If you've ever seen a raw gemstone you know that it can be not very interesting or beautiful to look at. But when someone takes the time to cut and polish the stone, it can become very beautiful and amazing. This chapter (and others in the letter to the Romans) has some hard to understand terms but when one takes the time to dig in and understand them you can find some amazing and beautiful gems!
Propitiation - what is that?
One such term is "propitiation" in verse 25 ("whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" - ESV). In the context of verses 23-24 ("For there is no distinction: 23 for 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,"-ESV) we see that Paul is saying that
Propitiation - what is that?
One such term is "propitiation" in verse 25 ("whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" - ESV). In the context of verses 23-24 ("For there is no distinction: 23 for 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,"-ESV) we see that Paul is saying that
- We (Jews and gentiles (non-Jews)) have all sinned
- We don't live up to God's requirements - his glory. Not only that but we also then miss being able to see, reflect and experience God's glory - we are separated from him because of sin.
- But because he loves us he gives us a gift - being justified (another big term meaning that we have been declared righteous or as some have said we have been declared "just if I'd" never sinned)
- Justification comes through redemption (meaning we were purchased back from our prison of death and sin) by what Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection
- God put forward Jesus as a propitiation (a sacrifice that turns away wrath) by the blood of Jesus.
Propitiation versus Atoning Sacrifice
Some argue that the term "propitiation" isn't quite an accurate translation because in common English, it implies a deity that is wrathful and vengeful and has a thirst for blood. This certainly isn't accurate as we look at the context since God is the one who is going out of his way to sacrifice himself and give himself up for us. The NIV translates this word as "atoning sacrifice" which is perhaps a better choice. Atonement and "atone" come from putting together "at" and "one" and was "created" by William Tyndale when translating the first New Testament into English and there wasn't an English word that held the correct meaning. Literally it means that we were brought into a condition of peace with God - being "at one" with him - because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
God's Justice
The reason is this 1) we have sinned and our sin hurts not just us but others 2) God is completely just and cannot leave wickedness go unpunished. It would be an injustice to let a murderer/rapist go free with no punishment. So how can God be both "just" and proclaim us guiltless with no need for punishment ("justify")? (this is the question that Paul asks and answers in verse 26). The reason is this: Jesus became a substitutionary (atoning) sacrifice for our sins. He paid the penalty and took the punishment and turned away the wrath of the punishment. Therefore God can be both completely just and the justifier of the one who puts their faith in Jesus.
And as Paul further says, we cannot boast because it is nothing that we did to achieve salvation or righteous but it was a free gift that God gives to us when we put our trust completely in Jesus! That is an amazing gift and a beautiful set of jewels of God's wisdom! Thank you Father for your indescribable gift!
I also thank God Jesus Christ for giving me the free gift that I can be righteous and saved through faith in Him.
ReplyDeleteI have a question: this chapter and others mention that righteousness and salvation from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than observing the law. Does this mean observing the law is not as important as having faith in Jesus, so it is fine not to observe the law perfectly? What attitude we should have towards observing the law as a Christian?
Good questions! The struggle between faith and the law are ones that most struggle somewhat with. First off, yes, faith in Jesus is more important than observing the law, because faith in Jesus will save us by the work of Jesus on our behalf. We cannot gain life by observing the law because we all sin and cannot completely obey the law.
ReplyDeleteSecond, it is important to understand that different things are meant by "the law" in different contexts. The primary meaning that Paul is contrasting to is the Mosaic law, the set of moral and ceremonial obligations in the covenant God established with his people and that whoever obeys these laws completely will gain life/live by them (Lev 18:5). When Jesus came, he established a new covenant through his blood (Lk 22:20) and as Paul describes, entry into that covenant comes by having faith in Jesus Christ. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't moral obligations ("laws") that are a part of the new covenant in Jesus. Jesus clearly established the two great commandments (Love the Lord your God, Love your neighbor as yourself - Matt 22:37-38) and gave others such as in Matt 5-7 etc. Paul contrasts the law with the "law of the Spirit" - Rom 8:2.
In Romans 6:1, Paul takes up this very question when he asks "Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?" and he emphatically answers "By no means!" In 6:11-12 he says that we should count ourselves dead to sin but alive to Christ and that we shouldn't let sin reign in our mortal bodies to obey its evil desires. So we are to obey Christ's moral law. The big difference is a recognition that 1) we cannot obey the law by ourselves. We have no hope of salvation except by the free gift of forgiveness that is given by Jesus when we surrender our life to him. 2) our obedience to Jesus comes by the power of the Spirit as we submit to the Holy Spirit and he enables us to obey and thus be children of God.
So we should not obey the law thinking that by our obedience we will be saved or earn favor with God, because we cannot. But we should obey the law in humility and after surrendering our lives to Jesus, recognizing that it is he who saves us, and we his servants obey him out of love and thanksgiving for the gift of life that he gave us.
Thanks a lot for the answer!
ReplyDeleteI will be struggling a lot if I try my best to obey the law and to be a morally good man.
But through faith in Jesus and surrendering my life to God, I will not be struggling in the obedience to the law and morality, because the love of God and the Holy Spirit can lead me in the righteous way in my daily life.