A propitiation

 

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. – 1 John 2.1-2

 

Jesus is the propitiation for our sins?

 

A propitiation is a term for a satisfaction of a debt. It is an appeasement.

 

Great, but what does that mean?

 

This is an amazing truth. A propitiation is a satisfaction or an appeasement. In His atonement for us Jesus is both the priest who offers up the propitiation and the sacrifice itself.

 

Jesus satisfied divine justice when He gave His life on the cross. It is something we simply could not have done.

 

It is a tough concept to grasp. The whole Law system of sacrifices was done to provide a temporary satisfaction for the sin penalty. One a year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to cover the sins of the nation.

 

But, when Jesus came He paid the debt once and for all who put their faith in Him.

 

We have an advocate who is also the satisfaction. Our High Priest is also the sacrifice.

 

It’s a kind boggling truth.