Washed in the Blood: The Righteousness of God in Romans 3

Washed in the Blood: The Righteousness of God in Romans 3

Scripture: Romans 3:21–26 (focus on verses 25–26)
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been slowing down to look closely at Romans 3:21–26—a passage so rich that it has taken us three sermons to cover it. Today we come to verses 25 and 26, where Paul brings us to the heart of the gospel: the blood of Jesus Christ.

Why Do Christians Talk About the Blood?
If you’re new to Christianity, you might wonder why Christians sing about and celebrate the blood of Jesus. Hymns like Nothing but the Blood, There Is Power in the Blood, and There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood may sound strange outside the church. Why such focus on the blood?

Because the blood of Jesus is the very means by which God saves sinners. Paul writes that God put Christ forward “as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:25).

The blood is more than a symbol of Jesus’ death—it is the ransom paid, the cleansing that washes away sin, and the sacrifice that satisfies the wrath of God.

The Blood That Cleanses
Throughout Scripture, we see the power of Christ’s blood:

• Acts 20:28 – Jesus purchased us with His blood.
• Ephesians 1:7 – We have redemption through His blood.
• Hebrews 10:19 – We can approach God with confidence because of the blood.
• Revelation 5:9 – We are ransomed by the blood of the Lamb.
• 1 John 1:7 – The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Blood is necessary because sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1–2). Without forgiveness, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Hebrews 9:22 makes it clear: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Propitiation: A Hard but Necessary Word
Paul uses the word propitiation in Romans 3:25. That’s not a word we use in daily conversation, is it? You don’t walk into Sheetz and say, “Hey, I saw John propitiating over by the coffee bar!” We just don’t talk like that.

But while the word feels foreign, the concept is central to the gospel. Propitiation means that Jesus’ blood satisfies the righteous wrath of God against sin. His sacrifice removes our guilt, covers our sin, and turns away God’s judgment. Jesus is our substitute—He took the death we deserved so that we could receive the life we do not deserve.

This is why John the Baptist declared: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system by being the perfect, spotless Lamb whose blood brings forgiveness.

The Wrath and Love of God
Some people struggle with the idea of God’s wrath. Why can’t God just forgive? Why does blood need to be shed?

Scripture teaches that God’s wrath is not like our sinful anger. His wrath is His holy and just response to sin. Because He is perfectly righteous, sin must be dealt with—it cannot simply be ignored.

And yet, God’s wrath does not cancel His love. In fact, at the cross we see His justice and love meet. God is both just (punishing sin as it deserves) and the justifier (declaring sinners righteous through faith in Jesus).

Let me give you a simple picture of how wrath and love can exist together. Not long ago, my daughter Lucy came running to me, crying: “Daddy, Ellie hurt me!” Sure enough, Ellie had slapped her sister across the face. I was angry—wrathful, even. That behavior was not okay and had to be addressed. But in that moment, I never stopped loving Ellie. My anger and my love were happening at the same time.

If we as parents can hold both wrath and love together, how much more perfectly does God? He loves us deeply, yet His holy wrath against sin requires justice. The cross is where both meet.

As theologian John Stott once said:

“According to the Christian revelation, God’s own great love propitiated His own holy wrath through the gift of His own dear Son, who took our place, bore our sin, and died our death. Thus God Himself gave Himself to save us from Himself.”

Marveling at the Good News
This is the heart of the gospel: God Himself gave Himself to save us from Himself.
Because of Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God. Because of His blood, we are cleansed, forgiven, and reconciled. Because of His sacrifice, we can approach God with confidence and joy.
Paul begins verse 21 with the phrase, “But now.” That changes everything.

• But now we are made new in Christ.
• But now we can break free from sin’s hold.
• But now we are heirs of the King, bought with a price.
• But now we are called to share this good news with others.

Our Response
If you’ve never trusted in Jesus, this is the invitation: believe in Him and receive forgiveness through His blood. If you are a believer, this passage calls us to marvel again at the depth of God’s love and to share the gospel with others.
The more we meditate on the cross, the more natural it becomes to tell our friends, neighbors, and coworkers what Christ has done. This good news is too marvelous to keep to ourselves.

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law… through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22)