by Terry Wane Benton

"Propitiation" is not a word used very often anymore, but it has to do with “appeasing” the righteous wrath of someone. In the case of humans who have sinned against the Holy Creator, justice needs to be satisfied, righteous anger appeased. Jesus is the propitiation needed.

Notice that the “propitiation” was for the sins of “the whole world” (I John 2:2).

"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:1-2).

Calvinism says that “propitiation” means the appeasement has already happened. If that is so, then it is already true for “the whole world.” The Calvinist must believe in universal salvation already in place. The truth is that the payment has already been paid but not yet credited to our account. An insurance company may have the millions already in place to insure our houses, but it is not credited to us until we call upon them and recognize the need. God has paid a price for the sins of the whole world, but does not credit that payment to our account until we call upon Him and sign the claim in our repentance and baptism (Acts 2:37-41).

Did the 3000 already have the blood of Christ applied to their account before their repentance and baptism? No! They met these conditions “for the remission of sins.” They got the propitiation applied when they so acted “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Remission of sins is applied to our account at this moment.

Thayer says that the word “propitiation” means that Jesus is “the means of appeasement.” God is not already appeased toward each and every sinner. The basis of appeasement was in place by means of the cross, but application to us is “By His knowledge My Righteous Servant shall justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). We learn about the cross and respond to it in knowledge. Through that knowledge, He justifies many. Without the knowledge, we cannot be justified, and thus the basis for the appeasement is “in vain” until that knowledge comes into us and us into Him. We let Jesus die in vain for us when we do not seek and learn from Him.

The gospel spreads the knowledge of Him. It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) because the propitiation is not applied apart from the knowledge of Him and what such knowledge calls us to do in response. If Jesus’ blood alone means propitiation is applied to our account, then how can “the gospel” be “the power of God unto salvation”? The gospel is what moves the payment into our account. Faith is produced by the hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17), and without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). The fact alone that Jesus died for us, yes, even “the whole world,” does not mean the whole world gets the propitiation applied to their account.

Abraham was “accounted” righteous, not because he already was from the foundation of the world, but because his faith reached a pleasing level, so God applied righteousness to his account. We are “accounted” righteous by means of Jesus’ blood, but at a particular moment in faith. That moment of faith for us in the New Testament age is when we bury the old self with Christ in baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-6). At this moment in faith, God “accounts” us as righteous. Propitiation is now applied to our account. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). Propitiation is on the table for “the whole world.” Still, it will not be applied to anyone’s account without meeting the conditions of entrance into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). Those conditions are available for the whole world (Mark 16:15-16).

Don’t let Jesus’ propitiation be in vain for you!