Rhapsody of Realities 8 February
Scripture: 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 (Romans 3:25).
There’re those who try out all sorts of rituals to receive remission of sins. Some even inflict harsh wounds on themselves, trying to pay for their sins by their own blood or their own suffering. But all that is futile. If this has been your journey or experience, stop in your tracks! Stop the struggle! Jesus has paid for you.
The Bible says He was set forth to be the appeasement for your sins. The Greek word translated “propitiation” in our theme verse is “hilasterion,” and it means the place of mercy, or “Mercy Seat.” In the Old Testament, the Mercy Seat was the covering of the ark of God. God met there with the High Priest, and His presence was on the Mercy Seat.
But today, Jesus Christ is God’s place of mercy for us; He’s the Mercy Seat, the medium of expiation. Jesus was set forth for that purpose, so that God would declare His own righteousness for letting sinners go free. You have a permanent mercy seat—Christ Jesus! This is different from the one that the High Priests went into every year in the Old Testament.
Read yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities here
In the Old Testament, the High Priests offered the sacrificial lamb, and confessed the sins of the people over the scapegoat. But the following year, there was a remembrance of their sins again. The sins that were past couldn’t be remitted. The Bible says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4).
But the Apostle Paul declared, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39). He offered to God a perfect sacrifice for all-time and eternity, such that there’ll be no more remembrance of sins. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Receive it for yourself, and preach it to those in your world. Praise God!
CONFESSION
I’ve been justified, declared righteous freely, by the grace of Jesus Christ, through the redemption that’s in His blood! He’s my Mercy Seat! Righteousness has been credited to my account, because I was born in Christ, into His mercy and grace. I’ve been declared “not guilty,” because Jesus was delivered to death for my offences, and raised back to life for my acquittal. Blessed be His Name forever!
FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 10:11-14; Galatians 4:4-5; Romans 4:25
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 26:31-56 & Exodus 34-35
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 13:10-23 & Genesis 39
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities -You Have a Mercy Seat- written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 8 February 2021
