Romans 3:21-26: The meaning of the cross

• Book of Romans was written: by the Apostle Paul in AD 57, likely from Corinth
• Recipients were believers in Rome, from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds

Questions

1. This passage concisely tells us how God has dealt with our sin.  Look for the key words.
2. Some key biblical words and their meanings
   1. Atonement (Hilasterion). Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5
      • Relating to an appeasing or expiating (removal of guilt) having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation.
      • Used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
      • an expiatory sacrifice / a expiatory victim

      Relational aspect: God's anger over our sin has been satisfied.
      (see also #4, #5)

   2. Justification (dikaioo): Romans 2:13,3:4,20,24,26,28,30; 4:2,5; 5:1,9; 6:7; 8:30,33, and another 22 instances in other books, not to mentioned derived words.
      • to render righteous or such he ought to be
      • to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
      • to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

      This is the legal aspect. God has declared you are acquitted of all charges.

   3. Redemption (apolutrosis). Romans 3:24, 8:23, 1Cor.1:30, Eph 1:7,14;4:30, Col1:14, Heb. 9:15, Heb 11:35,  Luke 21:28,
      • Release effected by payment of ransom: redemption, deliverance, liberation. Describes freeing of slaves.

      This is our new identity: we are freed from slavery to sin, and have been removed from the kingdom of darkness into God's kingdom.

   4. Propitiation (hilasmos) - appeasing, or means of appeasing.  1 John 2:2, 4:10
   5. Make reconciliation with (hilaskomai) Heb 2:17, Luke 18:13
      •  to expiate, make propitiation for / to be merciful or gracious.

Result: Our relationship is restored, our guilt has been removed, and God has taken ownership of us.

1. Split into groups to read and report on the following passages:
   1. Atonement: Hebrews 9:19-28
   2. Justification: 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Acts 13:38-39
   3. Redemption: Galatians 4:1-10, Ephesians 1:7-8, Titus 2:11-14
2. Romans 3:25-26 How does Jesus' dying as a sacrifice of atonement show God's justice?

Discussion

1. Why are each of these 3 aspects (justification, redemption, atonement) important?
2. How do you answer those who claim Christianity is arrogant and Christians self-righteous?
3. How do you answer those who say that the delay of judgment means God will not judge?
4. What about those who died before Christ came?