Propitiation.
We’ve forgotten what it means.
We’ve lost something big.
Wrath appeased.
Anger satisfied.
It’s not a concept to forget.
It’s something to be kept at the front of our minds.
“Let the laying hold of Christ as my propitiation be the unvarying initial act of every morning.”
~Thomas Chalmers (via Justin Taylor)
May I, every day, wrestle with the truth that Christ has borne the wrath of God in my place.
May I, every day, take hold of the truth that all that remains for me is God’s undiluted favor.
And may that truth inspire me to worship the righteous God.
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
~Romans 3:21-26
May that truth inspire me to rely on this Christ in every temptation.
“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
~Hebrews 2:17-18
May that truth inspire me to come to Christ each time I fall.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
~I John 2:1-2
May that truth inspire me to love others.
“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. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
~I John 4:10-11
Don’t forget to take a look at Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”, where bloggers collect quotes they’ve read throughout the week.
Thanks for the reminder of propitiation – it’s a word I rarely use or even hear anymore, but certainly one we never need to forget. I love your list of “may that truth…” because I need each one.
Many years ago I heard a Christian leader say that the concept of an angry God is not in the NT — and I wondered how they missed the fact that God is indeed angry at sin. I am so glad Christ is my propitiation. As the song “My Jesus Fair” says:
O love divine, O matchless grace-
That God should die for men!
With joyful grief I lift my praise,
Abhorring all my sin,
Adoring only Him.