| (Copyright 2023) by David Antion (Pasadena, California) |
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| The Bible uses a number of abstract and concrete words. To illustrate. If you hear or read the words “rock” or “cat” your mind can picture that object. What kind of cat you picture is based on your experiences with cats. Rocks or cats are concrete words. Abstract words are difficult to picture. The word propitiation is abstract — your mind doesn’t make a picture of something so quickly. In last week’s sermon, I tried to explain the word “propitiation” which is found in Romans 3:25. Here is the English definition of “propitiation.” It is “the act of gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of someone or the act of appeasement.” The Greek word that is translated “propitiation” is “hilasterion.” The Greek dictionary definition of “hilasterion” is “that which serves as an instrument for regaining the goodwill of a deity.” So now let’s read Romans 3:24-25. It is filled with other abstract words that I will explain. Verses 24-25: “being justified [made righteous or just] as a gift by His grace [undeserved favor] through the redemption [buying back] which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as propitiation [something to regain God’s favor and good will] in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance [patience, putting off] of God He [God] passed over the sins previously committed; (NAS) Here is what’s unique about this. Usually, when a person offends their god, they go and find something to appease their god. Even in the time of Moses and forward, when a person sinned, they had to bring a sin offering or sacrifice to the priests — a form of appeasement. But Paul is saying that God was the one who found the object of appeasement. It was the display or putting forth Christ Jesus and his blood for all to see as propitiation. And through faith, we may have forgiveness of sins and be made right (justified) with God. God found the way for us to appease Him and it was through His Son’s blood (death). See John 3:16 And it takes faith in this “hilasterion” or appeasement for it to be effective. There is one other place where the Greek word “hilasterion” is used in the New Testament. It is in Hebrews 9:5 where it is translated as “mercy seat.” As you know the “mercy seat” plays a large role on the Day of Atonement. The high priest has to go in and sprinkle the sacrificial blood on this mercy seat where God figuratively sits and has placed His name in the Holy of Holies. The mercy seat is the appeasement to make us right with God. Here are some other translations of Romans 3:25: BBE Romans 3:25 Whom God has put forward as the sign of his mercy, through faith, by his blood, to make clear his righteousness when, in his pity, God let the sins of earlier times go without punishment; (Bible in Basic English) GWN Romans 3:25 God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience, God waited to deal with sins committed in the past. (God’s Words to the Nations) NET Romans 3:25 God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. (New English Translation) NIV Romans 3:25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood– to be received by faith. (New International Version) NJB Romans 3:25 God appointed him as a sacrifice for reconciliation, through faith, by the shedding of his blood, (New Jerusalem Bible) Most translations do not deal with the subject of appeasement which is the main point of this word which is translated as “propitiation.” The concept here is how much God wants us to have a good relationship with Him and that He was willing to put forth His Son’s atoning blood so we could be forgiven and return to a relationship with Him after we sinned against Him. How wonderful is that? And Paul goes on to say that this was to demonstrate God’s righteousness or justice (not yours or mine) because God in His patience or forbearance He passed over our sins. You might have to read Romans 3:25 several times but it would be well worth looking up the English definition of every word. —————————————————————————————————– See David Antion’s other articles at: Antion, David – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Guardian Ministries http://daveantion.com/ —————————————————————————————————– |
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