“THE PROPITIATION OF THE CROSS”

For the remaining 5 days of this series, we are going to move from information to application.  Thus far we have primarily focused on how the passion related to Christ.  Now we are going to end with how Christ’s passion impacts us, because it was His passion that produced our pardon.

The foundational word in both the Old and New Testaments that summarizes our pardon is the word propitiation.  It is definitely one of the heaviest and most weighty words in the entire Bible.  Since it may be one of the least understood words, we need to unwrap this rich theological term to see how propitiation and pardon are inseparable.

Several New Testament passages use this word.  (The King James Version, New American Standard and English Standard use the word “propitiation”.  The New International Version uses the word “atoning sacrifice”.)  As you read through them below, note that propitiation leads us into the very heart of the Gospel and into the presence of God.  Take the time to meditate on these verses because the concept will deepen your spiritual life, moving you from the “milk of the word” (I Peter 2:2) to the “meat of the word” (Hebrews 5:12).  It is a theological truth for serious Christians who have left the “…elementary teachings about Christ” and have gone “…on to maturity”.  (Hebrews 6:1)

“…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 3:23-25)

“My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, 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.”  (I John 2:1-2)

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through 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.”  (I John 4:9-10)

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…for surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham.  Therefore, He 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 2:14-17)

The question around which the whole issue of propitiation revolves is: “How can sinful man approach a holy God?”

Without exception, this question is at the heart of every religion.  And every religion’s answer, except Christianity’s, is: “We approach God by good works.”  Whether it is the myriad of pujas or offerings in Hinduism, the 8-Fold Path of Buddhism, or the 5 Pillars of Islam, every religion is based on “works righteousness”.  But the problem with works righteousness raises another question. “How do I know if my work is good enough or if I have done enough?”  In other words, “How can a sinful person ever produce ‘good works’ that are good enough to meet the standards of a Holy God?” The answer is: “He can’t!”

All of our good works are ineffective and inadequate.  We’re trying to please God with counterfeit currency.  Besides, we have nothing to offer God.  It is only what He offers us. The spiritual principle, from the writings of Paul, showed us that, “What God’s holiness demanded, His grace provided.”  And he said it best in Ephesians 2:8-9.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God extended grace to us because “God is love.”  (I John 4:8)  As we stop depending on our good works and accept by faith Christ’s perfect work for us on the cross, we understand propitiation.  The primary word in the Old Testament, used 150 times, that pointed to propitiation was the word atonement, meaning: “a covering that conceals a person’s sin and makes it possible for him to approach God”.  (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Lawrence Richards, p. 82)

Perhaps you are asking, “What provided the ‘covering for sin’?”  Great question.  The answer brings us to the very heart of the Passion of God as demonstrated in the Passion of Christ.  The covering was provided by nothing less than blood!  This “principle of blood” runs from Genesis to Revelation.  It is the scarlet thread that weaves the Old and New Testament together.  Let’s look at one scripture from each of the Testaments.

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. “ (Leviticus 17:11)

“This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep…In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  (Hebrews 9:20-22)

Under the Old Covenant, animal sacrifice was required, “blood for blood” or “life for life”.  Atonement was not possible otherwise.  But with Christ’s coming and sacrifice, the normative word was propitiation, a merciful, atoning sacrifice, not of animals or human life, but the once- for-all blood of Christ’s on the cross.  His blood fulfilled the law’s requirements.  There was a finality about Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for us.  “Tetelestai!”  Remember our study of that word?!

The book of Hebrews connects the spiritual dots from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant…from the earthly tabernacle to the Heavenly Tabernacle…from the human high priests to Christ our perfect High Priest…from the covering of the atonement to the propitiation of the blood of Christ.  Note these words of finality concerning Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.

“When Christ came as High Priest…He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”  (Hebrews 9:11-12)

“…we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”  (Hebrews 10:10, 14)

I hope and pray that this chapter has brought you spiritual assurance.  The Passion of Christ and the Propitiation of Christ – the atoning sacrifice of Christ – are inseparable.  Through His blood, you are clean and can approach God with confidence!

One of the great Gospel songs, text and music by Robert Lowry, summarizes the all-sufficiency of the blood of Jesus.

“What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing, this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace.  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness.  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! Precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow.
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.