Park End Church

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

Was Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Right in 1966? | Rev. Owen Batstone

Recordings of all our talks are here: http://www.parkendcardiff.or...

11/10/2026

Article by OJB

Romans 3 - What does it mean that ‘in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed’?

It doesn’t mean that Jesus wasn’t saving people before He was born of Mary. And it doesn’t mean that before the incarnation you could get right with God without the forgiveness of sins.

The forgiveness of sins dynamic was already in place before the period of the Law in the Old Testament. People were forgiven by Jesus before, during and after the Law.
The Law was added on top of, not instead of, their understanding that Jesus saves. It was a giant-sized practical display of how Jesus saves.

In Paul’s day, and in 2026, we have gone back to the days of Abraham - to simple faith in Jesus without the need to also show it through the Law. Hence Abraham is our father, and hence that’s what is ‘better’ about living in this period.

The Book of Hebrews is written to help converted Jews figure out if they’re still meant to go through the Law now that Christ has ascended. But the New Covenant is the everlasting covenant which has underpinned every covenant ever - it’s that Jesus saves, and we are justified by faith (Heb. 13:20–21).

So, when Romans 3 says that God ‘passed over former sins’, it means that Old Testament believers died before the full sacrifice came. Of course they were forgiven, but Paul’s just making the point that Jesus had not yet been slain for sins. Jesus needed to come to prove that the people beforehand were right to trust in Him.

I remember being struck by how real and present the work of Christ was for them in the Old Testament. They spoke of it almost as if it were already happening or had happened! The cross was in the future for the OT believers, but the grace of it was already theirs. For example:
Isaiah 53 is in the past tense; Jesus is the Lamb who was slain before the world; Psalm 68 is about the ascension of Jesus and is in the past tense; in Psalm 80:17, Asaph appears to be placing his trust in the Son of Man who is at the right hand of God: ‘Let your hand rest on the Man at your right hand, the Son of Man you have raised up for yourself.’

Asaph seems to trust in a risen and seated Christ as a divine-human, even though the incarnation had not yet occurred - as if it were already a reality for him. As Priest of God Most High, Jesus’ divine priestly work in the Old Testament was always done on the basis that He would one day become incarnate as one of us, die our cursed death and rise for our justification, and in fact ascend to the highest heaven to give gifts to the Church.

Jesus saves! Always has, and always will!

10/10/2026

Tomorrow:
10.15am Prayer meeting
11am Communion service - Owen continues the Romans series
4pm Planning meeting for Carols at the Crossroads
Service livestream link:

Recordings of all our talks are here: http://www.parkendcardiff.or...

09/10/2026

On Sunday at 11am we return to the series on Romans. We shall also be celebrating Holy Communion. So why not come along, have your sins forgiven and find out more about the Gospel?
If you can't be there in person, YouTube is your friend!

09/10/2026

For the next few weeks we'll be reading through together the book of Isaiah. Join us!!

03/10/2026

Happy October!
What do you have planned for the rest of the month?
Hopefully, the 17th is already in your diary and you’ll be joining us for a relaxed evening of beautiful music and toe-tapping rhythms.

02/10/2026

On Sunday at 11am we celebrate the LORD's abundance and grace as we give thanks for the Harvest. This will be an all-age service as we welcome representatives from our Scout groups.
Then at 5.30pm we have our free monthly community meal.
All welcome.
Livestream link below:
https://youtube.com/live/FIqGkFcOQS4?feature=share

29/09/2026

Shortbread Animations - Harvest Special.
You're welcome to use it this Harvest season!

For church services, school assemblies, or any occasion!Facebook:...

26/09/2026

Tomorrow:
10.15am Prayer meeting
11am Worship Service - Owen returns to Romans
6pm Opportunity for prayer for families and young people led by Rhian Evans of Scripture Union
All welcome.

Recordings of all our talks are here: http://www.parkendcardiff.or...