Propitiation: A Stunning Method to Bring the Son a Bride

By Elizabeth Prata

From John MacArthur et al Biblical Doctrine
Propitiation: Scripture represents Christ's death not merely as a sacrifice, but as a propitiatory sacrifice. That is to say, by receiving the full exercise of the father's wrath against the sins of his people, Christ satisfied God's righteous anger against sin and thus turned away his wrath from us who, had it not been for our substitute, were bound to suffer for it ourselves. The New Testament explicitly identifies Christ's work as a propitiation in 4 texts:

Romans 3:24-25, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

Hebrews 2:17, Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

1 John 2:2, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

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

This alone is enough to render me stunned into a permanent and deep gratitude for God's grace in saving me from His wrath. And propitiation is but one benefit of his salvation. He gives so many benefits to the called; justification, adoption, love, family, ministry to do on earth and to receive from Jesus from heaven, sanctification, glorification, fellowship with Him, prayers that are heard ... I could go on, the benefits of salvation are numerous and eternal.

Propitiation...a staggering method to ensure a Bride for God's Son. No human could have conceived of this, no man could have made this up. It's all contained in God's word. Read your Bible today.


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