Let me share another “sermonette.” In our Romans study, we’re down to me and Steve, no one else. Pray that God opens doors here for the study. Thanks.
We were studying Romans 3, and came across verse 25 in which the apostle Paul wrote:
“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.” (Romans 3:25)
I want to focus on the word “propitiation.” which means a satisfactory (or satisfying) atonement. As I went over this, I wanted to make clear what this means to us as Christians. Suppose, in the context of a church meeting, I publicly insult you before all the people. Your feelings, of course, are hurt. Then the Lord convicts my heart. I come to you, admitting I was wrong, and ask you, “What do I need to do to make things right?” You then tell me, since I insulted you publicly, admit I was wrong. Moreover, since I said one bad thing about you, to make it right I now have to say three good things about you.
So, I go to the church meeting, publicly admit I was wrong, and then tell them all three praiseworthy things about you.
When I have fulfilled your terms and conditions, you are satisfied. I made things right. I have “propitiated” you. When it comes to sin, God’s terms and conditions are absolute.
“The soul that sins, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4b)
“The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a)
We deserve the Death Penalty, every last one of us. That is why Jesus had to DIE on the cross. In order to make things right, meaning, to make propitiation (to satisfy God’s holy nature and righteousness), our sins MUST be punished by death. Our sins are not merely the breaking of laws God has set up, but they are direct insults to His very nature of holiness. In other words, our sins are acts of High Treason against God Himself, personally!
When Jesus went to the cross, He bore our sins upon Himself as though He Himself had committed them.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Who has own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).
The verse just quoted, 1 Peter 2:24, actually quotes in turn from Isaiah 53, a chapter of prophecy that dealt with the coming of Jesus to die for our sins.
“Surely he [Jesus] hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)
This verse tells of how Jesus bore our sins, and how it was God “smiting” Jesus at the cross. God’s righteous anger and wrath against all our sins was directed, not at us, but at Jesus as He hung in agony on the cross.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
In this verse above, we find the part that Peter quoted. Skipping down to verse 11:
“He [the Father] shall see the travail of his [Jesus’s] soul, and shall be satisfied.” (Isaiah 53:11a)
God the Father sees the travail, or suffering of Jesus on the cross, and IS SATISFIED. Jesus’s agony and death PROPITIATED God’s holiness and righteousness.
The implications of this are far-reaching. If God is satisfied, then there is nothing else we need to do--or can do--for our salvation by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Someone may say, what about faith PLUS works?
“He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” If God is satisfied with the cross, then we can’t add works.
“But what about the sacraments?” someone might ask.
Isaiah says, “He shall see...and shall be satisfied.” No need then for sacraments.
“But what about this, or that, or the other thing?” the person might ask. “What about baptism?”
Isaiah says, “He shall see...and shall be satisfied.”
God sees the agony and death of Jesus on the cross as clearly as if it just now happened. He sees it, and is satisfied. There is nothing we should, or can, do to add, improve or help.
Chorus from the hymn, “Jesus Paid It All”:
Jesus paid it all,
All to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Jesus’s work of redemption is written in His blood for an everlasting covenant. All who come to Him in faith find forgiveness and eternal life. God is SATISFIED!
Are you satisfied that Jesus paid it all?
If not, come to God by faith in Jesus Christ, and be welcomed into a new Eternal Home. Amen!
Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Paul
