Jesus, the Son of God, was executed on a cross...was that necessary?  Why didn't God just forgive us?  How do Justice and Grace relate?  This sermon will address these questions and show the glory of God in how He acted in our salvation.

Proverbs 17:15   He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

Revelation 13:8   All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:21   For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

1 John 3:5   And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

1 Peter 1:18-19   knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Let us wonder: Grace and Justice
Join and point to mercy’s store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

• Was the cross necessary:  discuss the "Problem" that begins to answer this question.

• Define Propitiation. 

• Who offers the Propitiation and why is this so different from how humans propitiate? 

• The Propitiation is a Person:  Who is He and why is this important? 

• What are the implications for us that we have a Propitiation and that God is Propitiated?