Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Spirit and the Messiah’s Death (3|3)
Pages 57-61
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 3:25 (NIV) God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood, to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
Acts 3:17-20 (NIV) “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, …”
Paul says God sent His Son “in the likeness of sinful flesh” and “as a sin-offering,” holding together both Jesus’ sinlessness and His full identification with humanity. How does this balance shape the way you understand what happened on the cross and the depth of God’s commitment to dealing with sin?
Which aspect challenges you more: Jesus’ full identification with our humanity, or His complete sinlessness?
Paul says that the life-giving verdict of the law (something Torah promised but could never deliver) is now fulfilled in those who belong to the crucified and risen Messiah and are indwelt by the Spirit. Where do you see the Spirit shaping your life in ways that reflect this new “verdict of life,” rather than the old patterns of guilt, fear, or self-effort?