Atoning Sacrifice

1 John 2:1–2 CSB

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

[[IDEAS: focus on the terms of propitiation and expiation; salvation; atonement…specifically as relates to how far one limits its application and not whether one limits it or not;]]

“He himself is the ATONING SACRIFICE...”

Romans 3:25 CSB

God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood, received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

Rom 3

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 2:17 CSB

Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

1 John 4:10 CSB

Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Colossians 1:20 CSB

and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

1 John 1:7 CSB

If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

ἱλασμός:

the means of forgiveness; expiation; propitiation; atonement

English translations: propitiation; atoning sacrifice; way of dealing with our sins; sacrifice that takes away our sins; satisfaction for our sins; the way our sins are taken away; reconciliation for our sins; payment for our sins; the means by which our sins are forgiven; died in our place to take away our sins; made personal atonement for our sins; sacrifice for our sins; took God’s wrath against our sins upon himself; expiation for

Propitiation

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Expiation, Propitiation

Propitiation, taking a personal object, speaks of the appeasement of an offended party—specifically the Christian God—from wrath or anger.

Satisfaction of wrath against sin.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Propitiation

that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners.

The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition Propitiation

Propitiation properly signifies the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift. In the OT it is expressed by the verb kipper (*ATONEMENT). In the NT the hilaskomai word group is the important one. In modern times the whole idea of propitiation has been strongly criticized as savouring of unworthy ideas of God. Many suggest that the term ‘propitiation’ should be abandoned in favour of *EXPIATION, and this is done, for example, in RSV.

An interpersonal term…appeasing one who is offended/angered. [wrath]

Expiation

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Expiation, Propitiation

Expiation speaks of the process by which sins are nullified or covered.

Removal of sin.

An impersonal, object focused term…the sin is covered thus removed from view or impact.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Expiation

In the Bible both expiation and propitiation are part of God’s atoning work. Christ’s sacrifice both propitiates (turns away) the wrath of God and expiates (covers) human sin.

AND THEN…there is the issue of the extent of the atonement...