This week’s series of blog posts have been created from Mark’s notes rather than a transcript of the sermon. This hopefully will give you additional insight into the passage. You can download Mark’s sermon notes below.
Thursday, December 12’s Devotional. In Romans 3:25, Paul writes, “God presented Him as the mercy seat by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness.” This rich imagery of the “mercy seat” points to the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament atonement system in Jesus Christ. To understand the depth of this, we need to grasp the significance of the mercy seat in Jewish tradition.
The mercy seat was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of a sacrifice on the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people. The mercy seat was where God’s wrath was satisfied through the blood of a sacrifice. In Romans 3:25, Paul uses this imagery to highlight the propitiatory nature of Jesus’ sacrifice—He satisfied the wrath of God, covering our sins completely.
Jesus, through His blood, became the final and perfect mercy seat. Unlike the temporary sacrifices of the Old Testament, His sacrifice was once for all. Mark emphasizes, “Jesus fully, finally, effectively, and completely bore God’s righteous wrath against us.” This truth means that God’s justice is satisfied, and His mercy is freely offered to us through faith.
This concept aligns with the Baptist principle of the direct lordship of Christ: “Christ exercises His authority over the believer and the local church directly, without delegating it to another.” We don’t need a human mediator or a repeated sacrifice. Jesus’ work is complete, and through Him, we have direct access to God.
Knowing that Jesus is our mercy seat changes how we approach God. We no longer come in fear, wondering if we have done enough to appease Him. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can approach God with confidence, knowing His wrath has been fully satisfied.
This truth is also reflected in our church covenant: “We seek to walk together in brotherly love and unity, expressing care, concern, and watchfulness over each other.” The mercy we receive from God compels us to extend mercy to others. Christ’s atoning work not only reconciles us to God but also empowers us to live as a forgiven and forgiving people.
Reflect on what it means to come before God, knowing His wrath is fully satisfied by Jesus. You are welcomed, loved, and declared righteous—not because of your efforts, but because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice.
Reflection Question: What does it mean for you to approach God, knowing Jesus has fully satisfied His wrath on your behalf?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being the mercy seat. Help me to approach God confidently, knowing Your sacrifice has covered my sins completely. Amen.
This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.