Names of God: YHVH, part 15. The righteousness of God is a gift; Rom 3:21-26.

Title: Names of God: YHVH, part 15. The righteousness of God is a gift; Rom 3:21-26.

 

 

Rom 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

 

Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction [God's justice is satisfied only by faith in Christ];

 

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

Rom 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

 

Rom 3:25 whom God displayed publicly [at Calvary in front of all] as a propitiation [satisfying His own justice] in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

 

This is a far cry from the pagan use of the term hilasterion. They were offering sacrifices in order to appease the anger of the gods and to buy their love.

 

The love of God is not for sale. It has been poured out into the hearts of all of those who have believed in Christ.

 

No matter what you go through, no matter what you face, the love of God will be all around you and within you. This means that you will always have hope - confident expectation of future deliverance.

 

Rom 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Rom 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

 

Rom 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance [hupomone];

 

Rom 5:4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

 

"proven character" - doki,mh [dokime] = the process of trial or proving as the result of trial. Perseverance, the ability to remain in a trial and wait for God's deliverance, means that you are testable.

 

The ability to trust God, wait for Him while under trial, and to have gone through a few trials, brings hope. Hope is confidence in future deliverance. It is an expectation of deliverance while not testing God as to the time of that deliverance. Hope is not the ability to trust with confidence as long as deliverance comes tomorrow. It is that same ability no matter when the deliverance comes.

 

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

 

Gal 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

Gal 6:9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.

 

Work one row of vines at a time. Don't look at the entire field.

 

Gal 6:10 So then, while we have opportunity [the season for doing good], let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

 

The opportunities for doing good come and go and Paul is saying that if we don't grow weary, when that season comes upon us, we will do good to those who are in need of it, especially our brethren in Christ.

 

Rom 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance [hupomone];

 

Rom 5:4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

 

Such hope never disappoints, because the love of God is all around us and within us. He will deliver. He loves you more than you can comprehend. He loves you as He loves Jesus, which is why He calls us beloved. He must deliver you. He desires to deliver you. Will you believe it?

 

Rom 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

 

Rom 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

 

Rom 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

 

Rom 3:25 whom God displayed publicly [at Calvary in front of all] 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;

 

God propitiated Himself. He satisfied the need for judgment by judging His Son on the cross. He has freed the way for His love to pour out into the heart of man so that man could be restored to Him, live with Him forever, and fellowship with Him forever. His love was never for sale, but like all things to man, it was a gift of His grace. We are the recipients of these unfathomable gifts and since God is satisfied with us, we also should be satisfied or made full.

 

Propitiation is the place of satisfaction.

 

1Jo 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

 

1Jo 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

 

Once we are in the place of satisfaction, we can learn of Him, love Him, keep His commands, and love others. We do these things because God is satisfied, which makes us satisfied.

 

1Jo 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

 

1Jo 2:4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

 

1Jo 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

 

1Jo 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

 

We are to walk in the same manner and not some watered down version of that manner. We do so through the power of God the Holy Spirit and by direction of His word.


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