Propitiation

A Celebration of Redemption: Propitiation
A beautiful part of Christ’s saving work on the behalf of sinners is His role as the propitiation for sins. A propitiation appeases wrath and sets the stage for mercy to be given.

God is holy and just. He cannot endorse nor can he excuse the smallest of sin (Ezekiel 18:20). Therefore every sin committed must be answered with God’s wrath. If God excused any sin at all, He would not be holy and just. The justice of God demands sin be rewarded with death (Romans 6:23). The reward or payment for sinning is death, a harsh but just reward. Justice alone satisfies God’s wrath.

The reason Jesus went to the cross was to die. He died to satisfy God’s justice for sins. The Lord’s death was a substitute for the death of sinners. He gave Himself to die, the propitiation for sins (I John 2:2). As the propitiation, Jesus Christ took God’s wrath upon Himself for all sins committed past, present, and future.

In taking God’s wrath upon Himself, Christ satisfied God’s justice (Isaiah 53:3-5, 10). God laid the full weight of punishment of the world’s sins upon the God-man, Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:24). Included in this punishment was that God the Son was abandoned by God the Father (Matthew 27:46).

Christ’s work was effectual. The Savior obtained eternal redemption through His blood (Heb. 9:11-14; 10:1-4, 10). Because His death appeased God’s wrath, Jesus reconciled God and mankind, making peace (Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:19-22; Col. 1:20). 
   
Christ’s death on the cross is the full payment which completely satisfies God’s justice[1]. Sinners can be free from God’s wrath because the punishment has been exacted. But freedom is not automatic. People are born into sin, not into salvation.

Freedom from God’s wrath is only available through Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:1; Gal 3:13). Anyone who calls out to Jesus Christ for salvation comes under no condemnation. Through Christ, sins are removed and new life is given.


[1] The resurrection of Christ was proof that God accepted Jesus’ death as payment for
​all sin (Romans 1:1-4).