THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD --- Romans 3:25.
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (or mercy seat) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." --- Romans 3:25.
God set forth the propitiation; from all eternity he proposed Christ to be the mercy-seat; the spring of all is from the Father, who is love; he proposed, revealed, and made Christ known to Adam, to Abraham, and to the prophets; he proposed the mercy seat as an object of faith in all the sacrifices that were types of Christ. This mercy seat is clearly and fully set forth in the gospel dispensation.
In this plan the righteousness and justice of God are declared, while he vindicates the honour of his perfections and laws, and maintains the authority of his government by punishing the offences of "rebel subjects in the sufferings of the Surety, who was made sin, (an offering for sin,) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Whither shall I, a poor sinner, conscious of guilt, and apprehensive of wrath, flee for refuge? Where shall I find it? Where, but under the covert of atoning blood! While, others have recourse to refuges of lies, and would establish a righteousness of their own, "in the Lord, my righteousness, I find rest and safety having fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before me; in Christ, my hope, I shall have strong consolation."Does Jehovah from his mercy-seat pardon me, a rebel sinner? Do I hear his voice beseeching me to be reconciled to him, through Christ, by propitiation and peace?
Shall I not hear his voice of mercy, and live and joy in God, through Christ, by whom I receive atonement? Will God commune with me from his mercy-seat, and bless me with the manifestation of his love? Oh delightful interview, when most alone, retired from the world, but least alone when with my God! Oh the inexpressible pleasure of secret devotion, of a life, "hid with Christ in God!" If the contemplation of Divine love here below be so ravishing, oh what shall I experience above? My God, guide me here by thy counsels, and afterwards receive me to thy glory.
Lord, hast thou wash'd my garments clean,
In Jesus' blood, from shame and sin?
Shall I not strive, with all my power,
That sin pollute my soul no more?