"FORBEARANCE"

DEFINITION # 9: ROMANS 3:25

FORBEARANCE: Patiently waiting for the payment of a debt.

As we have taught, the word "REMISSION" (as used in Romans 3:25) refers to the passing over of a debt. This leads us right into the word "FORBEARANCE," for the verse reads:

"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."

What Romans 3:25 is saying is that God set Jesus Christ forth to be a satisfying sacrifice (propitiation) for our sins, which declares two (2) truths:

1. It is by the propitiation of Jesus Christ that God declares the Old Testament Saints Righteous.

Notice the phrase "SINS THAT ARE PAST." These are not our past sins but the sins of those who lived and died before the Lord Jesus Christ ever came into this world. Now that He has come and made a satisfying payment for all of mankind's sins, God can now declare those Old Testament Believers righteous. Before Jesus Christ died, God instructed them to offer an animal sacrifice for their sins. But as we learned in our last study, the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). Romans 3:25 now informs us that from the time of Adam until Christ, God was passing over the Old Testament Believer's sins, patiently waiting for the time when Jesus Christ would come and actually pay off their debt of sin. Now that he has accomplished, God can declare them righteous.

It is like when we buy a new car on credit. We find the car we want to purchase and sign the papers applying for a loan. After checking our credit and finding it good, we are handed the keys to the car and we drive off. In these days, it is 4 to 5 years before that car is actually paid off.

In Genesis 3:15, God promised to take care of man's sin debt. Since His word is good credit, the Old Testament Believers were saved back then even though their sins were not paid off until hundreds or thousands of years later by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The second truth which "propitiation" declares is found in Romans 3:26, which says in part:

"TO DECLARE, I SAY AT THIS TIME HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS . . . "

2. It is by the propitiation of Jesus Christ that God declares the New Testament Saints Righteous.

We have taken note of the phrase "SINS THAT ARE PAST" in verse 25. Now notice the phrase "AT THIS TIME" in verse 26. In verse 25 we have seen the basis through which God can declare the Believers of old righteous. Verse 26 now declares that same basis to be true today. God declares the Believers--who live after the cross--righteous as well. The only difference is that we now know how God can be just in saving believing sinners, whereas those before this age did not know.

GOD IS (BOTH) JUST, AND THE JUSTIFIER OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST!

Since the one time full payment and satisfying sacrifice for sins has been made, there is no longer any need for animal sacrifices, nor any works on man's part to be offered to God for his sins. Roman's 3:27,28 concludes the whole matter. Since our salvation was accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ's work on the Cross and not by our works and since God declares the believing sinner righteous upon faith in the blood of Christ, then there can be no boasting on our part. We are just sinners saved by grace. The conclusion is:

"...A MAN IS JUSTIFIED (DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD) BY FAITH WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW!"

PRACTICAL POINT:

Are You a Believer? A conclusion has been made in the Scriptures. It is not in agreement with many churches, religions, or denominations, but it is the truth because it's God's conclusion. The Bible says: (Romans 3:4)

"LET GOD BE TRUE, BUT EVERY MAN A LIAR"

Make sure you're not trusting in your religion, church, your baptism, your upbringing, your background, morals, ethics, or your goodness to save you, because they can't. Trust only in Jesus Christ and His work on Calvary to save you. It's the ONLY WAY!

If Jesus Christ died for the sins of whole world, what change has it accomplished?