Scripture Reference: Romans 3:21-31

The Divine Provision

Divine intervention is where Paul makes his second point which relates to God’s provision for our human problem. In verses 24-25, Paul describes what God has done for persons like us who fall short of His expectations. It all relates to what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross. To help us understand, Paul used three illustrations. Each one provides a beautiful facet of truth in the diamond of God’s provision provided through Jesus Christ.

Justified

The first illustration given is drawn from the court of law and the important word justified. The active form of the verb means to pronounce righteous, put in the right, or acquit. It is a legal term and pictures a guilty person standing before a righteous judge awaiting his dreadful sentence. The verdict comes back however, “Not guilty.” Humans are guilty. We fall short. Yet, when the expected verdict is guilty, God remarkably declares “not guilty” to those who trust in Jesus Christ.

Redemption

A second illustration is drawn from the slave market. The word is redemption. While the force of the metaphor may escape us who live in the modern world, it was familiar to people in New Testament times. Slaves were brought to the marketplace where potential buyers gathered. The buyers would examine them and, if they so desired, would buy them by paying a ransom price. Thus, a slave’s liberation was purchased by a liberator.

Paul viewed all humans like slaves held captive by sin and incapable of delivering themselves. Christ is the liberator who purchases the freedom by paying the ransom price Himself. Enslaved by sin, people are set free by Christ.

Propitiation

The final illustration used by Paul to depict God’s provision for the human predicament is that of the altar of sacrifice. The word is propitiation. In biblical Greek, the verb form is a sacrificial term describing the annulment of sin. Some Scripture scholars feel a better word for translating this Greek word would be expiation or the means of forgiveness. As such, it would refer to the mercy seat as described in Exodus 25. In ancient Hebrew practice, the high priest annually made atonement for the sins of Israel by taking a blood sacrifice into the holy of holies and sprinkling it on the mercy seat. Therefore, Paul was saying that the crucified Christ became for the world what the mercy seat was for the Israelites. The death of Christ on the cross becomes the means by which we may experience the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God.

Therefore continuing on, Paul asks, “Then what becomes of our boasting?” That’s like asking “Where does one’s sense of confidence come from with regard to one’s own eternal destiny?” Does it come from obedience to God’s laws as the people of Paul’s day might have argued? It would if people could fulfill the demands of the law without error, but such is impossible because the Bible tells us if you break the smallest of the commandments, you’ve broken the whole Law (see James 2:10).

To Be Continued

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