It is a nearly impossible for any student of the Bible to adequately explain the title in 700 words, but here goes.
According to Scripture sin is universal, i.e. everyone is guilty and a single sin will separate a person from God.
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23
In addition to that truth, man is absolutely incapable of righting himself. Man has a problem.
“…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law…for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16
‘Justified’ means to be declared righteous in the eyes of God. Justification is a gift bestowed by God to fulfill that which man was created to be.
God’s gift does what the law could never do.
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…” Romans 3:21
The purpose of the law was to reveal God’s standard of righteousness. Though a man’s conscience provided some guidance, there were many aspects of God’s law that natural man didn’t recognize as ‘sin.’
Even after God’s law was revealed, it was absolutely impossible for man to completely abide by it.
God’s righteousness and justice are two of His immutable attributes and He requires the same standard of all men. Therefore when a man is declared righteous he attains spiritual union with God and likeness of His character.
God provided what man needed but couldn’t provide for himself.
“…being justified freely by His grace through the redemption…in Christ Jesus…” Romans 3:24
Redemption is a wonderful word, rich in meaning. It means deliverance from servitude because of a ransom paid; in the present context deliverance is from the power and consequence of sin.
Paul then explains the price, or ransom, paid for one’s deliverance.
“…Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness…” Romans 3:25
‘Propitiation’ does in fact mean ‘mercy seat’ which was the covering of the Ark of the Covenant. It was on the mercy seat that the blood of the offering on the Day of Atonement was sprinkled which was proof an offering had been slain.
Jesus was in fact, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
‘Faith’ exercised by the believer is the grounds by which one receives justification. Faith always means to take God at His word.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 5:1
‘Peace’ is that which arises from being reconciled with God. The enmity has been removed by the death of Jesus Christ.
Being reconciled to God also delivers the justified from God’s required wrath.
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath…” Romans 5:9
‘Saved’ is salvation from eternal death, sin, and its punishment. It further means to give eternal life.
‘Wrath’ is God’s divine judgment required by His holiness to be inflicted on the unredeemed, i.e. those who attempt to attain righteousness by deeds of the flesh.
The sum of the matter?
“…It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:24-25
The vicarious sacrifice of Christ was transferred to the account of all who believe God raised Him from the dead. Christ’s death was payment for our sins, and He was raised as proof that our justification was a done deal!
He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay…
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection results in newness of life and are wonderfully portrayed in the sacrament of baptism.
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…” Romans 6:4-5
Happy Easter!
There! 700 words.
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