Reading through Romans-Propitiation

"Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Whom God set forth as a propitiation: Jesus, by His death (by His blood) was a propitiation (substitute sacrifice) for us. As He was judged in our place, the Father could demonstrate His righteousness in judgment against sin, while sparing those who deserved the judgment.

Wuest on propitiation: "The word in its classical form was used of the act of appeasing the Greek gods by a sacrifice … in other words, the sacrifice was offered to buy off the anger of the god."

d. Whom God set forth as a propitiation: This shows that Jesus somehow appeased a reluctant, unwilling Father to hold back His wrath. Instead, it was God the Father who initiated the propitiation: whom God set forth.

e. God, in His forbearance, had passed over the sins of those Old Testament saints who trusted in the coming Messiah. At the cross, those sins were no longer passed over, they were paid for.

The work of Jesus on the cross freed God from the charge that He passed over sin committed before the cross lightly. They were passed over for a time, but they were finally paid for.

That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus: At the cross, God demonstrated His righteousness by offering man justification (a legal verdict of "not guilty"), while remaining completely just(because the righteous penalty of sin had been paid at the cross).

It's easy to see how God could only be just - simply send every guilty sinner to hell, as a just Judge. It's easy to see how God could only be the justifier - simply tell every guilty sinner, "I declare a pardon. You are all declared 'not guilty.'" But only God could find a way to be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

"Here we learn that God designed to give the most evident displays of both his justice and mercy. Of his justice, in requiring a sacrifice, and absolutely refusing to give salvation to a lost world in any other way; and of his mercy, in providing THE sacrifice which his justice required." (Clarke)

Oh, Dear God, I pray this day in gratitude for both your justice and mercy.  I am grateful beyond words for your complete knowledge of me, even in my sin, and your complete love for me as well.  Thank you for demonstrating both for me on the cross.