Of all the words we will discuss in our series, this one may be the most difficult to understand simply because it is not typically used in everyday conversation. Yet it is a vitally important concept because of its connection to Jesus’ death on the cross. See what the apostle Paul wrote about this:
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).
The Greek word hilasterion is translated as propitiation. The New International Version uses the phrase sacrifice of atonement. It refers to a sacrifice to appease or satisfy God in order to turn His wrath away from those who sinned. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was a propitiatory sacrifice in that it turned away God’s wrath and provided us with an opportunity to be saved.
Understanding the Concept
Before we examine the text above, let us consider the basic concept of this term so that we can understand how it fits in that passage.
First, there is a sacrifice involved. The “propitiation” was found “in His blood” (Romans 3:25). When John the Baptist identified Jesus to the crowds, he called Him “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), harkening back to the animal sacrifices offered under the Law of Moses. Referring to these sacrifices, the Hebrew writer said, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Under the law, atonement was directly tied to the shedding of blood in these sacrifices: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement” (Leviticus 17:11). Yet Jesus’ sacrifice was far superior, as His blood is able to “cleanse [our] conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).
Second, this sacrifice was meant to turn away God’s wrath that was justly directed toward man. Jesus came to die on the cross because we were “dead in [our] trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and were “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). In other words, because of our sin, we naturally stood to face the consequences for our sin. Remember that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) – not physical death, but spiritual death and separation from God. We are saved “by grace” because God is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Grace and mercy necessarily go hand in hand in terms of our salvation. Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve (eternal life), while mercy is about God not giving us what we do deserve (eternal punishment).
The same Greek word is used elsewhere to describe the “mercy seat” on the ark of the covenant. The Hebrew writer said, “And above it [the ark of the covenant, as] were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail” (Hebrews 9:5). This “mercy seat” was the place where God would “meet with [them]” (Exodus 25:21-22). This is where the blood of the atonement sacrifice would be sprinkled (Leviticus 16:15). A propitiatory sacrifice that would turn away God’s wrath still required His mercy so that we would not receive what we deserve for our sin. This means that an atonement sacrifice is not a “business transaction” – an even exchange based on fair-market values. The blood of the animals being sacrificed was not equal in value to God’s favor, as if they could exchange one for the other the way they might exchange a coin for some good in the marketplace. God had to be willing to extend His mercy and hold back His wrath that was still deserved due to their sin.
This is important as it relates to the sacrifice of Christ. This propitiation is not an act of equity but of mercy. As we already noted, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), which is eternal punishment and separation from God in hell. When Jesus died for us, He did not face that same punishment. He told the penitent thief on the cross that he would be with Him “in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Atonement does not mean that Jesus died “in our place” as many assume, suffering the punishment we deserve for our sin. However, He most certainly died for us so that we could escape the wrath of God and be saved.*
Understanding This in Context
Now that we have a better grasp of the concept of propitiation, let us look again at our text and see the points that Paul was making:
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).
The first point we must understand is that all of us were dead in sin. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As Paul wrote in his letter to Ephesus, we were “dead in our transgressions” and God “made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:5). This salvation is available to “all those who believe” (Romans 3:22). When Peter visited the household of Cornelius, he spoke of God’s impartiality: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Salvation is available to all, and it is needed by all because all have sinned.
Second, we are “justified as a gift by His grace” (Romans 3:24), which means our justification [a term we discuss later in this series] is undeserved. What we deserve is spiritual death, resulting in eternal separation from God. Paul referred to this as “the wages of sin” (Romans 6:23) because that is what we deserve for what we have done that was contrary to God’s law. Yet we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:5, 8). Eternal life is “the free gift of God” (Romans 6:23). It is free not because it cost nothing but because we could never merit it.
Third, Jesus shed His blood on the cross as a “propitiation” for us, and this was done by God to “demonstrate His righteousness” (Romans 3:25). Under the old law, the connection between the shedding of blood and forgiveness was unmistakable. The Hebrew writer said, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). However, the sacrifices and shedding of blood under the old law were just “a shadow of the good things to come” and not able to “make perfect those who draw near” (Hebrews 10:1). The Hebrew writer went on to say that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). If the shedding of blood was necessary for forgiveness, but the animal sacrifices could not provide forgiveness, another sacrifice had to be made – the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. This was done publicly for all to see so that God “would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
Fourth, this was an act of mercy. Jesus’ atonement sacrifice delayed God’s wrath in order to give us time to repent. However, the wrath of God has not been eliminated. We know this because Paul warned these brethren of God’s wrath building against those who refuse to follow the Lord: “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). However, God was motivated by love when He sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins. John wrote, “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” (1 John 4:10). The apostle wrote earlier in the same letter that the benefit of Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice was available to all: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). This means that salvation is available to all, not to just an arbitrarily pre-selected few. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Remember what Peter told the household of Cornelius: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Jesus died for the world so that anyone can be saved. Therefore, God will welcome all those who will fear Him and do His will.
Conclusion
Jesus died on the cross as a propitiation for us. His sacrifice was an act of mercy and a demonstration of love. It turned away God’s wrath in order to give us a chance to be saved. Through the shedding of His blood, we can have forgiveness.
Let us never take His sacrifice for granted. Instead, let us take advantage of it so that we can receive eternal life.
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* For more on this point, see the article, Whose Place Did Jesus Take on the Cross?
