Spoken at SGBC

3-29-98

Romans #20

3:25

Quenching God's Wrath

(Romans 3:21-26 NASB) "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, {22} even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; {23} for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; {25} whom God displayed publicly as a PROPITIATION in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; {26} for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

In the book titled, "Memoirs of the early life of William Cowper" the poet-hymn writer speaks of his own experience in coming to Christ through the text we are about to study. He wrote, "The happy period which was to afford me clear opening of the free mercy of God in Christ was now arrived. I flung myself into a chair near the window and seeing the Bible there ventured once more to apply to it for comfort and instruction. The first verse I saw was the 25^th of the 3^rd of Romans. "Whom God has 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." Immediately I received strength to believe it and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me. I saw the sufficiency of the atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fullness and completeness of His Justification. In an instant I believed and received the peace of the Gospel. Unless the Almighty arm had been under me, I think I should have died with gratitude and Joy. My eyes filled with tears, transports choked my utterance. I could only look up to heaven in silent fear, overwhelmed with love and wonder," (End Quote).

From Brother Cowper we have received many of our greatest hymns, four of which appear in our hymnal. The titles are as follows. "The Spirit Breathes upon the Word." "O For a Closer walk with God." "God moves in Mysterious ways His Wonders to Perform." "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood." William Cowper's ministry to the church has been great and it all started when God applied the words of Romans 3:25 to his heart.

The vital word in our text for today is "Propitiation." Here we are told that, "God displayed (Christ) publicly as a PROPITIATION in His blood through faith."

The word propitiation means; to make willing, cheerful, to make merciful, to conciliate, and to make reconciliation. It is a word that speaks of a sacrifice being offered for an atonement or an at-one-ment. In this case it speaks of the offering of Jesus Christ the Lord for the satisfaction or quenching of the wrath of God.

The word, in its Hebrew form, refers to the Mercy Seat which was the covering or lid on the Ark of the Covenant. The symbolism of the Ark, its contents, and the Mercy Seat can help us as we seek to understand the idea of propitiation.

The Ark of the Covenant was a chest designed by God in which the law, or the Ten Commandments was kept. The Ark itself was kept in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a portable tent like structure divided into two rooms. The outer room was called the Holy Place while the inner room was the Holy of Holies. In that inner room rested the Ark, its contents, and its cover, the Mercy Seat. There were several things inside of the Ark but the items that concern us today are the tables of stone on which had been written the Ten Commandments.

Here is the picture. In the Holy of Holies, or the innermost room in the tabernacle, is the Ark of the Covenant. Inside are the Ten Commandments, the law of God. The lid to the box is called the Mercy Seat. Above the Mercy Seat was the Shekinah glory or the dwelling presence of God Himself. All of this put together is a picture of something very important and beautiful.

What we see in the Holy of Holies is a picture of God's provision for man's salvation. Let me try to explain. In the Ark we find the law of God. This law demands perfect obedience and promises death to all who fail to conform. You and I know that no man has ever been perfect. All men have broken God's law. All men are sinners and the law demands that sinners die, or be eternally separate from God. Now above the Ark and above the law is the Mercy Seat. But for the moment let's proceed as if the Mercy Seat was not in place. Without the Mercy Seat we find the law crying out directly to God for justice. The law is demands that God's wrath be poured out on all humanity for their sin. Such an outpouring of wrath would be altogether appropriate for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All men have broken the law of God. The only thing that will silence the cries of God's broken law is the death of all sinners. The law knows nothing of mercy and will never cease declaring our guilt. Nor will the law ever stop demanding our death as payment for our crimes. At the same time God Himself is filled with wrath toward the breakers of His law and agrees that men must die for sin.

This is where the Mercy Seat comes in. The Mercy Seat comes between the law and God on behalf of the sinner. When the High Priest, having put to death a suitable sacrifice, sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat God's wrath was quenched or propitiated and the demands of the law were satisfied. Payment had been made by the shedding of blood. Therefore instead of the wrath demanded by the law the people obtained God's mercy. This Mercy Seat and the sprinkling of blood is a picture of Christ. It is a picture of the propitiation He has accomplished for God's elect people. Jesus satisfied the demands of the law and obtained mercy for believing sinners when He shed His blood on our behalf. He quenched God's wrath toward us. He obtained God's mercy for us. The book of Hebrews describes Christ as the reality or the substance of the symbolism found throughout the Old Testament.

