Resolving the Dilemma

When Paul pointed out in Romans 3:25 how “God set forth (Jesus Christ) as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” he was referring to the sacrificial worship system the Lord implemented the day Adam sinned.  Specifically, Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

We know God gave them an explanation about what this meant because chapter 4 begins with the story of Cain and Abel's offerings in worship to God.  Abel obeyed the instructions God had given his parents on the order of worship, Cain did not.  It was this system of worship built around animal sacrifices that provided a way for God to remain righteous while carrying out His plan of recovery for the human race and the Kingdom.

Forbearance is not patience.  In this case it is God willfully holding back from taking action on sin even though it creates an internal conflict for Him.  That is where the real issue resides.  Because He feels the need for justice with the same intensity by which He wants to express His mercy and Love.  His need to do what is right is every bit as intense as His need to express compassion and seek mercy.  

This internal conflict within the Godhead was not resolved until Jesus Christ died on the cross and took away the sin of the world.  This is something the false doctrine of limited atonement fails to consider.  If Christ only died for the elect which is defined as those who God willed to believe in Jesus Christ, then the internal conflict He endured would have remained unresolved.  Propitiation would not have been achieved and the Scriptures not fulfilled.    
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2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.