He’s Our Mercy Seat - Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Being justified (declared righteous) 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 (Romans 3:24-25).

Due to Adam’s transgression, man was separated from God. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Sadly, many have only stayed on the negative part of this scripture, without taking a step further. The twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth verses have so much faith-building thoughts. Yes, all men sinned in Adam, and fell short of the glory of God, but the problem was fixed in, and by, Jesus Christ. 

We’ve been justified, declared righteous freely, by the grace of God through the redemption that’s in Christ Jesus. In our opening scripture, the Greek word translated "propitiation" is "hilastērion," 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 priests, and His presence was on the Mercy Seat. It was the place where the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled in the presence of God; a place for atonement of sins (Leviticus 16:15-16).

In the New Testament, God presented Christ as a propitiation or "Mercy Seat." 1 John 4:10 says, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Jesus Christ is the covering of the ark; He is God’s place of mercy for us. So, just as the Mercy Seat was the place for atonement of sins in the Old Testament, today, the Lord Jesus Himself is the propitiation and atonement for the sins of the world. 

God, in His righteousness, in His equity, has completely removed our sins as though they never existed; He did this in Christ Jesus! This is available to every man in Christ Jesus; Christ is your Mercy Seat. We’re no longer short of His glory, because He (Christ Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions; the predicament was fixed in Jesus. He made it possible, by His death, burial and glorious resurrection for us to have eternal life, and live righteously unto God. Blessed be His Name forever!

Prayer 

Dear Father, I thank you for lavishly pouring out your love on me, demonstrating that I’m worth the life of your Son, Jesus. His blood was shed on the cross for the remission of sins, and now, I walk in your righteousness. I’m compelled by love to turn others from sin unto righteousness, and from the power of Satan unto God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

further study: 1 John 4:8-10; Hebrews 4:14-16

: Luke 11:37-54 Judges 5-6

: Romans 8:20-28 Psalm 112-113