Propitiation

Propitiation through the death of Christ is one of the critical doctrines of the Christian faith, at the very center of God’s redemptive plan.

Propitiation carries the idea of covering sin and turning away God’s wrath.

God’s wrath is a real biblical truth.

Of course, his anger is not an irrational lack of self-control as it so often is with humans.

God’s wrath is the settled opposition of his holy nature to everything that is evil.

Some would say that God is wrath in the Old Testament and love in the New Testament. This is inconsistent with His character.

The wrath of God is in balance with three other divine qualities: his forbearance, his love, and his readiness to forgive.

When we deny God’s wrath, we cheapen the suffering of Jesus.

Propitiation is a covering of our sin.

Propitiation or “a covering,” and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21; 30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitiation or reconciliation by blood. On the day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the “mercy-seat,” and so made propitiation.

Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is “the propitiation,” because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured.

Ark of the covenant, covering, Mercy seat. Yom Kippur (Day of Covering)

Some inferior translations try to substitute the word using words like “atoning sacrifice” or simply “payment.” The term propitiation, in definition and application, is most notably a biblical and theological word. It is a translation of hilasmos, which means “appeasement,” or “satisfaction.”

Propitiation through Jesus means that Jesus’ death on the cross for the sins of mankind put away God’s wrath against his people once and for all.

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.1 Thessalonians 1:10

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;Revelation 5:9

Jesus was executed for my sins.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.Isaiah 53:5-10

All this was done to accomplish God’s purpose. Second Corinthians 5:19 reveals that through this propitiation, “in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself.”

If Jesus is the satisfactory payment for the sins of the world, there is nothing else needed from me.

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.2 Corinthians 5:19

No one is beyond its reach of God’s mercy. No one. No man, Christian, Jew, or Gentile, is outside the mercy of God, unless he places himself there deliberately.

Propitiation allows God to choose love over wrath.

God’s gift of love is only available because of His gift of propitiation.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;Revelation 5:9

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.Revelation 5:12