Romans 3:23-26
Atonement – to cover, the process of God covering our sin, and clothing us in His righteousness
What state does the Bible describe us in? “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.” – Ephesians 2:1 NIV
What does sin do to our relationship with God? “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” – Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV
Describe sinful humanity’s desperate condition, from Romans 3:23-26: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 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. 26 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 3:23-26 ESV Romans 1:1-6, 16-19 also helpful
Propitiation – the means by which sins are forgiven
The holiness of God:
1. Holiness is a moral attribute of God. Psalms 47:8
2. Humanity is designed for holiness – to reflect the nature of God. Genesis 1:26-28
Divine law = an expression of God’s holiness and purpose
Humanity violated the law of God and became sinful. Isaiah 59:2 Romans 3:23
The wrath of God = the reaction of God’s holiness against humanity’s sinfulness, Romans 1:18-19, 32
Atonement – to cover, reconciles; the appeasement of God’s wrath so that sinful humanity can be reconciled back to a holy God
Wrath vs Love
1. Both the wrath and love of God must be satisfied.
2. It is the love of God that fuels the wrath of God.
3. The cross is a display of both God’s wrath and love.
4. How does the atonement solve the dilemma between God’s wrath and God’s love?
a. God deals in holiness with sin.
b. God deals in love with the sinner.
What did Jesus do for us on the cross? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:24-25 ESV
“Humanity’s deepest need is for salvation – not just from the evil in the world, but from the evil in our own hearts.” – Purple Book
“God is committed to us no matter what. That is why He sent Jesus to earth to bring us back into relationship with Him. Jesus couldn’t have done what He did if He hadn’t been who He was!” – Ken Malmin
What did Jesus do to save us? He died to save us.
The death of Christ was:
1. Historical – Jesus really did die
2. Unique – Jesus was the only sinless human to have ever died
3. Incomparable – for this reason, Jesus’ death cannot be compared to that of any other
4. Theological – Jesus’ death has great significance
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” – 1 Corinthians 15:3
Christ’s death was an atoning death.
1. Christ died – it was an historical event
2. For our sins – He died for us all, not for Himself
3. According to the Scriptures – it was a pre-arranged plan
Some content from Ken Malmin’s PBC Atonement notes and some from the Purple Book by Rice Broocks and Steve Murrell