Christ, Our Mercy Seat (Rom. 3:25)

Wayne Galloway
12/20/12 - N/A

Series: Additional Studies

Introduction:

1.  In recent studies we have been focusing attention upon the temple and its place in the plan of God for man’s redemption. 2.  The temple stood to represent man’s distance from God because of his sin, and yet God’s continued relationship with man.  Though God is in heaven the temple represented His presence on earth among men. 3.  The sacrificial offerings identified death as the result and the consequence of sin, and yet focused on God’s willingness to forgive through His acceptance of such offerings as atonement for sin. 4.  The temple was composed of various pieces of furniture.  In the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant associated with the very footstool of God’s feet, and thus we could identify it is the most prominent piece of furniture of the temple. 5.  The covering of the Ark of the Covenant was known as the “Mercy Seat.”

a.  The Mercy Seat was the golden lid measuring 2 ½ cubits by 1-½ cubits.

b.  On it were two cherubim opposite each other with outspread wings (Ex. 25:17, 22).

6.  In Rom. 3:25 Christ is identified as our mercy seat (propitiatory or propitiation). 7.  Let’s go back and look at the O.T. mercy seat concept, evaluate the terms that are used in the O.T. and the N.T. to describe the mercy seat and try to discover what it means for Christ to be our mercy seat.

Discussion:

I.  The Hebrew name for this golden covering is “kapporeth.”

A.  It is rendered in the English appropriately “propitiatory.” The NASB uses “mercy seat” here in Ex. 25:17ff.

B.  S. J. Schultz (ZPEB) says, “the paraphrase ‘mercy seat’ by Tyndale comes from Luther’s rendering in the German.  Martin Noth suggests that Luther did this on the basis of the Greek and Latin translations of the Hebrew.

C.  Schultz says that even though the literal meaning of the Hebrew word may be “lid” it is quite apparent from the Levitical ritual on the Day of Atonement that the meaning is “propitiate.”

D.  The Greek word used in Rom. 3:25 of Jesus being our “mercy seat” is “hilasterion,” translated in the NASB “propitiation.”  This is the Greek term used to translate the Hebrew “kapporeth.”

1.  The meaning of “hilasterion” has been debated.

2.  Some see in it the idea of the forgiveness of the penalty of sin by means of a substitute who assumes the penalty (e.g. KJV, NASB, ESV) thus translate “propitiation.”

3.  Some see the idea of “expiation” and see the idea of forgiveness or the sending away of sin by Christ’s death but without the idea of penal substitution (RSV).

4.  Some translations just leave it ambiguous and translate “sacrifice of atonement” (NIV).

5.  G. K. Beale recommends the translation “mercy seat.”

E.  I am certainly no “linguist” but from what I have studied about the word “hilasterion” I have concluded that it involves the idea of Christ bringing satisfaction to the wrath of God against sin.

II.  Leviticus 16 describes what happened on the Day of Atonement and how the High Priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat (11-19).  It is against this O.T. context that Rom. 3:25 must be interpreted.

A.  On the Day of Atonement Aaron offered a bull for a sin offering for himself and for his household.  Some of the blood was then sprinkled on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat (Lev. 16:11-14).

1.  Atonement was thus made for Aaron and his household.

2.  Atonement brings one into a right relationship with God by dealing with the sin that causes the separation.

3.  Atonement thus brings reconciliation(healing) to the ruptured relationship between God and man.

4.  The bull offered in the Day of Atonement was for Aaron and his household.

B.  A goat was then slaughtered for the people (Lev. 16:15ff).

1.  Some of this blood was also sprinkled on the mercy seat and in front of it.

2.  This was done for cleansing from the impurities of sin.

C.  Since this was the Day of Atonement the implication is that this sprinkling of blood had a restorative benefit to the relationship between God and man.

D.  The book of Hebrews says that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (10:4).

1.   But presents Christ as the offering, whose blood is sufficient.

2.  His blood provides for forgiveness, cleansing and thus atonement, i.e., the relationship is restored.

III.  It is interesting how so many of the concepts come together in Christ.

A.  He is the High Priest.  He is the sacrifice.  His blood is sprinkled.   Thus, He makes atonement and He is the means of atonement.   He satisfies the wrath of God Rom. 5:9) and He is the mercy seat or the place of the satisfaction.

B.  Indeed all these different images are so tightly woven together it is next to impossible to separate them.

C.  In Rom. 3:23-25 Paul justifies us from sin through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. He makes Christ a public propitiation.  Contrast the “private” propitiation done by the O.T. High Priest inside the Holy of Holies.

D.  The question is do we believe it.  Are we willing to place our faith in what He has done, who He is as sacrifice, satisfaction, means and place of atonement and reconciliation to God?

Conclusion:

1.  Will you trust Christ as the covering for your sin? 2.  Will you allow Him to cover the sins of those who have sinned against you? 3.  Will you allow Him to sooth the wrath of God for you?