Jesus, Our Propitiation
1John 2:2a
Big Idea: Jesus appeases the wrath of God for all who believe, through his propitiatory death on the cross. Those who trust in Jesus are restored to fellowship with God.
In our fallen nature we are opposed to God and God, because of his holy nature, is opposed to us.
Jesus is our ___________________________
1 John 2:1–2 (ESV) —2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Romans 3:23–26 (ESV) —23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Exodus 25:10, 17-22 (61)
The mercy seat (place of propitiation) was the lid or cover of the ark, situated between the divine Shekinah glory cloud above the ark and law tablets inside the ark. Because the priests sprinkled the seat with blood from the sacrifices, it was the place at which atonement for sin occurred. The sprinkled blood thus stood between God (the Shekinah) and His broken law (the tablets). The sacrificial blood of animals never did placate God (cf. Heb. 7:26–28; 9:6–15; 10:1–18), but it pictured the future sacrifice of Christ that would fully satisfy the Father (Heb. 9:23–28; cf. Isa. 53:6, 10; Matt. 20:28; Eph. 5:2).
Jesus absorbs the wrath of God for sin upon himself and pays the penalty for our sin upon the cross.
Luke 22:39–46 (ESV) — 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. (the cup to which he refers is the cup of God’s wrath; Jer. 25:15, Is. 51:17) Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Mark 15:34 (ESV) — 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Believer, hear this and believe it this morning, Jesus has paid the penalty for your sin upon the cross. Jesus has endured the wrath that you deserved for your opposition to God. Jesus has satisfied the retribution due to you for your eternal offence.
Galatians 3:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see.”
Questions to Consider
How did Jesus deal with your sin? How does this cause you to worship Him?
What is Christ calling you to do when you doubt this salvation? How does fellowship with God call us back to this truth again and again?
To whom is God calling you to share this good news of reconciliation?
