“And he himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”

It’s an imperfect illustration, no doubt, but it may be the best one we’ve got.  You’re driving down the road, headed off to that all-important appointment.  Your mind quickly reviews your frantic morning:  Woke up late, took a faster-than-normal shower, snatched some food for breakfast, let the dog out in the backyard to do his business, grabbed my things and headed out the door in a shot.  The rest of the family was on that trip visiting relatives.  Otherwise, one of them would have got you up earlier.  But something’s not right…or missing…or something.  Did I turn the burner off?  No, that’s not it; didn’t turn the stove on at all.  Did I leave the faucet running in the kitchen?  No, that’s not it either.  Would have heard the water as I went out the front door.  Door!  That’s it — did I lock the back door after I let the dog back in?  Can’t… remember…  Well, it’s a safe neighborhood; well, fairly safe.  Safe enough?  Oh, man, an unlocked door is just like a welcome mat to a burglar.  And he’s not going to break in the front door, but the back door!  OK, OK, gotta turn around and go back and check it, even if I’m late.  I’ve got to do this for me.

What does this have to do with propitiation?  Good question.  We’ll answer that in a minute.  Let’s first consider the translation of the Greek noun, hilasmos.  In 1 John 2:2 the NIV translates it “atoning sacrifice” while the NKJV has “propitiation”.  I fully understand that the NIV translators’ intention was to produce a more readable version to a larger audience, but sometimes replacing good words with others that don’t quite convey the fuller meaning isn’t really helpful in the long run.  This is one of those times.  Propitiation really is the better choice.

Now back to our illustration.  Its primary point is the last sentence:  “I’ve got to do this for me.”  That is what propitiation is all about.  A strict definition is “the satisfaction realized when sins are completely remitted or paid for”.  God is the one who is propitiated, or satisfied.  As the erring party, man is the one who is reconciled back to God.  Since God is God and is the offended — not the offending — party, his standard must be met, his justice must be administered.  All mankind deserves his wrath due to our sinful rebellion and are the ones who moved away from God, not vice versa.  Thus, we are the ones in need of help, forgiveness, grace, kindness, love, understanding and reconciliation.  We need all of these things, yet we can provide none of them ourselves.  Our accounts are completely empty of such things.  And don’t we know it!

God is the only source from which to obtain such treasures, and so our salvation is first, last and always a work of God.  When Jesus came to earth, he came not only for the whole world, but he also came for his Father.  You see, God created a perfect world.  Compared to the other planets in the solar system, earth is a haven for life, with exquisite beauty everywhere.  The entire universe shouted God’s praise by its magnificent design and splendor.  And he put us here to live, maintain creation and use it wisely.  Then the rebellion came, and God suddenly placed the universe under his judgment (Romans 8:20).

After much time and more rebellious generations, the wickedness barometer measured in the red.  So God sent the flood and destroyed all but eight souls.  After more time, instead of spreading out, the rabble congregated at Babel, where God forcibly dispersed them through “instant languaging”.  Then their concept of God deteriorated into multiple gods — idols — all of whom were angry, bad and mad.  Thus, mankind brought sacrifices and offerings to try to appease or somehow bribe a blessing from them, thinking that they were somewhat like themselves.  However, it was intolerable for God to allow this lame situation to persist.  So he sent Jesus to satisfy his justice, to right the wrongs, and to make the one and only sacrifice that would be acceptable to his holy nature.  That is propitiation!  It is more than just an “atoning sacrifice”, which the NIV also uses in Romans 3:25: “God presented [Christ] as a sacrifice of atonement [“propitiation”—NKJV]…to demonstrate his justice because…he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished”.  An atoning sacrifice, like those of the Old Testament, merely covers sin, not remove it.  This text clearly shows that Christ’s sacrifice did more than just atone; it removed!  So while God sent Christ for us, he primarily sent him for himself; his holy nature demanded it.  The wrongs had to be righted.

Read it again: sins removed!  God rights the wrongs.  When was the last time you thanked him?