God's Righteousness and Mercy Revealed at the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: The Cross as the Fulfillment of Divine Justice

The cross of Christ stands as a profound demonstration of God's righteousness, addressing the cosmic problem of sin and divine justice. Without the cross, God's righteousness would be in jeopardy due to His mercy in passing over sins. This act of divine intervention ensures that God's justice is upheld while providing a path for humanity's redemption. The cross is not merely a symbol of forgiveness but a testament to God's unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness. It resolves the tension between God's mercy and His justice, showcasing His ability to be both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus. [06:09]

"For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (Psalm 11:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively demonstrate God's righteousness in your daily interactions, ensuring that your actions reflect His justice and mercy?

Day 2: Propitiation: The Wrath-Absorbing Sacrifice

Propitiation is a key concept in understanding the cross, signifying the removal of God's wrath through Jesus' sacrifice. This act ensures that God remains just while justifying sinners. Jesus' death was not a mere accident of history but a deliberate act of God to absorb His own wrath, thereby upholding His justice. Without this act of propitiation, God would appear unjust for passing over sins. The cross, therefore, is not just about forgiveness; it is about vindicating God's righteousness and demonstrating His commitment to justice. [02:18]

"Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace the concept of propitiation in your life, allowing it to transform your understanding of God's justice and mercy?

Day 3: Human Sin and the Crisis of Divine Justice

Human sin is fundamentally a despising of God's glory. Despite this, God has shown forbearance, which raises a crisis of righteousness that the cross resolves. The cross demonstrates that God's glory is of infinite worth, and through Jesus' sacrifice, God's justice is satisfied. This act of divine intervention highlights the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which God will go to uphold His righteousness. It serves as a reminder of the gravity of sin and the need for divine justice to be satisfied. [16:59]

"Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded." (Proverbs 13:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you have belittled God's glory through your actions or thoughts. How can you seek His forgiveness and strive to honor His glory in the future?

Day 4: Jesus' Sacrifice and the Infinite Worth of God's Glory

Jesus' death was a deliberate act to uphold God's justice and demonstrate the infinite worth of His glory. This act allows God to justify sinners without compromising His righteousness. The cross is a powerful testament to the value God places on His glory and the lengths He will go to preserve it. It serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and honoring God's glory in our lives, acknowledging the sacrifice made on our behalf. [18:41]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." (1 Chronicles 16:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively declare God's glory in your community, ensuring that His infinite worth is recognized and honored by those around you?

Day 5: Justification by Faith: A Gift of Grace

Justification is available to all who have faith in Jesus. This faith is a gift of grace, not something earned, and it is through this faith that individuals are included in God's redemptive work. The cross stands as a testament to God's ability to be both just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. It highlights the importance of faith as the means by which we are justified and included in God's plan of redemption. This faith is not something we can earn; it is a gift of grace that allows us to partake in God's redemptive work. [21:48]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept God's grace as a gift? How can you cultivate a deeper faith that embraces this grace and allows you to fully participate in His redemptive work?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of Romans 3:21-26, we delve into the profound theological issue of God's righteousness and how it is reconciled with His mercy. The heart of the matter is the apparent crisis in heaven: God's righteousness seems imperiled by His mercy in passing over sins. This is not a trivial issue; it is a cosmic problem that demands a divine solution. The cross of Christ is presented as the ultimate demonstration of God's righteousness. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God publicly displayed His justice, ensuring that He remains just while justifying those who have faith in Jesus.

The term "propitiation" is central to understanding this passage. It refers to the act of appeasing wrath, which in this context, is God's righteous anger towards sin. Jesus' death was not a mere accident of history but a deliberate act of God to absorb His own wrath, thereby upholding His justice. This act of propitiation is crucial because, without it, God would appear unjust for passing over sins. The cross, therefore, is not just about forgiveness; it is about vindicating God's righteousness.

The sermon also highlights the human tendency to despise God's glory, as exemplified by King David's sin. Despite our continual belittling of God's worth, God, in His forbearance, has passed over sins. This leniency, however, poses a problem for divine justice. The cross resolves this by showing that God's glory is of infinite worth, and through Jesus' sacrifice, God's justice is satisfied.

The question of who benefits from this divine act is answered by faith. It is through faith in Jesus that individuals are justified and included in this redemptive work. This faith is not something we can earn; it is a gift of grace. The cross, therefore, stands as a testament to God's ability to be both just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. The cross of Christ is a demonstration of God's righteousness, addressing the cosmic problem of sin and God's justice. Without the cross, God's righteousness would be in jeopardy due to His mercy in passing over sins. [06:09]
2. Propitiation is a key concept, signifying the removal of God's wrath through Jesus' sacrifice. This act ensures that God remains just while justifying sinners. [02:18]
3. Human sin is fundamentally a despising of God's glory. Despite this, God has shown forbearance, which raises a crisis of righteousness that the cross resolves. [16:59]
4. Jesus' death was a deliberate act to uphold God's justice and demonstrate the infinite worth of His glory. This act allows God to justify sinners without compromising His righteousness. [18:41]
5. Justification is available to all who have faith in Jesus. This faith is a gift of grace, not something earned, and it is through this faith that individuals are included in God's redemptive work. [21:48]
** [21:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - The Problem of God's Righteousness
[01:03] - Understanding Propitiation
[02:18] - The Wrath-Absorbing Sacrifice
[03:44] - Demonstrating God's Righteousness
[05:51] - The Basic Problem of the Cross
[07:09] - The Crisis in Heaven
[09:28] - David's Sin and God's Forbearance
[12:02] - The Crisis of Divine Justice
[14:06] - The Essence of Sin and Glory
[16:59] - The Universal Problem of Sin
[18:41] - Jesus' Sacrifice and God's Glory
[21:48] - Faith and Justification
[23:32] - The Gift of Grace
[24:25] - Conclusion and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 3:21-26
- Isaiah 53:10
- Psalm 103:10

