This is not religion. This is redemption.

This is not religion.
This is redemption.

Romans 3:25–28 is the heart of the gospel, and it answers a question every believer should understand:

How can a holy God forgive sinful people without compromising His justice?

Paul tells us that **God set forth Jesus as a propitiation by His blood, through faith** (v.25).
**Propitiation** means a sacrifice that fully satisfies God’s righteous judgment against sin. God did not ignore sin, excuse sin, or lower His standard. Sin was judged fully at the cross. Jesus became the place where judgment and mercy met. God’s wrath against sin was satisfied, and forgiveness was made possible without compromising holiness.

Paul also says this happened because of God’s **forbearance**. Forbearance means God temporarily restrained judgment. Throughout the Old Testament, God passed over sins, not because they were insignificant, but because He knew the full payment would be made at the cross. The blood of animals pointed forward. The blood of Jesus paid it in full.

Verse 26 declares the result: God is both **just** and the **justifier** of the one who has faith in Jesus. Justice was upheld. Mercy was released. Righteousness was not ignored; it was fulfilled in Christ.

Because of this, Paul says **boasting is excluded**. No one earns salvation. No one qualifies by works. Faith does not impress God; it simply receives what Christ has already accomplished.

The conclusion is clear in verse 28:
A person is **justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law**. Justified means declared righteous by God’s legal verdict, not by human effort.

The cross proves that God did not overlook sin. He dealt with it completely in Christ so He could forgive completely those who believe.

This is not religion.
This is redemption.