Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins. He became sin for us, satisfying the wrath of God in our stead, and reconciling us to God, so we do not have to face the full punishment of sin. Jesus was not simply any sacrifice; He was the ultimate sacrifice, his death fully satisfied God’s requirements for justice and righteousness. All of man’s noble efforts and good works combined could not appease God’s holy wrath or reconcile man to God. Man is completely incapable of fulfilling God’s justice, except paying the penalty of eternal death for sin.
Propitiation is all about God himself performing the work of grace and not the efforts of man. God demonstrated his provision of the sacrifice in the Old Testament, when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son. Isaac looked up and saw the fire and the wood, but no lamb, when he asked his father, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham responded by saying, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Later in the scripture, we see a lamb was provided for the sacrifice. This act would become pivotal in the New Testament where God HIMSELF not only provided the sacrifice but became the sacrifice, the only propitiation for the sins of the world. According to Hebrews 2:17; “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” God’s righteous anger was appeased, when he poured out his wrath, anger and punishment meant for man upon Jesus.
Christ our- sin offering
Jesus became our sin offering. John 3:16 declares that, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In the Old Testament sin was atoned for by different burnt offerings and sin offerings used in the Levitical sacrifices. The priests were to offer the same sacrifices over and over, but the blood of goats and calves could not obtain eternal redemption or propitiation for sin. While the blood of goats, bulls, and the ashes of heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean, made them clean, they were only outwardly clean (Heb. 9:13). However, the amazing thing about Christ is that he willingly offered himself unblemished to God and his blood not only cleanses us outwardly but purifies our consciences from dead works- condemnation and the guilt of sin (Heb. 9:14). For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
Therefore, no act of righteousness on man’s part could pardon for sin. Under the law we deserve death, and eternal damnation, but under the new covenant of Grace we receive pardon and abundant life, simply because, “He made HIM who knew no sin become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinth. 5:21). Man was deserving of punishment but God through Jesus Christ made a way.
The weight of the world was laid upon Jesus
The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa.53:6b). It was the Father’s will to put the weight of the world’s sin upon his son, so that the world through Jesus might be saved.
The beauty of God’s gift is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1John 4:10). With this, every human being has full access to God, man has the ability to come boldly to the throne of grace, lifting up holy hands in his name without doubt and without wrath. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Roms. 8:1). Our sins no longer condemns us, because they are washed away by the Blood of Jesus. David said as far as the East is from the West so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalms 103:12). Salvation is all about a loving savior, giving up his life, dying on the cross, rising victoriously and making a way for man to be saved from God’s wrath and be reconciled to God for eternity.
Jesus’ sacrifice was made once for all
The writer of Hebrews clearly and brilliantly expressed God’s salvation plan for a dying and hopeless world. The act of propitiation was accomplished once for all times and for all humanity. Thus, there was no need for repeated endless sacrifices year after year that could not cleanse the human race once for all time. Rather, the sacrifices were an annual reminder of sins (Heb 10:1-3). Hebrews (10:4) states that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The blood of animals were inadequate to stand in place of human beings. The only justification for sin was a body prepared for sacrifice before the foundations of the world (Heb 10:5; Rev. 13:8). God’s propitiation plan was not put into effect, when man sinned, rather, it was completed from the foundations of the world. When God made man, he already put a plan in place to redeem and reconcile man back to himself.
The writer of Hebrews 10:7 says, “Here I am -it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, my God.” The Law required that sacrifice be made for sins over and over again, but when Jesus came, his obedient submission was to execute the Father’s will- becoming the propitiation once and for all time. “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time (Heb. 10:10).”
Five important things we need to know about “Jesus our propitiation”
- Jesus was the ONLY propitiation for man: committing a two part act- appeasing God’s wrath and reconciling man to God.
- Jesus was the perfect and final sacrifice, satisfying all God’s holy requirements for sin, ONCE FOR ALL TIME (Heb. 10:10-12).
- We are made Holy through Jesus’ sacrifice, washed in his blood. “Jesus’ sacrifice has made us perfect forever, those who are being made holy (Heb. 10:10, 14).”
- It is not the Father’s desire to remember our sins any more. However, He desires to put his laws on human hearts and write them on our minds (Heb. 10:16)
- We have full access and can boldly draw near to God in full assurance of faith (Heb. 10:19, 22)
Have you chosen Jesus Christ as your propitiation?
Receive by faith the greatest gift of all times- salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord. According to Hebrews (10:19) we now have confidence to enter the Most Holy place by the blood of Jesus… “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Jesus the wonder of salvation
The wonder of salvation is that believers are saved from the wrath of God and receive the fullness of life and abundant living.
Christ our savior
Christ our redeemer
Christ our healer
Christ our perfect sacrifice.
Advancing the kingdom of God.