• past failure prompted extra hurry to not be late
again
• sinners fall short / shut out from God’s glory
GOD’S DILEMMA: HOW TO BE JUST AND SINNER-JUSTIFIER?
• God’s desire / man’s design for mutual fellowship
• yet, God’s holy nature demands justice be meted out
for wrongdoing
RIGHTEOUSNESS, OUTWARD & INNER
• righteousness / justice more closely related in
Greek than English translation conveys
• ‘forensic’ righteousness: imputed innocence before
divine law-court; acquitted of charges
• ‘formative’ righteousness: Spirit-empowered
quality, e.g. balance in learning to ride a bicycle
GOD’S SOLUTION, OUR SALVATION
• justified freely by His grace through Christ’s
redemption: ransom, e.g. communion cup
• election promises appealing, but...who’s going to
pay?
COVERING THE PRICE OF BAILEY’S BANKRUPTCY
• viewers’ moral sensitivity aroused when villain
escapes justice
• Jesus ‘sacrifice of atonement’ reminds of
‘atonement cover’ atop Ark of Covenant
• layout of Tabernacle, annual ritual, construction
of cherubim all direct focus on value of sacrifice
• generosity of Donor should move us to tears when
see our own bankruptcy ‘covered’