Last week I tried to show from verses 25 and 26 of that text that the biggest problem, the most basic problem, that the death of the son of God was designed to solve was the problem that God

looks unrighteous in passing over so many sins that deserve punishment which they don't get.

I tried to show that right at the heart of the Old Testament in Exodus 32 on Mount Sinai at the giving of the

law we have this glorious revelation the Lord the Lord a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

showing steadfast love to thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

That means passing over iniquity and transgression and sin.

That's the God that was revealed on top of Mount Sinai

at the very center of the law.

A God who passes over iniquity, transgression, and sin.

And I said that until we get a God-centered grip

on the meaning of sin and the meaning of righteousness,

the problem of the cross will never, ever make sense to us.

He won't even make sense that God had a problem to solve until we have a God-centered handle on what sin is and what righteousness.

Sin, I said, is not so much a crime against man.

It's a crime against God.

Sin is always preferring something in the world to God and thus it belittles God. It says your glory

is not worth very much, your name is dishonored, you just don't mean very much to me. I choose this alternative which you have said is not wise and not good.

Sin is always a belittling of God's glory and honor and name. Righteousness on the other hand is exactly the opposite. Righteousness is the upholding of God's glory. It's doing what is ultimately right, namely putting God first and lifting up the honor of God,

the name of God and the glory of God and saying, you're valuable.

The two are diametrically opposed.

Sin belittles the glory of God by choosing against Him,

and righteousness magnifies the glory of God

...