Whom God Hath Set Forth A Propitiation Through Faith In His Blood - Part 1470

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures ..." (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

This is the good news gospel (or Godspel in Greek) that the apostle Paul (formerly Saul, who received his understanding by revelation) wanted us to comprehend. That Almighty God, because of His abundant love for us from the very beginning, willingly offered us the free gift of salvation that only He Himself could offer. 

"Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world [age] according to the will of God and our Father, to whom [be] glory for ever and ever, Amen." (Galatians 1:3-5)

He who knew no sin prepared for Himself a body (just like ours but without sin), wherein He would become the perfect sacrifice. And, in so doing, the "promise" of a coming Messiah, the Christ, came to fruition. The prophecies of the prophets from afore appeared to offer us His gift of salvation, given freely as an act of grace (unmerited favor) to you and I. 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We did not deserve His love. And because of Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden, we were all condemned. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

As it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands. There is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way. They are together becoming unprofitable. There is none that doeth good -- no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. Their is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7; Proverbs 1:16; Isaiah 59:7-8; Psalm 36:1)

Had the story ended there, we would have all died in our sins, lost forever into eternity. However, the Lord of glory had a different plan for His people, and a glorious plan of salvation that He had decided before the foundation of the world was ever formed. The greatest love story ever told was unfolding. 

"Behold, the Lamb of God."(John 1:29) 

The Word that was with God and was God made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1-18) 

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) 

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

In other words, God became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 42:13; Acts 2:36; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8, 11) 

"Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say], at this time His righteousness; that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law." (Romans 3:25-28)

Understandably, this last scripture might lead some to ask, "Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles?" (Romans 3:29) As we read further, we see Paul's response. "Yes, of the Gentiles also." But notably, the apostle does not stop there. Paul continues, writing: "Seeing [it is] one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumsion through faith." (Romans 3:30)

The Jews were the circumcision, and we the Gentiles the uncircumcision. Does that mean that God hath cast away His people? Paul clarifies that response in Romans 11 when he asks the same question.

"I say then, "Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." 

But what saith the answer of God unto him? "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal." Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise, work is no more work.

What then? Israel hath NOT obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

And David saith, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway."

I [Paul] say then, "Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?"

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead? For if the first fruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were graffed/grafted in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, "The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed/grafted in." Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest He also spare not thee. Behold, therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [His] goodness: otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed/grafted in: for God is able to graff/graft them in again.

For if thou were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were graffed/grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed/grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved -- as it is written, "There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob ... For this [is] My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sake's: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the Fathers' sake's. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief, even so, have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?
Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:1-36)

"For it became Him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect, through sufferings, for both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified [are] all of one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying. "I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee," and again, "I will put my trust in Him." 

And again, "Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me."  ... For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage -- for verily, He took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham, wherefore, in ALL things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:10-18) 

In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

And, thus, as a consequence, we have a High Priest that is passed into the heavens -- Jesus -- which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. And as such, there will be a remnant who will be saved, because these have believed on Jesus by faith.

"For the promise, that He should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith, for if they which are of the Law be heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of none effect ... therefore, it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ..." (Romans 4:13-16)

Therefore, stand fast in the liberty wherein is Christ Jesus. (Galatians 5:1) And likewise, "let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Stand in the offering plate.