Today, Thursday August 26
“The Propitiation for Our Sins”
1 John 4:9-10 & 14
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ….In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ….And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
For several days now we have been looking at these three verses where we read three times that “God sent His Son”. If you want to know why Jesus Christ came into the world you will find the answer here. We see several purposes that are given for Christ's death on the cross: “that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9); “that He might be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10); and “that He be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). His death was not an accident; it was an appointment.
The Jewish religious crowd did not kill Jesus. The Romans did not kill Jesus. No one killed Jesus!!!! God cannot be killed! They were all a part of God’s plan from eternity past to put Jesus on the cross, but they did not kill Him. Don’t blame the Jews or the Romans for the death of Christ. It was our sins that put Jesus on the cross.
Jesus makes it very clear that He voluntarily and sacrificially gave His life on the cross. Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
Jesus chose the moment He would die. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30)
The death of Christ is described as a "propitiation." John has used this word before (1 John 2:2). We should remember that propitiation does not mean that men must do something to appease God or to placate His anger. Propitiation is something God does to make it possible for men to be forgiven. "God is light," and therefore He must uphold His holy Law. "God is love," and therefore He wants to forgive and save sinners. How can God forgive sinners and still be consistent with His holy nature? The answer is the cross. There Jesus Christ bore the punishment for sin and met the just demands of the holy Law. But there, also, God reveals His love and makes it possible for men to be saved by faith.
It is important to note that the emphasis is on the death of Christ, not on His birth. The fact that Jesus was "made flesh" (John 1:14) is certainly an evidence of God's grace and love, but the fact that He was "made sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21) is underscored for us. The example of Christ, the teachings of Christ, the whole earthly life of Christ, find their true meaning and fulfillment in the cross.
Today, believe Him, trust Him and receive Him to be your Savior!
God bless!