ROMANS—NOTE ON Romans 3:25 Jesus’ blood “propitiated” or satisfied God’s wrath (Romans 1:18). Thus he could forgive sinners while also maintaining his holiness. Some scholars argue that the word propitiation should be translated expiation (the wiping away of sin), but the word refers to the satisfaction of God’s wrath, turning it from wrath to favor. God’s righteous anger needed to be satisfied before sin could be forgiven. God in his love sent his Son to meet the demands of God’s holy anger against sin. God’s justice was questioned because he had patiently overlooked former sins. But Paul says that God knew Christ’s death would happen, where the full payment for the guilt of sin would be made.

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