The word “propitiation” does not easily roll off the tongue, nor does its meaning come readily to the mind. However, when such a word is used to describe our Savior, Jesus Christ, we must take special note of it. The apostle John described him in this fashion, saying, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The Greek word that is translated propitiation (hilasmos) translates four different Hebrew words in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Its meaning thus includes the ideas of forgiveness (Psalms 130:4), a trespass or guilt offering (Amos 8:14), a sin offering (Ezekiel 44:27) and atonement (Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 5:8). All of these we may obtain only through Jesus Christ, our Propitiation.
When we sin, we create for ourselves the most difficult situation possible. Having broken law, we need a pardon. Having dirtied ourselves with sin (Romans 3:23), we need purification. Being guilty of trespassing God’s law (Ephesians 2:1), we need a release from our guilt. Having separated ourselves from God (Isaiah 59:2), we need reconciliation. Yet, this is what it means for Christ to be the propitiation for our sins. Through the righteousness of Christ, we can receive a full pardon. Through the sinlessness of Christ, we can be purified. Through the One without guilt, we can be released from our guilt. Through the one who maintained the right relationship with God, we can be reconciled. Greater yet is the knowledge that he is the propitiation not only for our sins, but for those of the whole world. Therefore, there is no need for anyone to remain under the burden of sin and guilt. Out of the depths of our love for this great atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 7:26-27), we can come to him (Ephesians 1:7) through humble obedience (1 John 2:3; John 14:15; Hebrews 5:8-9) in order to receive the salvation (Mark 16:16) and forgiveness (Acts 2:38) we need. In a sense, then, propitiation describes what is necessary to make God happy with us again (cf. Genesis 1:31).
Although some have limited the meaning of hilasmos to the atoning sacrifice that Christ provided, in reality it refers to the entire means of expiation. Christ’s willingness to leave heaven (John 3:16), his willingness to take on flesh (Hebrews 2:14), his willingness to live as a human, suffer as a human, be tempted as a human, and die as a human (Hebrews 4:15; Philippians 2:5-8), his teaching and his covenant (John 12:48), his willingness to give himself as a sacrifice (Hebrews 7:26-27), his victorious triumph over death (1 Corinthians 15:20) and his ascension to heaven to assume his rightful place at his Father’s side (Acts 1:9-10; Colossians 3:1) all are part of the means by which God made it possible for us to once again be found in his favor (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Herein 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). God sent his Son to die on the cross because there was no other means by which his holiness could be satisfied concerning our sin. Jesus Christ is the means. And for those of us who look to him in faith and obey him, he is Our Propitiation.
