Acquiring Illumination

Propitiation is the theological term that refers to appeasing or satisfying the wrath of God, it is the act of gaining the goodwill of God in order to gain favour.

1Jn 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.

In the New Testament, it refers to Christ's atoning sacrifice that turns away God's righteous anger toward sin, allowing mercy to flow freely.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The word "propitiation" comes from the Greek word "Hilasterion", which also refers to the "mercy seat" of the Old Testament for that was where sacrificial blood was sprinkled to atone for sin.

When we see this word, "propitiation," we fail to see its full impact in our lives. Propitiation is not just the appeasement of God's wrath for it goes further than just that alone. Propitiation is not just the appeasement but it is more the transforming of hostility, that which caused the wrath, into harmony with God.

The covering of the Mercy Seat becomes embodied in Christ, for He is both High Priest and the sacrificial offering, it is the blood of Christ that turns divine justice into divine embrace.

Once again God's another action reveals how God is constantly bridging the covenantal progression required to transform our lives. Covenantal progression will continue to perform its work until the relationship of trust between God and man is fully restored.

In the Scriptures, atonement rituals pointed forward to Christ while in Christ, propitiation reverberates backward, fulfilling God's promise and surpassing type as found in the offering of sacrifices.

This one single word, propitiation, contains a divine rhythm, justice, mercy, and grace are activated to beat in sync producing the greatest love song ever sung.

In essence, propitiation is not about humans placating a capricious or unpredictable deity, it is about God Himself providing the means of reconciliation through His love and justice.

Propitiation is the key to the conception of Christ's atoning work; it is the Genesis or foundational idea from which the entire work of Atonement unfolds.