The Death of One that Purchased Life for Many

Have you ever heard of the word propitiation?

It comes from the Latin verb “propitiare”, which means ‘to appease’ or ‘to make up for’. Despite its many syllables, the concept of propitiation in the bible is quite simple. In the bible to propitiate with God means to regain favour with the Almighty One that we have sinned against. The bible reiterates throughout the old testament

“without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”

- Leviticus 7:11

If you ever adventure into the Old Testament, a key thing you will find is the unbroken and sacred pattern of animal sacifices made as a propitiation for sin against God.

Sounds brutal right?

Well the reason for it can be understood in passages below.

The ancient Jewish nation seemed to understand key principles about God. Principles that the rest of the world had not yet come to terms with.  Just as every crime is paid for by a sentence, the just nature of God means that for every sin there is a punishment to be paid in order to establish the sinner in a right relationship with God, the giver of life, again.

“The wages of sin is death…”

Did you know that death is a wage?

That means that death is something that we can earn. Right from the beginning of the sin pattern from Adam and Eve, an animal has been slain in place of the human being. However, repetitive sin and backsliding remained a key reality in the livelihood of the ancient Jewish nation and will still remain in the lives of those who haven’t encountered the life-changing power of Jesus.

“…but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus His Son.”

 A new revelation was given through a peculiar character in the Bible. As a zelous Semite, Paul the apostle (formerly known as Saul), was a persecutor of Christians who initiated the imprisonment and death of many. In the book of Acts chapter 22, Jesus appeared to Paul in a supernatual way. From that moment onward Paul became as the ones he once misunderstood, for a newfounfd dedication to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. God revealed to Paul the apostle that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away the spiritual stain of sin in a human’s heart. Many belief systems of the world still follow the ritualistic animal sacrifices to this day.

Paul learned that the sacrifice for sins and entrance to forgiveness from God, was paid for through the blood of the Son of God. Jesus, who never sinned, came to the earth 2020 years ago to become the sacrifice of atonement that would satisfy the wrath of God and open a new door of reconciliation between God and man for those who repent. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to sit at the right hand side of the Father to represent the rightstanding people who trust in Him have with God and to plead their cause before God when a believer sins.

The sacrifice of the Messiah is explained throughout the Bible as having the divine ability to forever make up for the sins of a human being, so long as they live a repentant and allow God to transform their sinful ways into ways the ways of purity through God’s Word. Paul reiterates Leviticus 7:11 by stating:

“Without the shedding of the blood of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, there is no forgiveness of sins”

- Hebrews 9:22

This truth is indicated, predicted and supported throughout the old testament by many prophets who came and proclaimed the coming of a Chosen One who is to come and take away the sins of the world.

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried away our sorrows ;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,  Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for or transgressions, He was bruised four our iniquities; and the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray.  We have turned everyone to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. “

- (Isaiah 53:4-6)

The peace that was meant for our chastisement, the world needed between God and man.