PROPITIATION

In the original Greek language the verb for the word is HILASKOMAI and the verb is HILASTERION and HILASMOS. The thoughts associated with this word originated in the Hebrew language by the word KOPHER. It originally meant "TO COVER".

It does not mean to cover up as with a blanket for warmth. Neither does it imply to cover up for protection as a mother would cover the infant before going outside in the bright sunlight so that the eyes and skin would be protected.

This type of cover is described as "TO COVER FOR THE PURPOSE OF HIDING". There is a story in the fourth chapter of the book of Judges how Deborah and her army chased king Sisera. A woman named Jael asked him to come in for protection, and she fed him. When the soldiers came to search, Jael hid Sisera under a rug. She quietly approached Sisera and killed him with a tent peg through the skull.

This type of cover is also described by the various offerings that were commanded of God's people. When they did some wrong or evil, and became sorry for what they had done, they would bring an offering or some sort of sacrifice before God. It was their expression of faith that the offering would cover up their sins, so that God would not see the sins, and the people would be found in a state of approval or acceptance by God.

In the New Testament the only time the word is used is in describing the action of what Jesus did for us upon the cross. In the book of Isaiah chapter 59:2, God tells us that our iniquities (sins) MAKE a separation between us and God. When we sin, our sins come between us and God, and he cannot look upon us with grace and favor as long as those sins remain.
Under the Mosaic law, the people were taught that the various sacrifices would attone or hide the sins from God so that he would be able to look upon the people.
Some people describe the sacrifices as pushing foward the sins so that the blood of Christ would eventually remove them. True and actual forgiveness in the days of the Old Testament period were not known as we understand it under the rulership of Christ.

Let us just say that God was appeased by sacrifices that covered up sin, and God was pleased with those who were as faithful as they could be. But God had a better plan. God had a plan before the world began that ONE sacrifice would reign supreme above all other sacrifices. The only supreme and acceptable sacrifice that God decided would be acceptable was Himself (more specifically, the Son).

By the action of Jesus dying upon the cross as a PERFECT sacrifice, Jesus provided that one time all sufficient sacrifice whereby people could be once again looked upon by God. Even today, our sins separate us from God, but by Jesus dying upon the cross and shedding His blood, we have access to that blood through faith and obedience.

Actually, we do not physically contact the blood of Jesus, but we do so in a symbolic sense. As we go through the death, burial, and resurrection of baptism in the resemblance of Jesus' dying, being buried, and by being raised, we make ourselves one with Him.

Jesus died for ALL MEN (and women) who would demonstrate their faith by obedience. This action of covering up or hiding the sins is called the remission (or removal) of sins. Only Jesus had this power, and only Jesus could provide the perfect sacrifice.

Also, since God SENT His Son to the world out of love, and since God made provision for mankind by His grace, and since God is faithful and true to Himself and His word, it can rightly be said that God MADE JESUS OUR PROPITIATION.

In other words God provided the blanket that would hide our sins from His sight, and this blanket is Jesus Christ. This is a one time for all time provision. It applies to men of every nation, tongue, and time from Christ upon the earth till forever.

In Romans 3:25 it is said that God MADE Jesus the propitiation by displaying Him publically upon the cross for that specific purpose.

It is only through Jesus Christ that our sins may be covered. We cannot do works to hide our sins, and neither will the grace of God overlook our sins. Jesus said that He was the door and NOBODY could get to God EXCEPT THROUGH HIM (JESUS). We do this by faithful obedience to His commands.

Read
Romans 3:25
1 John 2:2
1 John 4:10

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