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 believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26

So earlier the Apostle Paul taught us, what and why Christ is the good news for us all. Today the Apostle Paul teaches us how Christ is the good news. Jesus took your place on that cross, as Paul said “God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His (Christ) blood” It’s interesting when you look at the other English translations NIV states “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of His blood” The Amplified Version says this “whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith” As you look at the different translations, you get the understanding Christ died for your sins on the cross, and by our faith in Christ and his sacrifice we are declared righteous with God

The word propitiation is very interesting, Gotquestions.org says the word means  this “The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement or satisfaction, specifically toward God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him.” The only way we can be reconciled or redeemed to God is by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) This is what Christ has done for you, because He loved you and chosen you before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

Consider these scriptures about propitiation “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) The Apostle John states Christ is the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for us and the entire world! Remember what John the Baptist stated about Jesus “Behold The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29) 

The author of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, stated the same thing “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Jesus Christ, our Lord, our King, our High Priest, made the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice for our sins, the sins of the people, the world. This is a difficult concept for us to grasp, that the Son of God loves us enough to die for our sins, to redeem and forgive us

What did Christ do for guilty sinners like me and you? As the Apostle Paul says here “That He (Christ) might be Just and the Justifier of him (Us) who believes/has faith in Jesus” We are redeemed and justified by our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the propitiation for our sins, who has reconciled us back to our Father, and given us the Holy Spirit, to be Children of God, Amen!

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 3:21-24

What is the gospel message? We are told to preach and share the gospel to everyone, but do you know what the gospel even is? The word “gospel” simply means good news, so what is the good news? Well you might say “Jesus died for your sins” and this is good news, but does the world understand this good news?

Well the Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes it clear “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” All means all, correct? Every single person has fallen short of God, meaning we are all sinners, except The Lord Jesus Christ. Any other belief is against the Word of God. Everyone needs a Savior, everyone needs forgiveness and atonement for their sins. Everyone in the world is already condemned for their sins, headed to eternal Hell, with no hope and fully justified by our own actions. As the Apostle John said “He who doesn’t believe is condemned already” (John 3:18)

So when you start to understand all this, when you start to understand your level of depravity based from Gods moral law (The Ten Commandments) You understand that you desperately need a Savior. So how can we be forgiven? How can we be reconciled back to God? The only way is through our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) This is why Christ is the only way to salvation, there is no other way except by faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9)

As the Apostle Paul says here “The righteousness of God , which is by faith of Jesus Christ,  upon all of them that believe” This is why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became flesh and died for your sins on the cross. And on the 3rd day, He rose again and ascended at the right hand of God the Father. The only way you can be saved from eternal damnation is by faith in Jesus Christ. You can’t save yourself, there is nobody righteous, and your works will never save you, its only by faith in the works of our Lord Jesus Christ

So when you understand this, you understand why the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the greatest news ever! I’ll end with the words of the Apostle Paul “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” You are saved and justified , not by your own works, but by the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the best news ever! Amen!