The Power of Forgiveness: Lessons from the Cross
In the heart of the Christian faith lies a profound truth: being declared right with God is not a matter of human effort but a divine verdict pronounced through the death of Jesus on the cross. As the Roman believers braced themselves against Nero’s looming persecution, they anchored themselves in the doctrine of justification—a doctrine reflecting the power of forgiveness that is as strong a foundation for us today as it was for them.
The Foundation of Justification
Justification is the linchpin of Christianity. Thomas Watson rightly warned of the dangers of erring in this doctrine, likening it to a spring of water of life. Martin Luther, too, emphasized its vital role, declaring that without it, the church could not stand even for an hour. The stark contrast between human fallibility and God’s absolute purity—”God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5)—lays the groundwork for our desperate need for righteousness outside of ourselves.
Understanding the Salvation Triangle
The salvation triangle, originally presented by Dr. James Montgomery Boice, provides a visual representation of Christ’s work. We see that the apex is “God the Father,” the source of justice and holiness. At one corner, we have “Jesus Christ,” who bridges the gap between God and man, and at the other, “Christians,” the beneficiaries of this divine transaction. At each point of the triangle—Propitiation, Redemption, and Justification—we find aspects of our salvation centered around “The Death of Jesus,” and displaying the power of forgiveness found in Christ.
Propitiation: Satisfying Divine Justice
Averting Divine Wrath Through Sacrifice
The Nature of Atonement
In Romans 3:25, the apostle Paul introduces us to one of the most profound mysteries of the Christian faith: “God presented [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” The New International Version’s footnote sheds light on this term, suggesting an alternative reading as “the one who would turn aside his [God’s] wrath, taking away sin.” Here, we encounter the stark reality of God’s wrath. A just response from a holy God against sin and wickedness (Romans 1:18; Ephesians 2:3). This wrath is not a capricious or irrational anger. God’s wrath is a righteous opposition to all that is evil, deeply rooted in God’s nature.
Propitiation in Salvation
The term “propitiation,” while not commonly used in everyday evangelical dialogue, is essential for understanding the work of Christ. Propitiation refers to the appeasement of God’s wrath against sin. It means that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross has satisfied and turned aside the wrath that was rightfully ours to bear. This concept is anchored in the truth that it was God the Father who initiated the plan of salvation. The Father set forth His Son as the atoning sacrifice. It was God who provided the means to satisfy His justice and appease His wrath. His actions were rooted in divine love and sovereignty, not in human merit.
The Father’s Role and the Son’s Sacrifice
We must recognize two crucial aspects of this propitiatory act. Firstly, it was God who presented Christ as the propitiation—a divine initiative that underscores the depth of God’s grace. When confronted with our sinfulness and the looming specter of judgment, it is paramount to remember that it is God Himself who orchestrated our deliverance.
Appropriating the Atonement
Secondly, this propitiation is received through faith in the sacrificial blood of Jesus. The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the centrality of Christ’s blood in our salvation—cleansing our consciences, purifying us from sin, and granting us access to God’s holy presence (Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:19). It is through the blood of Christ that God’s just wrath is turned away from us.
Living in Light of Propitiation
In moments of spiritual conviction, when the weight of our sins presses upon us, we must look to the blood of Jesus for cleansing and peace. It isn’t our remorse, penitence, or any sense of spiritual probation that restores us. It is solely the blood of Christ. This precious blood, shed on Calvary, is what we must appropriate time and again to wash away our sins and to find reassurance of our peace with God.
The Power of Forgiveness: Propitiation
The famous hymn “Nothing but the blood of Jesus” encapsulates the essence of propitiation. It is a profound truth we are called to embrace not just once but continuously throughout our Christian walk. Our assurance and cleansing are not founded on our fluctuating feelings or our imperfect repentance but on the historical fact and the present efficacy of Jesus’ atoning blood.
Â
Redemption: Liberation Through Ransom
The Price of Liberation
Romans 3:24 offers a sweeping declaration: our justification comes “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Redemption, in this context, is a term loaded with meaning. It speaks of a deliverance that isn’t merely an escape but a liberation procured at a great price. As Charles Hodge insightfully pointed out, redemption refers to deliverance achieved through the payment of a ransom. It’s a concept that, while hinting at transaction, transcends mere commerce; it points to a relational and legal reality where the offended justice of God is satisfied by nothing less than the blood of Christ.
The Distinction of Redemption
To grasp the full weight of redemption, we must differentiate it from a simple pardon. A pardon, while releasing one from penalty, may not always fulfill justice. For example, when President Nixon was pardoned, many perceived it as an affront to justice—mercy given at justice’s expense. However, in Christ’s redemptive work, we find no such imbalance. God’s justice is not bypassed; it is fulfilled.
Justification is not the sweeping away of sin’s penalty under the rug of divine forgetfulness; rather, it is the acknowledgement that the penalty has been fully absorbed and paid by Jesus. This is what makes redemption profound: it satisfies justice even as it extends mercy.
