13. HE POURED OUT HIS LIFE UNTO DEATH, WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS. FOR HE BORE THE SIN OF MANY, AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT ISAIAH IS LOOKING FORWARD SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS TO THE TIME OF CHRIST, WHEN HE WOULD BECOME THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR US.
THIS IS WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING WHEN HE SAID THAT THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS WOULD TESTIFY TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THAT WOULD COME THROUGH THE PERFECT SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
HE LAW WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THE FINAL ANSWER. CONSIDER ABRAHAM IN GENESIS 15:16:
GENESIS 15:6: ABRAM BELIEVED THE LORD, AND HE CREDITED IT TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
THE UNIVERSAL REALITY IS THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS WOULD COME BY FAITH, AND THAT FAITH WOULD BE EXHIBITED IN THE OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW. THE LAW HAD THE FORM, BUT NOT THE POWER TO FORGIVE ON A PERMANENT BASIS, BUT IT COULD POINT TO SOMEONE WHO DID, WHICH WE WILL LOOK AT WHEN WE CONSIDER RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS WHAT THE REST OF THIS PASSAGE DEALS WITH.
