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Pastor's Blog April 8, 2021

"View of God in Romans V"

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In the first few chapters of Romans, God has demonstrated (rather than merely explained) his character and priorities to us.  We have seen that God demonstrates his righteousness by honoring our freedom and not coercing us to choose him.  And we have seen that God's judgment is just and revolves around whether or not we want to love and trust him. 

But did you know Romans 3:25-26 claims that God shows and presents Jesus to us as the mercy seat?  According to Romans 3:25-26, God "publicly displayed" Jesus as the "hilasterion" (I'll explain this word in a moment) so that he could "demonstrate His righteousness," as we see in the twin facts that God has exercised divine "forbearance" toward our sins in the past and is "just and the justifier" of everyone through Jesus. 

The main point of these verses is that God's primary desire is to be the just or righteous One AND the One who justifies everyone from their sins, by showing us his righteousness in Jesus Christ (by whose blood we are saved, forgiven, and redeemed).  That's fabulous news!  But how does God show his righteousness to us through Jesus Christ?  The clue is found in the word "hilasterion."  Most translations of Romans 3:25 interpret this word to mean either "expiation," "propitiation," or simply "sacrifice of atonement" - basically, sacrifice words and concepts.  In reality, the word "hilasterion" is the Greek word for "mercy seat" - the lid that sat upon the ark of the covenant in the second compartment of the wilderness sanctuary and later the temple in Jerusalem. 

In Exodus 25:17-22, the mercy seat is described as the place where God will meet with his people and enjoy fellowship and relationship with them.  Leviticus 16:13-16 further highlights the fact that the mercy seat is where atonement is made for all of God's people.  Romans 3:25 is stating that Jesus is the person who makes atonement for our sins AND is the means by which we can enjoy a beautiful, fulfilling, and liberating relationship with God, since this was God's idea in the first place! 

Friends, by showing us Jesus is the heavenly mercy seat, God has also shown us he will stop at nothing to save us and have a relationship with us.  Let's open our hearts to this merciful, amazing gift today.