Christ’s Satisfaction of Divine Justice
The death of Christ is the crux of redemption. His sacrifice, often referred to as “the satisfaction of Christ,” is an essential doctrine that extends far beyond the bounds of theological discourse. It has tangible, daily implications for the believer. When haunted by our failings, we can find solace in the fact that our transgressions, while serious, are not beyond the scope of Christ’s atoning work. God’s justice, which stands immovable and demanding, has been met—satisfied fully by Christ.
To reflect on Christ’s satisfaction is not an abstract theological exercise but a personal embrace of the reality that our sins, grievous as they are, have been atoned for. The Christian life involves a daily reckoning with this truth, finding in it both relief from guilt and motivation for holy living.
The Power of Forgiveness: Redemption
In practical terms, when our conscience convicts us, we can turn to the cross and see there the ultimate payment that redeems us from the wrath of God. Understanding that Christ paid the ultimate ransom for us, we find our fears of condemnation silenced. This is the assurance that bolsters our faith. Not only have we been forgiven, but we have been set free. The chains of our enslavement to sin have been broken—not at the expense of justice, but in its very fulfillment.
Â
Justification: Declared Righteous by Faith
Justification is the act of being declared righteous before God. It is the divine pronouncement over those who believe. It is not the result of human boasting but a gift given through faith. “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).
Our Problem
Humanity grapples with a profound moral corruption, resulting in guilt, condemnation, and alienation from God. This inherent sinfulness manifests in every facet of life, from individual acts to societal structures, echoing the truth that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Old and New Testaments are replete with acknowledgments of our transgressions and the resulting estrangement from our Creator (Exodus 20:5–6; Romans 5:10; Psalm 58:3; Ephesians 2:1, 12).
Our Desperate Need
In light of our moral bankruptcy, we stand in desperate need of a new nature, forgiveness, acceptance, and reconciliation. Without divine intervention, we are ensnared by sin’s consequences, both temporal and eternal (John 8:34; Romans 1:18; Psalm 5:5).
God’s Solution
The beauty of the gospel is found in God’s gracious response to our predicament. Justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. It is a divine act wherein God, in His free grace, forgives sinners and accepts them as righteous on account of Christ’s redemptive work (Romans 3:22–25; 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:19–21). This righteousness is not derived from our own merit but is the righteousness of Christ. It is imputed to us as a free and unmerited gift (Romans 4:6–8; Ephesians 1:7).
Christ fully satisfied divine justice, standing in our stead, absorbing the wrath we deserved, and fulfilling all righteousness (Romans 5:19; Isaiah 53:4–6; 1 Peter 1:18–19). Faith in Christ is not a work we produce. It is a gift granted by God so that we may receive this profound gift of justification (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:24–25).
The Power of Forgiveness: Justification
In light of this transformative truth, our response must be one of humility and faith. Justification is a legal declaration of “Not Guilty!” It’s an assurance that, in Christ, we are free from the penalty of sin—past, present, and future. We stand before God not as neutral parties but as individuals clothed in the very righteousness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This justification is not a result of our own doing; it is the grace of God in its purest form. We can claim no merit; our only boast is in the Cross. By faith in Christ’s finished work, we renounce all confidence in our own efforts to earn God’s favor and rely entirely on Christ alone—His life, death, and resurrection—as the sole basis for our acceptance before God.
In practical terms, this means that our lives are marked by a continual turning away from self-reliance and a turning toward Christ in faith. It’s an ongoing posture of trust in His atoning sacrifice. It is also a life lived in the freedom and joy of being declared righteous before God.
Â
The Power of Forgiveness: Our Right Standing Reviewed
Romans 3:27–31 revisits justification with poignant questions and conclusions, emphasizing that salvation is God’s unilateral act of grace. It is accessible to all through faith—both Jew and Gentile. In it, we find the power of forgiveness granted to Christians because of the person and work of Christ alone. We find in verse 31 a profound truth: “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” Here, we discover that in Christ, we are united with the perfect Lawkeeper. And thus, our lives are a testament to the law upheld, not dismissed.
The Faith that Saves
The faith necessary for salvation encompasses knowledge through God’s Word, a heart profoundly moved by the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. This faith is not a passive state. It is an active trust in the Word of God, which is both the origin and sustenance of our belief.
Application Points
- Delve into the prepositions in Romans 3:25–26 to grasp the depth of our justification.
- Understand that an emotional response to the Gospel, while part of saving faith, is not the entirety of it.
- A genuine encounter with God’s method of justification should compel a complete surrender to His will.
Conclusion
The cross stands as a testament to the power of forgiveness. It is a forgiveness so complete that it transforms the sinner into a saint, not by merit but by mercy. In the shadow of the cross, may you find peace and assurance in the righteousness of Christ, which is now yours through faith.
Call to Action
- Reflect on the message of the cross.
- How has your understanding of justification changed you?
- Share your journey to forgiveness and the hope that the cross has implanted in your heart.