Look with me at (Hebrews 10:1-18 NASB) "For the Law, since it has only a SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME AND NOT THE VERY FORM OF THINGS, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. {2} Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? {3} But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. {4} For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

The ritual offering of the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins because it was never meant to take away sins. The rituals, the offerings, the sacrifices pointed away from themselves to the Messiah. Jesus could and would take away the sins of believing sinners by the sacrifice of Himself. He was the real and final sacrifice for sins. He was the real and final propitiation of God's wrath toward sinners. The fiery indignation of God was put out by the shedding of Christ's blood. Let's continue with verse . . {9} then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO THY WILL." He takes away the first (The First or Old Covenant) in order to establish the second. (The New Covenant. Under this covenant we deal not with symbols but with the real thing, Christ Himself.) {10} By this will we have been sanctified (Set apart and made holy in God's sight.) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. {11} And every priest stands DAILY ministering and offering TIME AFTER TIME the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; {12} BUT He, having offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR ALL TIME, sat down at the right hand of God, {13} waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. {14} For by one offering He has PERFECTED FOR ALL TIME THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED. (Those who have been set apart for salvation, the elect of God.) {15} And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, {16} "THIS IS THE (New) COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says, {17} "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." {18} Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin."

Now look with me at Hebrews 9:11-15 NASB. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, (The good things to come are those things that were represented or pictured by the Old Testament symbolism.) He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; {12} and not through the blood of goats and calves, (which could never take away sin), but through His own blood, He entered the holy place (the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God.) once for all, having OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION. {13} For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, {14} how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT BLEMISH TO GOD, (for a propitiation, to quench God's wrath toward us) cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? {15} And for this reason He is the mediator of a NEW COVENANT, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the FIRST COVENANT, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE."

Jesus has offered Himself to God. He sprinkled His blood on the heavenly Mercy Seat and has quenched the wrath of God. By this offering of Himself He has obtained for us eternal salvation. We who believe are saved from the wrath to come. No other sacrifice need be offered. This is the idea of propitiation.

One cannot understand or appreciate the importance of propitiation if he does not understand something of wrath of God. When you read your Bible honestly you will discover the fact and reality of the wrath of God toward sinners. Look in your concordance and there you will find more references to the wrath of God, His anger and fury than you do to His love and tenderness. Our God is loving and tender but He is utterly Holy as well. Therefore, He can do nothing but hate sin and be filled with wrath toward the sinner.

Consider the words of (Deuteronomy 32:39-43 NASB) 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. {40} 'Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, {41} If I sharpen My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me. {42} 'I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword shall devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.' {43} "Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And will render vengeance on His adversaries, And will atone for His land and His people."

(Psalms 7:11 KJV) "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."

(Nahum 1:1-8 NASB) "The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. {2} A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD IS AVENGING AND WRATHFUL. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. {3} The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet. {4} He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither; The blossoms of Lebanon wither. {5} Mountains quake because of Him, And the hills dissolve; Indeed the earth is up heaved by His presence, The world and all the inhabitants in it. {6} Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the BURNING OF HIS ANGER? HIS WRATH IS POURED OUT LIKE FIRE, And the rocks are broken up by Him. {7} The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. {8} But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site, And WILL PURSUE HIS ENEMIES INTO DARKNESS."

We could present a hundred such references from the Old Testament that tell us about the wrath of God. Some would say, "That was the Old Testament, God isn't like that anymore." We must answer, "God is the same today as He has always been." There is still a need for the propitiation of His wrath toward sinners. Look with me at (Romans 1:18-19 NASB) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, {19} because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." This text tells us that God's wrath is being constantly revealed against those who know His truth but refuse to acknowledge and obey it. But how is His wrath and anger toward sinners revealed? Look with me at (Romans 1:28 NASB) "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

This verse tells us that one way God expresses His wrath toward sinners is by giving them up to the desire of their hearts. He turns them loose to pursue and follow whatever their depraved hearts tell them to do. The list is long and disgusting. The context speaks of homosexuality in all its forms and then many other sins are listed.

