Romans 3 – question 4
In Romans 3:25, Paul writes: « 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. » The expression « in his forbearance » (or « in the time of his patience ») refers to how God, in His great patience, had temporarily withheld His final judgment on past sins, awaiting the coming of Jesus Christ, who would be the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for Sin.
Here’s how to understand this expression in the context of God’s Redemption and justice.
1. God’s patience regarding past sins
In the Old Testament, God had instituted a system of sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sins, but these sacrifices were not sufficient to bring full and final forgiveness (cf. Hebrews 10:1-4). They were symbolic and temporary, anticipating a perfect sacrifice to come. Despite this, God temporarily forgave His people’s sins and did not immediately punish them as they deserved, showing His patience.
The phrase « in his forbearance » therefore means that God tolerated these sins temporarily, postponing their full punishment until they could be atoned for by the perfect sacrifice of Christ. This was not an approval of Sin but a period in which God withheld judgment, showing His patience and desire for people to come to Repentance.
2. God’s patience as an expression of His mercy
In His mercy, God did not immediately condemn humanity for its sins, even though justice demands that sin be punished. By holding back this judgment, God demonstrated mercy and gave everyone an opportunity to turn to Him.
This divine patience is also echoed in:
- 2 Peter 3:9, which says, « The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to Repentance. »
- Acts 17:30, where Paul explains that « In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. »
God’s patience is therefore a time of Grace, in which He bore with past sins in view of a future Redemption.
3. God’s justice revealed through His patience
In this passage, Paul emphasizes that although God demonstrated patience by not immediately punishing past sins, His justice remains intact. By presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of Atonement, God vividly demonstrates His righteousness, because Christ’s sacrifice shows that:
- God does not ignore sin: His patience does not mean He turns a blind eye to injustice or tolerates sin indefinitely.
- God is just: In Christ, God shows that sin has been acknowledged and punished according to perfect justice. Jesus’ sacrifice is therefore the culmination of divine patience and the satisfaction of God’s justice.
Conclusion
The phrase « in his forbearance » in Romans 3:25 refers to a period during which God withheld judgment on past sins, awaiting the perfect sacrifice of Christ. This patience demonstrates God’s mercy, as He desires that all have the chance to repent, and it also upholds God’s justice, for through Jesus’ sacrifice, God deals with sin definitively.