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Atonement Principles in Romans:
The primary theme in Romans is: The Righteousness of God
(please read my overview on Romans, if you are not convinced of that)
With God's Righteousness in mind, Paul writes about the process of bringing Born Again and Justified Believers into maturity. The New Spirit Led Life in believer's hearts must grow and replace the sin nature we inherited from Adam. The problem Paul deals with in Romans, is that God is 'Righteous' yet He loves to save sinful people.
Romans 3:25 Gives us a summary of this process. GOD has provided 'Faith in The Blood of Jesus' to enable The New Birth. HIS Righteousness also demands our sin nature be removed from our mind, will and emotions. Part of this cleansing process is called 'Atonement' or 'propitiation.'
Romans 3:25 connects the two ideas of Passover and Propitiation. In Romans, Paul assumes the 'Good News' of salvation. He never gives Jesus the title 'Savior' and he mentions salvation only 3 times in Romans. So it should be no surprise that Paul only mentions 'Atonement' one time in Romans.... Paul uses different words like 'mercy' and 'holiness' or 'justice.'
New Believers have the New Nature birthed into our heart. Paul calls this 'Justification.' God sees Believers' hearts as being covered in The Blood of Jesus at Passover. We are New Creations in Christ Jesus. God has 'Passed Over' our faults and applies 'Mercy' to our account. Then God's righteousness begins to clean up our old way of life.
God's goodness and mercy lead us to repentance as He patiently loves and leads us into His Righteous Paths -