(24)  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (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; (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 3:24-26

Explanation:

I want to talk about three terms which we find in these verses.

1. Justified.

We are justified, that is declared righteous, based on God’s unmerited favor towards us based on the fact that Jesus Christ bought the right to declare us as righteous by His blood on the cross. 

2. Propitiation.

God could legally dismiss our case because Jesus Christ became the “propitiation” for our sins.  Propitiation means “wrath bearing sacrifice”.  So, because God poured out His wrath for our sin on Jesus as He died on the cross. All this was done by the forbearance, patience, and longsuffering of God.

3. Righteousness

Righteousness is rightness and right standing with God.  Part of God’s motivation in doing this for us was to declare His righteousness.  God is completely righteous.  He is pure, holy, innocent and completely free from sin.  It is on this basis that God could accept Christ’s sacrfice as a proptitation.  In 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul said it this way,

(21)  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

We can be credited with Christ’s righteousness while He took on our sin and it’s punishment.  How does this happen? It happens “through faith in His blood”.  We can’t earn it.  We don’t deserve it.  It is graciously given to us by trusting in Christ alone for that forgiveness.

Application:

We can be saved through faith in Christ.

We should be grateful for Christ’s death for us.

We should praise and worship God for His righteousness.

We should live our lives pursuing righteousness in response.

We should tell others that their sins can be forgiven through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

Inspiration:

Are you saved?

Are you grateful?

Worship God today for His righteousness, His sacrifice, and His blood!