May 12
15
Doctrinal Standard #25
- Q. How is Christ a priest?
- A. As a priest, Christ offered Himself up once as a sacrifice for us to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile us to God, and He continually intercedes for us.
Memory Verses
- “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28, ESV).
Scripture
- Study Passage: Romans 3:21-31
- Support Passages: Matthew 5:23-24; Acts 20:28; Romans 5:1-11; I Corinthians 6:20, 7:23; II Corinthians 5:11-21; I Peter 1:18-19
- Bible Story: Acts 9:1-22
Thoughts
- Christ as our High Priest has perfectly and completely reconciled our relationship with God. He has done this by first paying the price for our sins, imputing His righteousness upon our hearts and interceding on our behalf before our Father in heaven. Christ has reconciled those who were once enemies of God bringing them into a friendship and loving relationship with the Lord most high.
- “Reconciliation — a change from enmity to friendship.
(1.) In Col. 1:21, 22, the word there used refers to a change wrought in the personal character of the sinner who ceases to be an enemy to God by wicked works, and yields up to him his full confidence and love. In 2 Cor. 5:20 the apostle beseeches the Corinthians to be “reconciled to God”, i.e., to lay aside their enmity.
(2.) Rom. 5:10 refers not to any change in our disposition toward God, but to God himself, as the party reconciled. Romans 5:11 teaches the same truth. From God we have received “the reconciliation” (R.V.), i.e., he has conferred on us the token of his friendship. So also 2 Cor. 5:18, 19 speaks of a reconciliation originating with God, and consisting in the removal of his merited wrath. In Eph. 2:16 it is clear that the apostle does not refer to the winning back of the sinner in love and loyalty to God, but to the restoration of God’s forfeited favour. This is effected by his justice being satisfied, so that he can, in consistency with his own nature, be favourable toward sinners. Justice demands the punishment of sinners. The death of Christ satisfies justice, and so reconciles God to us. This reconciliation makes God our friend, and enables him to pardon and save us.” [1]
Discussion Questions
- What does reconciliation mean?
- Reconciliation implies that during a period of time we were enemies with God. What made us enemies of God?
- How has God reconciled our relationship with Him?
- Is there any other way to reconcile our relationship with God?
- Who initiates the reconciliation, God or man? (Acts 9:1-22).
- If God is the one who starts the reconciliation process what part do we play?
