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Heartwood:Toward a Deeper Formation of the Cross with us

Where The Nail Pierces Justice and Grace

What the Cross means to God

God is always against you . . . . . God is always mad at youGod is a cosmic kill-joy.God loves you, but he really doesn't like you . . . .

Have you ever felt.24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 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; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26The word translated propitiation in Rom 3:25 is related to, but not the same as, the word hilasmos, translated propitiation in 1John 2:2. In Rom 3:25 the apostle uses the word hilasterion. This particular Greek word is primarily used in the Greek OT to render the Hebrew word for mercy seat ( - kapporet). It also means mercy seat in its only other NT use in Heb 9:5. Thus it is very likely that in Rom 3:25 we have this same meaning.

Propitiation - The Ark of The Covenant

The Mercy Seat

Kapporet or Mercy SeatThe Contents of the Ark

Aaron Rod that BuddedThe Ten CommandsJar of MannaRejection of Gods earthly provisionsRejection of Gods Righteousness, His personRejection of Gods Leadership24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

1. God pours out His grace on you because Jesus paid the price for you (3:24)

What the Cross Means to GodJustification is a forensic or legal term that means to declare righteousness, not make righteous. This is important when person is justified, his position changes before God, not the condition of his character or practicesJustifed - 9To buy back as a ransom payment a slave or a captive to be set free. Redemption from a condemned status under the Law came through Christs ransom payment at the Cross that freed humanity from slave market of sin which is available to all those who trust in Him.Redemption - 25 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

2. God is no longer angry at you, access to Him is open and free (Romans 3:25)What the Cross Means to GodThe sins committed beforehand will not, then be sins committed before conversion, or baptism, but before the new age of salvation. This does not mean that God failed to punish or overlooked sins committed before Christ, nor does it mean that God did not really forgive sins under the Old Covenant. Pauls meaning is rather that God postponed full penalty due to sins in the Old Covenant, allowing sinners to stand before him without their having provided an adequate satisfaction of the demands of his holy justice (cf. Heb 10:4). - Romans, Douglas Moo, 240.God had passed over the sins 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3. God declares you righteous because His judgment fell upon his Son (Romans 3:25, 26)Paraphrased: That He might be understood as being absolutely righteous and simultaneously the One who declares the sinner, who has faith in Jesus, righteousWhat the Cross Means to GodGod is finally at peace with you because of Jesus Christs righteousness which satisfied the demands of a holy God. You are no longer a sinner in the hands of an angry God, but a saint in the hands of a loving God!!The Point:Ask God to make His perspective of you true in your heart!!Bring into your heart Jesus as your Mercy Seat. When He cried Eli Eli, lema sabachthnai (Matt 27:46), He cried those words so that you would never have to say them.A Place to Start.