Essential Doctrines pt5 The Propitiation of Jesus Christ

So far we have examined 3 of 8 essential doctrines pertaining to the Christian faith. I hope that I have been clear in my explanations as to why these doctrines are so essential. If anyone claims to be of the faith they will not deny the truth as shown in the holy Scriptures. If they do then they are not of the faith as they have received "another Jesus" or "another gospel" (2Cor 11:3-4). The Scriptures speak of this with such severity that Paul says "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!"(Gal 1:7-10)

The essential doctrine that I want to present now is even more essential as it pertains to how one is saved in the first place. The doctrines I've spoke of so far, I've mentioned that they are not exactly necessary to believe in order to be born again. This doctrine now though, is. This is what our salvation hinges upon.

If you reject this then as the author of the letter of Hebrews says; "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, "the Lord will judge His people." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God". (Hebrews 10:26-31)


The Propitiation of Jesus Christ. What does propitiation mean?

PROPITIATION, n. propisia'shon.

1. The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

2. In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men. Rom.3. 1 John 2. (From Noah Webster Dictionary 1828)

This is what we must believe;
In the beginning when God created He gave man one command. Man disobeyed God and has done so ever since, in the form of lies, thefts, blasphemy, impure thoughts, and idolatry. It is appointed unto man once to die and then judgment (Heb 9:27).

"But now apart from the Law (meaning the 10 commandments, and trying to keep it's commands and to be a good person) 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)

This is the gospel. That great and glorious news that says that we have sinned and Jesus has paid our sin debt. There is no amount of good works that we can do to earn God's favour, because none of us are good, only God is good. We must understand this. In order to be saved we must come to the point where we admit that we are not good, but rather that we are evil before a holy God, and thus we deserve His wrath.

But thanks be to God for sending His Son to take our place, who became sin for us, and God in turn credits the righteous life that Jesus lived to us, so that we might be seen as holy in the eyes of God.

If you do not believe that Jesus Christ lived a holy pure life, or that He was crucified on our behalf, taking upon Himself the full wrath of God, for our sins, and if you do not repent of your sins and surrender your entire life, putting all your trust and faith in Jesus Christ, you will not be saved.

You must believe that Jesus paid our debt in full. Jesus said that you must deny yourself (Mat 16:24) if you want to follow Him. If you believe that you must do something to be saved, i.e. be baptized, confess your sins to a man in a box, attend church, take communion, perform some sort of ritual, or say a certain prayer, or be a good person (that isn't to say that we can go on sinning, but we've seen already that we cannot be good enough) you are sorely mistaken, because Jesus will get all the credit for your salvation.

Also, if you think that you must do something to add to Jesus' sacrifice then when God says that we are forgiven on the bases of what Jesus did for us, then that is a lie. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Jesus), and through Him (Jesus) to reconcile all things to Himself (the Father) , having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Co 1:19-20)

This verse should say something like "and through Him and certain obligations on our part, to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross and our good deeds, through Him and us... But it doesn't because Jesus is going to get all the credit.

Please don't ever suppose that there may be anything that we can do that would compare to what Jesus did. Take the free gift of salvation and do not offend God by trying to offer Him something for it.

Repent and turn to the Lord for He is kind and merciful. Look at what a kind thing He did for you. No one has ever done a more kind and loving thing for you. Turn to Him and receive the salvation that is offered to you, for today is the day of salvation.

"BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." (Romans 4:7-8)