what does romans 3:25-36 mean? does it mean all people alive before jesus never were punished for any sins?

Question

25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Answer 1

God sent His only begotten son to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish. There is no need to sacrifice again.


In the Old testament the blood shed by bulls and goats under Moses delayed God's wrath against sin (Hebrews 9:6-10). An animal's blood had to be endlessly and repeatedly shed because it couldn't once for all remove sin (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11). Their blood could cleanse the instruments and symbols of forgiveness, but only human blood could cleanse human beings (Hebrews 9:18-23).

Answer 2

No, it doesn't mean those who sinned went unpunished. For the unrighteous past, present and future all are or will be put into the place of punishment.

And until Jesus defeated death, the righteous were held in bondage in hell, but not the place where the unrighteous were held, but in the place known as the bosom of Abraham. They were still held unto death, in the place of death and could not be set free until Jesus defeated death.

So one can say they were punished, since they were held captive by death in death. Yet, because they were deemed righteous in the eyes of God, they were not cast into the place of torment. These are they who believed in the promise of God and his coming salvation that would save them from death.

And when Jesus died, he went to the lower parts and preached the gospel to the righteous dead. They made confession unto salvation, and went to heaven with Jesus. For they were already deemed righteous by God, but they had to make confession unto salvation as it is written in Romans 10:9,10. And this could not happen until Jesus defeated death.


So Jesus' death on the cross brought the forgiveness of sins, past, present and future for all who believe.

Answer 3

its about forgiveness of sin through Jesus..

Answer 4

Those who died before the birth and death of Christ went to hell/hades/paradise/purgatory as shown in Luke 16

19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Then in Ephesians 4 it speaks of Jesus going to the same place to preach to those who died before His birth and death

4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: