|
This series was headed Great Doctrines of
our Faith. In coming to PROPITIATION we have probably come to the
central / pivotal truth. For without PROPITIATION there would be no
Atonement, no redemption, no Justification.
Justification was brought to our attention
in a previous month and took us into the law courts to be acquitted
of all charges against us and made fit for the presence of
God. Redemption takes us into the market place purchased and
possessed - ... ye are not your
own. For you are bought with a price.
PROPITIATION takes us into the Holy of
Holies, into the sanctuary, into the very presence of God. It is
mentioned in three epistles Romans, Hebrews and 1 John which
give us the place, the priest, and the provision
(Person) of propitiation.
Definition of Propitiation:
The means by which the wrath of an offended God is appeased /
pacified to prevent the otherwise inevitable visitation of His
judgement which the righteousness of God demands for the punishment
of sin.
God cannot tolerate/overlook sin. Every
divine act must be in accord with His righteous demands and His
nature.
By PROPITIATION a foundation is
established whereby sinners can be reached by the divine grace and
divine love that desires their salvation.
The Place of Propitiation
Romans 3:24-25
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is
in Christ Jesus whom God has set forth to be a propitiation (mercy
seat) through faith in His blood
In the Old Testament the offering was
sacrificed on the brazen altar the blood taken into the Holy of
Holies, sprinkled on the mercy seat, and was thus DISPLAYED in the
presence of God /before the eye of God. As John the Baptist
exclaimed when seeing the Lord Jesus walk Behold
the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (from
before the eye of God).
So every claim of God with regard to sin
was fully and completely met. As a result of that God could come out
in grace and blessing to sinners. Such is the infinite worth of the
precious blood of the Lord Jesus.
The Priest of Propitiation
Hebrews 2:17
wherefore in all things it behoved Him (the Lord Jesus)
to be made like unto His brethren that He might. be a unmerciful and
faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make
propitiation for the sins of the people.
The propitiation of Christ is the basis of
His priestly action on high. As a High Priest Christ ministers for
us in relation to God i.e. in matters in which we are
responsible to God. Therefore first of all attention has to be given
to our sins. He has made propitiation.
God has been propitiated in that His holy
and righteous character has been vindicated by the propitionary
sacrifice of Christ and can move out to men in mercy and
forgiveness.
The Person (Provision) of
Propitiation Christ is the source
1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and
sent His Son to be the Propitiation for our sins.
Man, fallen man was totally bereft
spiritually and morally to effect propitiation. Naturally man was
hostile, rebellious an enemy of God. Therefore nothing could be
forthcoming from man to make propitiation. God in His love sent His
Son to be the propitiation. Thus propitiation emanated from the very
heart of God.
Therefore as God provided the propitiation
it must completely satisfy His requirements. He alone knew the
value / virtue of the work of Christ to meet that.
1 John 2:1-2 If
any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the
righteous and He is the propitiation for our sins , and not ours
only but also for the whole world.
The scope of propitiation is universal /
unlimited provision is made for the whole world but only
believers obtain the benefit of that work through faith.
Sufficient for all no one by divine
predestination is exc1uded from the scope of Gods mercy.
Efficient only for believers personally
and eternally.
The Lord Jesus has satisfied the claims of
God relating to personal guilt resulting in deliverance from
divine judgement. |
