Q&A 1004 – Passing over sins (Romans 3:25)?

What Paul did mean in Romans 3:25, where he wrote, "He passed over the sins previously committed"? Does 2 Peter 3:9, 15 help, or is that about a different subject? Or is he perhaps saying something about the saints under the Old Covenant? -- Marcel Morais

I do not think 2 Peter 3 is addressing the same subject. 2 Peter 3 is about God's patience, while Romans 3 is about his righteousness. Passing over sins meant that they were not punished, not that they weren't wrong or wouldn't eventually be requited. God dealt finally and decisively with sin only in the coming and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Since he did in fact deal with sin, his righteousness was upheld. That is, had God not demanded the proper sacrifice for sin, he would not have been righteous.

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