(Romans 1:29-32 NASB) "being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, {30} slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, {31} without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; {32} and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Such evil exists, continues, and increases because God is angry with the sinner and, in judgement, lets him go the way of his evil heart. Consider also the words of a few other texts in the book of Romans.

(Romans 2:2-16 NASB) "And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. {3} And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? {4} Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are STORING UP WRATH for yourself in THE DAY OF WRATH and revelation of the righteous JUDGMENT OF GOD, {6} who WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: {7} to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; {8} but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. {9} There will be tribulation and distress for EVERY soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, {10} but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. . . {16} on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

(Romans 9:22-24 NASB) "What if God, although willing to DEMONSTRATE HIS WRATH and to make His power known, endured with much patience VESSELS OF WRATH PREPARED FOR DESTRUCTION? {23} And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon VESSELS OF MERCY, which He prepared beforehand for glory, {24} even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles."

God, ladies and gentlemen, is filled with wrath because of sin and He has demonstrated this wrath time and time again.

Is God love as the scripture says He is? Yes, of course. He is grace and mercy also but He is wrath and this must not be denied or ignored. We must never forget and never fail to proclaim the fact of God's wrath, anger, vengeance and justice. We must never forget to say that God is angry with the wicked everyday and that His wrath abides on them even now. (John 3:36 NASB) "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Friend if you are outside of faith in Christ God's wrath, not His love, rests upon you, now! There is no Mercy Seat between you and the law which calls out to God saying, "This man is guilty of breaking your commandments. Therefore, you must condemn and damn him forever." And damned you will be if Christ does not propitiate God on your behalf.

Jonathan Edwards captured the reality and urgency of the situation when, in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,"he painted a word picture of sinful men and women being held in the hand of God over the flaming pit of hell. At any moment He might let them go. Nothing stood between them and hell forever. Many on that occasion were moved, by the grace of God, to cry out, "What must we do to be saved?" The answer given them is the answer that I give to you today. The sinner must flee to the Mercy Seat, the Mediator between God and sinners. The sinner must run to Him who quenches the wrath of God. The sinner must go to the Lamb who was slain, whose blood was poured out for the sins of all God's elect people. The sinner must go to Christ who is Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all who come to Him by faith. The sinner must run to the one whom God displayed publicly as a PROPITIATION in (by) His blood through faith. Men are sinners in the hands of an angry God. "Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make PROPITIATION for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17 NASB)

(1 John 2:1-2 NASB) "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; {2} and He Himself is the PROPITIATION for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."

John Murray wrote these valuable comments on our subject: "The doctrine of propitiation is precisely this that God loved the objects of His wrath so much that He gave His own Son to the end that He, by His blood, should make provision for the removal of His wrath. It was Christ's (job) so to deal with the wrath, that those loved would no longer be the objects of wrath and therefore love would achieve it's aim of making the children of wrath the children of God's good pleasure." In other words, God in Christ has quenched His own wrath for the sake of those He loved and wished to save. One final text. (1 John 4:10 NASB) "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the PROPITIATION for our sins."

As far as the practical application of the doctrine of Propitiation I offer the following comments.

First to the Christian I say, "This doctrine is invaluable. For here we find peace for a troubled conscience. We find in the doctrine the ability to forget past transgressions that have haunted us to this day. Brothers and sisters, God's wrath toward you has been put out. The demands of the law were satisfied by Christ on your behalf. There is therefore now, right now, no condemnation toward anyone who has trusted Christ for eternal life. You and I can rest in the saving arms of the Son of God for He has quenched the wrath of God toward us.

To the unbeliever I say this. You must not be found standing before God in that final day without Christ. Right now the law cries out to your Creator and it demands that you pay for your sins with eternal death and torment. There is no mercy in the law. There is no mercy from God to those who trust in the law. You have no Mercy Seat, no Advocate, no Savior outside of Christ. Stand before God with any offering less than Christ and you will pay for your own sins and that forever. You will be separate from God with no hope of recovery. This is the second death. But if you will petition Jesus for salvation He will save you. If you will run to Him, trust Him to propitiate the wrath of God on your behalf you will be saved from the wrath of God that rests on you now and is to come. You must believe in Jesus Christ the Lord for the salvation of your soul. Then you can rejoice in the doctrine of Propitiation.