God’s Grace in Romans
| Christ The Eternal Mercy Seat |
We saw from our last discussion that God’s righteousness has nothing to with the law. It is not an extension of the law, but a whole new independent economy where God has justified us all by grace through the redemption that in Christ Jesus.
Then we hear;
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
God made Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins. The word translated above for propitiation is from the Greek word hilastērion, and it means mercyseat or an expiatory place or thing.
Under the old covenant, the ark of the covenant was covered by the mercyseat upon which blood was sprinkled for the atonement of sins.
This was all foreshadowing the reality we now have in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 10:1). The mercyseat is no longer in an outward temple but right on our inside, which is the reason we are called vessels of mercy (Romans 9:23).
Through “faith in his blood” we have access to the mercyseat and as long as Christ is in us, we are forever in the mercy of God — for Christ is our mercyseat.
The everlasting mercy of God is continually rejoicing over judgment and releasing pardon, peace, atonement, justification and adoption.
Observe carefully this last statement “to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
Before the death of Jesus, no one was ever truly forgiven, for the blood of bulls and of goats couldn’t take away their sins.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.Hebrews 10:4
Abraham, Moses, David all died in sin. The sacrifice of Jesus went back to the beginning of time and paid for all those that made animal sacrifices as a means of declaring their faith in Jesus.
Everyone before the law and under the law never got any of their sins remitted. This is why to trust in the law which never earned anyone forgiveness is utter foolishness (Galatians 3:23).
If Jesus did not pay for the sins of the giver of the law (Moses), he would have been rejected in heaven.
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.Hebrews 9:15
Observe the statement “for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament.”
Jesus had to redeem Moses and all those who put faith in Christ through animal sacrifices from their sins through his death, for it is not possible for the blood of animals to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).
This is why the righteousness of God has nothing to do with the law. If the old testament saints died in sin but got admitted into heaven by their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus which was not yet effectuated, then sinless perfection as a means to heaven is a demonic bewitchment.
There is not even one perfect man in heaven except the Lord Jesus. Seemingly perfect people go to hell because their faith is in their goodness, only forgiven people go to heaven.
God through his longsuffering forbore the sins of all the old testament saints pending when they would actually be paid for through the death of his son.
If the blood of Jesus has paid for the sins of the past, right from the beginning of the world, then his sacrifice is eternal, and therefore has paid for sins for all time, past, present and future.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.Hebrews 9:12
Then the apostle continues;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Romans 3:26
The sacrifice of Jesus went back in time so that God may “declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just,”
Observe the statement “that he might be just”
It is not that God is not just but did all these to be just — for before the foundation of the world the lamb of God was already slain for all sins.
However, God did it to show forth his righteousness before principalities and powers that he is a truly just God.
If anyone was ever forgiven by any other means except the death of Christ, then God would have been unjust, and divine Justice would have been thwarted.
Others accepted by their goodness and others by Christ, God would have been unfair in his righteousness.
But praise God, our God is just God. By the righteousness of God manifested through the redeeming work of Christ, God is a “justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Confession
Blessed Father, the greatest gift a man can receive is the forgiveness of sins which guarantees every blessing from you. Thank you for freely Justifying me eternally.
I am a vessel of God’s mercy. Christ my mercyseat resides in me continually releasing pardon, peace, health, security, love and divine prosperity. Glory to God!
Prophetic Insight
In encounter with the Lord, I heard the Lord say “Dear Child, do not be engrossed in what you have not seen come to pass yet in your life, but humble yourself and see how faithful my kingdom has been growing in and through you.
If you will humble yourself and set aside the cares, you will see that my goodness has not left you.
Remember your days in Egypt and the wonderful deliverances you have received thus far. In the mist of your struggles you have seen my faithfulness day after day.
This is my will for you dear child, wear the armour of thankfulness, praising your God in all things and in patience watch how my kingdom grows and prevails over it all.”
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? ]It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. Mark 4:30-32
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.1 Thessalonians 5:18
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church