What is the meaning of Romans 3:26? He did this • “He did this” points back to God’s action of putting Christ forward as the propitiation by His blood (Romans 3:25). • Salvation is not humanity’s idea or achievement; it is God’s deliberate initiative (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10). • The cross shows that God takes sin seriously enough to demand payment, yet loves sinners enough to provide that payment Himself (Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). to demonstrate His righteousness • God’s righteousness is His flawless moral character and His unwavering commitment to what is right (Psalm 145:17). • At Calvary, His righteousness is displayed because sin is punished, not ignored (Habakkuk 1:13; Romans 1:17). • The cross answers any claim that God overlooks evil; instead, He fully confronts it while providing a way of mercy (Exodus 34:6-7 fulfilled in Romans 8:3-4). at the present time • “Present time” shows that God’s redemptive plan, long promised, has now arrived in history (Galatians 4:4-5). • The benefits are available now—no waiting for some future age (Hebrews 9:24-26; 2 Corinthians 6:2). • Believers live in the era of fulfilled promise, where grace is presently accessible (John 1:17). so as to be just • God remains “just” because the penalty for sin is fully paid in Christ (Romans 6:23 satisfied at the cross). • Justice is not compromised for love; both attributes meet perfectly in Jesus (Psalm 89:14; Isaiah 45:21). • The Law’s requirements stand, but Christ fulfills them on our behalf (Matthew 5:17; Colossians 2:14). and to justify • “Justify” means God declares the believing sinner righteous, crediting Christ’s righteousness to the believer (Romans 5:9; Titus 3:7). • This is a legal act, final and complete, not a gradual process (John 5:24). • Because justice is satisfied, justification is secure; no charge can stick against those God has justified (Romans 8:33-34). the one who has faith in Jesus • The sole condition is faith—active trust—in Jesus Christ (John 6:47; Acts 16:31). • Faith turns from self-reliance to Christ-reliance, resting in His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5). • This offer is universal in scope but personal in application; each individual must believe (John 1:12; Revelation 22:17). summary Romans 3:26 reveals why God sent His Son to the cross: to put His own righteousness on display, to uphold perfect justice, and at the same time to declare righteous everyone who trusts in Jesus. At the cross God proves He is both uncompromisingly just and astonishingly gracious, inviting every sinner—right now—to receive full justification through faith in Christ alone. |
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