Sermon Tone Analysis

Propitiation: Propitiation means the turning away of wrath by an offering.

In relation to soteriology, propitiation means placating or satisfying the wrath of God by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Ryrie, C. C. (1999).

Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p.

339).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

The Need For Propitiation

A. God’s wrath toward man

In the Old Testament.

More than twenty different words occurring about 580 times express the wrath of God in the Old Testament (2 Kings 13:3; 23:26; Job 21:20; Jer.

21:12; Ezek.

8:18; 16:38; 23:25; 24:13).

Everywhere sin constitutes the reason for God’s wrath.

Idolatry especially aroused His wrath (Deut.

6:14; Josh.

23:16; Ps. 78:21; Isa.

66:15–17).

The effects of God’s wrath included general affliction (Ps.

88:7), pestilence (Ezek.

14:19), slaughter (9:8), destruction (5:15), being delivered to enemies (2 Chron.

28:9), drought (Deut.

11:17), plagues (2 Sam.

24:1), leprosy (Num.

12:10), and exile (2 Kings 23:26–27; Ezek.

19:12).

Old Testament- 20 different words occurring about 580 times express the wrath of God:

B. Some effects of God’s wrath on mankind:

affliction

pestilence or sickness such as plagues

slaughter-

destruction, given over to enemies, drought, exile!

C. The New Testament speaks also of the wrath of God- Mostly occuring in the Last Days as the angels pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the Earth.

Those who are unbelievers, who refuse the truth, will incur God’s wrath!

C. Man’s choice to sin-

Verse 1: sin not or may not sin- the subjunctive voice indicates a choice to sin; the probability of it happening again; past tense yet in the future

In other words John is telling his readers and us today, “do not do it again”

Transition: we see the next point to be made

The Provision For Propitiation

A.

A. He, Greek says “He, Himself” meaning Jesus.

B. Only a God that loves us enough to leave heaven and take the form of man, suffer, be mocked, beaten, spit on, nailed to a cross would provide for us a propitiation or a “sacrifice” worthy enough to please him.

C. The death of Christ on the cross was the only thing that could satisfy the wrath of God.

D. The law couldn’t do it, We couldn’t do it

We are not called upon to do something in order to placate an angry God.

On the contrary, God in His wondrous grace has provided the expiation, the atonement, and the propitiation in the person and work of His Son.

Thus, the words used for “propitiation” point to the ground upon which God shows mercy to the guilty, namely, the finished work of Christ.

The Lord Jesus is both the propitiator and the propitiation.

E. We aren’t called upon

The Result of Propitiation

A. The wrath of God was and is satisfied!

B. We do have an advocate with the father

We have, not I have, or you have, or they have, but we have

So much goes into this as John transcends time as only the words of the Holy Spirit can.

We all sin, we all miss the mark, we all fall short of the glory of God but we have an advocate!

Satan will accuse you- not lies but truth about you!

C. We have forgiveness- John speaks of truth while Paul speaks of something very close but different called Justification-

You need to know that you are forgiven- Forgiveness presumes guilt.

Only a guilty person can be forgiven

Forgiveness-

appeals to the fact God is merciful

has to do with the fact that God is love

forgiveness is conditional- you have to ask for it!

Lord’s Prayer…forgive us our debts...

forgiveness has to do with convicted sinners and our state and when we are forgiven God declares us to be pardoned and therefore free from the penalty of the Law because now we are justified and righteous because we are now in Christ

In Forgiveness God accepts the fact that while Jesus was on the cross he prayed for you and took you place, and paid your price as the sin offering.

He was both forms of this word, propitiation, the place or mercy seat and the satisfactory sacrifice to turn away the wrath of God and because of this YOU HAVE FORGIVENESS WAITING FOR YOU!

D. Just as the need for propitiation began with man’s choice, so does the final result.

You have to make a choice.

CONCLUSION:

If because of the death of Christ God is satisfied, then what can the sinner do to try to satisfy God?

The answer is nothing.

Everything has been done by God Himself.

The sinner can and need only receive the gift of righteousness God offers.

Before Christ died, it was perfectly proper to pray, as did the taxgatherer in , “God, be merciful [lit., be propitiated] to me, the sinner.”

Though provision for fellowship with God was provided under the Law, this man could not rely on a finished and eternal sacrifice for sin that would appease God once and for all.

So that was an entirely appropriate prayer for him to pray.

But now Christ has died and God is satisfied, and there is no need to ask Him to be propitiated.

He is appeased, placated, and satisfied eternally.

This is the message we bring to a lost world: Receive the Savior who through His death satisfied the wrath of God.

Ryrie, C. C. (1999).

Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (p.

342).

Chicago, IL: Moody Press.