Lesson 10: A Humanitarian by Dying For Us
Go Deeper
Study Guide Pages 67-73
More Key Bible Verses
Read Romans 3:23-26.
The wrath of God is a critical concept in these first chapters of Romans, and—though it doesn’t appear by name—it plays a central role in Romans 3:23-26.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26
Read and study the following quotes from “A Humanitarian by Dying for Us” chapter 10 of God—The Ultimate Humanitarian.
How greatly sin angers God can be seen at Christ’s cross. There Jesus atoned for our sins. Many people don’t feel the full force of that statement, however, because they have lost sight of the definition of “atone.” It means to appease a person’s wrath. On the cross Jesus appeased God’s anger over our sins.
God—The Ultimate Humanitarian, 67
The love which motivated God to punish Jesus is truly an out of this world love. Even if we remove sin from the equation, it would still be incomprehensible. The Creator dies for his creatures? The King dies for his subjects? It’s supposed to be the other way around. But when we add sin back in, it truly becomes unfathomable. The King dying for his rebellious subjects? The Creator saving creatures who he had declared worthless (Romans 3:12)? This doesn’t make any sense.
God—The Ultimate Humanitarian, 68
More Questions to Consider
- What does it mean to “come short of the glory of God?” (see Romans 3:23ff)
- The cross shows us how much God hates sin; in what ways does it do that?
- The cross shows us how much God loves us; in what ways does it do that?
- Agree/disagree: If God truly loved us, he wouldn’t punish us for the few sins that we commit.
- How does the knowledge that Jesus has fully appeased God’s wrath against sin change the way we live? How does this knowledge change the way we think about eternal life?
Submit Your Questions & Comments
We would love to expand upon this meaningful discussion with you. Please share your questions with us, and we will respond to them as soon as we can.