The greatest message God has
ever delivered to sinful man is found in the cross
of Jesus Christ. It is the declaration of the
righteousness of God, and a demonstration that God
is both “just and the justifier of him that believes
in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
The proof of the steadfast
righteousness of God was made in the cross of Jesus
Christ. God had declared that He is righteous and
holy (Isa. 6:3). He cannot and will not tolerate sin
in His presence (Ezek. 18:4, 17-18, 20, 30, 32).
The greatest divine problem is
how can God be just and at the same time love a
sinner and allow him into His holy presence? The
cross reveals God’s holiness, righteousness and
hatred of sin. It also demonstrates the depth of His
love and integrity.
Sin must always be treated as
sin, and the wages of sin is always death (Ezek.
18:4; Rom. 3:23; 6:23). It cannot be treated
otherwise. So how can God save the sinner and remain
righteous? God cannot change His eternal attribute
of righteousness.
God taught His people in the
Old Testament to anticipate a perfect and sufficient
sacrifice for sin. The blood of bulls and goats
symbolized the blood that would one day be shed by
the perfect “Lamb of God” who would lift up and take
away our sins and the sins of the whole world. The
blood of animals could never take away sin, but only
point to the greater “Lamb of God.”
These animal sacrifices were a
part of the covenant of the LORD God that He would
“in the fullness of time” provide the perfect
substitutionary sacrifice that would deal with man’s
sin problem (Gal. 4:4-5). Romans 3:25 tells us the
proof of the righteousness of God was made in the
death of Christ on the cross concerning all sins
committed before Christ died. “Whom God displayed
publicly as a propitiation in His blood through
faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in the forbearance of God He passed over the
sins previously committed.”
The death of Christ was the
true and all sufficient sacrifice that stood as
proof that God had fully accomplished His
righteousness in all generations down through
history.
Moreover, the all-sufficient
sacrifice for our sins was fully accomplished on the
cross in the substitutionary death of Christ. The
cross is also a full demonstration of God’s
righteousness to everyone who had lived since Christ
died on the cross. Now the cure for our sin problem
is not in the symbolic sacrifices in the Old
Testament, but in the actual substitutionary death
of Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross. The
sacrifice of Christ is for “him who believes in
Jesus.” The sacrifice of Christ is made effective to
all who appropriate it by faith in Him. The
sacrifice is effective “at this time” for everyone
who believes on Christ (v. 26). It is the full proof
of the righteousness of God so that He can be “just
and the justifier” of all who believe in the
all-sufficient atonement of Christ for sins.
The cross is God’s answer to
the problem of His righteousness. He cannot change
the demands of His righteousness and keep His
integrity. The solution He provides in His
omniscient wisdom is the sacrifice of His own Son.
God remained just and at the same time saved the
believing sinner. As the righteous Sovereign Judge
He pronounced the full punishment of the wrath of
God against all sin. As the divine Savior of all
sinners who believe on Christ He took upon Himself
the very punishment He imposed on the guilty sinner
and paid the penalty in full. Because of the cross
of Jesus, the divine righteousness of God can never
be called into question even when He pardons the
vilest offender of His righteousness. The Judge
Himself has provided the perfect righteousness for
the sinner who accepts God’s estimate of his sin and
God’s all sufficient solution in Christ.
“God was in Christ reconciling
the world unto Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). God satisfied
His own righteous requirements at the cross. The
death of Jesus was all-sufficient to meet God’s
righteous requirements for the sinner.
The Judge paid the full
redemption price for the helpless sinner.
God provided the solution for
His own problem before any person had sinned, and in
the fullness of time, He acted on it. Since
judgments have already been perfectly met by the
death of Christ, “there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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