God put [Jesus] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. ( Romans 3:25 25 whom God set forth `to be' a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; –26)

Romans 3:25 25 whom God set forth `to be' a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God; –26 may be the most important verses in the Bible.

God is wholly just! And he justifies the ungodly!

Not either/or! Both! He acquits the guilty, but is not guilty in doing so. This is the greatest news in the world!

• “[God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 Him who knew no sin he made `to be' sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. )
• “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.” ( Romans 8:3 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: )
• “[Christ] bore our sins in his body on the tree.” ( 1 Peter 2:24 24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. )
• “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” ( 1 Peter 3:18 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; )
• “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” ( Romans 6:5 5 For if we have become united with `him' in the likeness of his death, we shall be also `in the likeness' of his resurrection; )

If the most terrifying news in the world is that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that he is bound by his own righteous character to preserve the worth of his glory by pouring out his wrath on our sin . . .

. . . Then the best news in all the world (the gospel!) is that God has decreed a way of salvation that also upholds the worth of his glory, the honor of his Son, and the eternal salvation of his elect. He has given his Son to die for sinners and to conquer their death by his own resurrection.