The satisfaction of the righteous demands of God in relation to human sin and its punishment through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, by which the penalty of sin is cancelled and the anger of God averted. [The NIV is distinctive at this point, in that it generally translates this term by “atonement” and related words.].
The need for propitiation: God's anger against sin
Psalm 7:11; Romans 2:5 See also Exodus 32:11–14; Numbers 32:8–15; Deuteronomy 6:14–15; 2 Kings 23:26; Psalm 78:38; Isaiah 30:27–31; Daniel 9:16–19; Hosea 11:8–9; Matthew 25:41–46; John 3:36; Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:6
God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
The provision of propitiation: Jesus Christ the atoning sacrifice
The promise in the OT
Isaiah 53:5–6 See also Isaiah 53:10–12
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
The fulfilment in the NT
Romans 3:21–26 See also Romans 5:9–10; Colossians 1:21–22; Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 9:11–14; 1 John 2:2
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
The motivation for propitiation: God's love
1 John 4:10 See also Psalm 85:2–3, Psalm 103:8–12; Micah 7:18–19; Romans 5:6–8; 2 Corinthians 5:19
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.