For those of you who do not know what this word means regarding Christ, I wanted to post this to help you understand what exactly the gracious Lord has done.

For those of you who do understand the definition of this word, Paul Washer’s comments will strengthen your faith.

propitiation (n):

pro·pi·ti·a·tion

\prō-ˌpi-shē-ˈā-shən\

This means the turning away of wrath by an offering. It is similar to expiation but expiation does not carry the nuances involving wrath.

Greek word: ἱλαστήριον hilastērion

defn:
1) relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation
1a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory
1b) an expiatory sacrifice
1c) a expiatory victim

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;… Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has 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;
Romans 3:21; 24-25

And he is the PROPITIATION for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John 2:2

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.
1John 4:10

Tags: Paul Washer, propitiation