Of Christ – The Propitiator

Propitiation: A sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor. (Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology, 27C.2.b.(4))

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him [Jesus] from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9)

In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:21-25)

Therefore he [Jesus] had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

But if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2) (whole world = anyone and everyone who would believe in Him)

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

A mystery of the Deity – the Father makes the Son to be sin. And in so doing turns His wrath upon Christ and away from those who are in Christ. God, who hates sin with a holy hatred, not just heaps the sins of men upon his Christ but does so in a way that actually makes Jesus to be sin, so that he can no longer even look upon the Son of his love but must turn away from Him. There are those who suggest that this was the most terrible of the sufferings of Christ, much more so than the physical agonies. On Him is poured the fury of God’s wrath (let no one think too lightly of sin). The more we understand the love and unity of the Trinity from all eternity the greater our comprehension of this fateful statement: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

The Scriptures confirm without question that Jesus knew no sin – He had no personal acquaintance with it, He was pure and wholly without sin. As the sin-bearer it could be no other way. In like manner the Old Testament sacrificial system, which was a “type” of the fulfillment that was to come, required “unblemished” sacrifices. How much more was the purity of the God-man.

The Gospel is founded on the premise that man is utterly sinful and unable to save himself. Only Jesus was able to turn aside God’s wrath from sinful men. Only those in vital, living union with Christ are shielded from that wrath. Only in Jesus can one be made righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Son of Man/Son of God was the only acceptable sacrifice, enduring the cross and rising again as proof, and so becoming the only Mediator between God and men. (1 Timothy 2:5) Many have said, and rightfully so, that those who are “in” Christ are actually clothed with the righteousness of Christ. It’s been referred to by the divines of ages past as an alien righteousness, it is not ours by nature or effort (and can never be), it comes from outside of us, from someone else, from the only acceptable Sin-bearer, Mediator and Propitiator. Wonderful truth here! We should dwell on it this holy day where we remember with reverence the passion of the Lord Jesus.

All glory to Jesus!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.