Propitiation is the appeasement of divine wrath through Christ's sacrifice. The word comes from the Latin propitiatio, meaning appeasement. It means the satisfaction of God's justice. It means the turning away of God's wrath. It means the covering of sin. It means the atonement. It means the reconciliation. It means the propitiation.

Propitiation is taught in the Bible. Romans 3:25 says: whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. 1 John 2:2 says: he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 4:10 says: 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. Hebrews 2:17 says: he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. The Bible is clear. Christ is the propitiation. His death appeased God's wrath. His death satisfied God's justice. His death covered our sin. His death reconciled us to God. His death is the propitiation.

Propitiation in theology

• Divine wrath: God is angry at sin.
• Divine justice: God must punish sin.
• Christ's sacrifice: Christ took the punishment.
• Appeasement: God's wrath is turned away.
• Reconciliation: we are made right with God.
• Expiation: our sin is removed.
• Propitiation: God's wrath is satisfied.

Propitiation is not a popular doctrine. It speaks of wrath. It speaks of anger. It speaks of punishment. It speaks of blood. It speaks of death. It speaks of sacrifice. It speaks of propitiation. But it is the truth. It is the gospel. It is the love. God is holy. He hates sin. He must punish sin. He cannot ignore it. He cannot overlook it. He cannot excuse it. He cannot tolerate it. He must judge it. He must condemn it. He must destroy it. But he loves the sinner. He loves you. He loves me. He loves the world. So he sent his Son. His Son took the punishment. His Son bore the wrath. His Son died the death. His Son paid the price. His Son satisfied the justice. His Son turned away the wrath. His Son is the propitiation. That is the gospel. That is the love. That is the propitiation. 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. That is the verse. That is the truth. That is the propitiation.