God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. Romans 3:25
Propitiation is the blood sacrifice.
It is the appeasement for a holy God.
It is satisfying the requirements of His justice.
The Greeks used this word long before the New Testament writers borrowed it.
The Greeks understood having to go to great lengths to appease the gods,
To satisfy them, to propitiate them.
Animals were slaughtered. Wars were fought.
Plagues ravaged. Monsters terrorized.
Until the people could figure out and accomplish
Whatever the gods wanted.
Yes, the Greeks and Romans understood propitiation.
Perhaps they understood better than we do
The wonder of a God who propitiates Himself.
The Holy God appeased Himself.
He satisfied His own righteous, justified wrath.
How?
One perfect sacrifice.
And He makes it available to anyone.
Freely.
See the other Doctrinal Definitions:
Doctrinal Definitions: Condemnation
Doctrinal Definitions: Redemption