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Observation Questions:

What does the term "propitiation" mean in the context of Romans 3:25, and why is it significant to the understanding of the cross? [01:58]
How does the sermon describe the crisis in heaven regarding God's righteousness and mercy? [06:30]
According to the sermon, what role does Jesus' sacrifice play in demonstrating God's righteousness? [03:44]
How does the sermon use the story of King David to illustrate the problem of God's forbearance in passing over sins? [09:28]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why does the sermon suggest that God's righteousness would be in jeopardy without the cross? How does this relate to the concept of divine justice? [06:09]
In what way does the sermon explain the human tendency to despise God's glory, and how does this contribute to the crisis of righteousness? [16:59]
How does the sermon interpret the phrase "just and the justifier" in Romans 3:26, and what does this reveal about God's character? [21:48]
What is the significance of faith in Jesus as described in the sermon, and how does it relate to the concept of justification? [21:48]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the concept of propitiation. How does understanding Jesus' sacrifice as a wrath-absorbing act change your perspective on the cross? [02:18]
The sermon highlights the crisis of God's righteousness due to His mercy. How do you reconcile God's justice with His mercy in your own life? [06:09]
Consider the human tendency to despise God's glory. Can you identify areas in your life where you might be belittling God's worth? How can you address this? [16:59]
The sermon uses King David's story to illustrate God's forbearance. How do you respond to the idea that God has passed over your sins? What does this mean for your daily life? [09:28]
Faith is described as a gift of grace. How do you cultivate and strengthen your faith in Jesus, knowing it is not something you can earn? [21:48]
How does the understanding that God is both just and the justifier impact your view of salvation and your relationship with God? [21:48]
Reflect on the infinite worth of God's glory as demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice. How can you live in a way that honors and reflects this glory in your daily actions? [18:41]

Sermon Clips

"what's driving Paul's heart here is there is a massive problem in heaven here God's righteousness is imperiled by the showing of Mercy the passing over of sins done beforehand why is God's mercy to Sinners such a massive problem John Piper turns to Romans 3: 21-26 to explain the problem and provide Paul's answer to it" [00:00:06]

"God put forth displayed publicly this Christ as a wrath absorbing sacrifice God did that is that clear Jesus didn't just happen to die God sent him to die as a propitiation in his blood the blood meaning it's going to drain out until he dies like a lamb slaughtered on an altar God did that Isaiah 53:10 it was the will of the Lord to bruise him he has put him to grief" [00:02:27]

"because in the forbearance of God he had passed over the sins previously committed then he repeats himself as though he's really got to drive this home for a demonstration I say of his righteousness that's what the cross is the cross is a demonstration of God's righteousness at the present time so that now this next phrase is even bigger than the one in verse 25" [00:04:31]

"the basic problem that God is undertaking to solve in the cross is that he appears to be and verse 26 says would be unrighteous if he didn't do this so somehow the righteousness of God is in Je here the very righteousness of the creator of the universe is in chrisis there's a crisis in heaven heaven is about to be indicted legitimately as unrighteous and unjust" [00:06:13]

"David happens to be walking around on his roof when he ought to be out to war and he sees a naked beautiful woman bathing and he wants her and he gets her because he's the king and he gets her pregnant now he's in trouble because her husband's at War where David ought to be and so it's going to be clear that somebody beside her husband got her pregnant" [00:09:36]

"this is a crisis this is a crisis in heaven the judge of the universe is imperiled at this moment the justice of God is at stake in this moment you can't do that no judge on the bench in henan County can do that and stay a judge he is off the bench of the universe if that's the way he's going to deal with sin" [00:12:06]

"the essence of sin is that we choose one thing after the other rooted in our preferences for other values rather than the glory of God and therefore we trample the glory of God under our feet every day and we despise it Nathan said said to David why have you despised God if David despises the glory of God in committing adultery" [00:15:32]

"everybody is a glory despiser everybody has exchanged the glory of God for images everybody has belittled his worth trampled on his name handed off his glory chosen all kinds of other innocent and ugly things and become idolators all of us and God in order to be righteous must show that his glory is infinitely more valuable than that" [00:16:54]

"there is one who loves my glory with an infinite intensity and a Perfection that if he were willing to suffer my wrath for the sake of my glory my glory would be seen in the universe to be what it really is and all those whose sin he would cover could be saved and I could still be righteous" [00:18:24]

"vindicate your infinite value as I die in order to repair all the injury that's ever been done to your glory by your people's trampling it under their sinful ways and you know what the father said a voice came out of Heaven I have glorified it and I will glorify it again which I think means I love your life and I will love your death" [00:19:46]

"so that I can now as a righteous holy just God save Sinners and now the question is are you included and to answer that question verse 26 at the end so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus there it is the first time faith in Jesus" [00:21:32]

"Justified as a gift by his grace through the Redemption in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a wrath removing propitiation in his blood through faith to demonstrate God's righteousness so that right now in this room he can do two things that it seems like could have never happened he can be just and he can pass over your sins" [00:23:32]

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God's Righteousness and Mercy Revealed at the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: The Cross as the Fulfillment of Divine Justice

Day 2: Propitiation: The Wrath-Absorbing Sacrifice

Day 3: Human Sin and the Crisis of Divine Justice

Day 4: Jesus' Sacrifice and the Infinite Worth of God's Glory

Day 5: Justification by Faith: A Gift of Grace

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Righteousness and Mercy Revealed at the Cross

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