Key Verse: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith.”

“Christ as a sacrifice.” In these verses, Paul goes to the very center of the gospel—the cross. God didn’t overlook sin; He dealt with it fully. The cross shows that God did not ignore sin but judged it completely in Christ. Our forgiveness is not cheap—it was purchased at the highest cost.

A “sacrifice of atonement.” The word atonement means “to cover” or “to satisfy.” On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of our guilt so that God could remain just and still justify sinners. We are justified freely by God’s grace. There’s nothing we can do to deserve it; our only response is faith and gratitude.

The cross is where justice and mercy meet. God’s holiness required punishment for sin, but His love provided the sacrifice. Every drop of Jesus’ blood speaks of a God who takes sin seriously and loves sinners deeply. In one act, God displayed His perfect justice and His perfect mercy. He remains holy while extending love and forgiveness to sinners.

Because the penalty has already been paid, believers can rest in the assurance that they are fully accepted by God—no condemnation remains.

Key Takeaways:

1. God’s Justice Is Fully Satisfied. Mercy = not getting what we deserve.  Jesus took our place.
2. Grace Is Freely Given, Not Earned. Grace = getting what we don’t deserve.
3. The Cross Reveals God’s Character. Both holy and loving.
4. Now we have freedom from guilt and fear.
5. Our response is Worship and Gratitude.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being our atonement. Let us never take lightly the price You paid for our forgiveness.