[ Bottom of Page ]

By God's grace, still presenting the same old message from the same old Book...

Propitiation refers to that by which God’s wrath is assuaged, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation is not what procures God’s love or makes him loving, but it renders it consistent for God to exercise his love towards sinners, for the debt of His wrath has been satisfied. Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood is all that is needed for propitiation in behalf of our sins, the propitiatory sacrifice provided by the Father's love removing the separation, appeasing God's righteous wrath against the sinner. God's justice demands propitiation, for our iniquities separate men from God and therefore demand the wages of sin. The Holy Ghost quickens those Christ died for, and Christ died for those the Father gave Him.

Isaiah 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

“The term "propitiation" (hilasmos) means "satisfaction," "appeasement." Theologically, propitiation means that God's wrath against sin, demanded by His justice, is appeased on account of the death of Christ for sinners.” (Gary Long)

These Scriptures use the word propitiation: Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Romans 3:25 states that God set forth Christ "a propitiation through faith in his blood." From this reference it may be observed that, if Christ is a propitiation "through faith," He cannot be a propitiation to those who never have faith, and "all men have not faith" (II Thess. 3:2). (Gary Long)

1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

Quoting Gary Long, “I John 4:10 reveals the motivating cause of propitiation. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." The propitiation is restricted here to the definite pronouns, "we," "us," and "our"; that is, to believers, God's elect.”

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

There is a universalists position some hold, regarding their belief that Christ Jesus is propitiation through faith in His blood for each and every person without exception, but I reject that universalists position. Christ Jesus is propitiation through faith in His blood, but not all have faith. Faith is obtained when we are saved.

2 Thessalonians 3:2  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 

2 Peter 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 

Quoting Gary Long:

“Concerning I John 2:2, Calvinistic universalists say it teaches two aspects of propitiation. One writes:

There is a propitiation which affects God in His relation to the kosmos-with no reference to the elect-and one which affects His relation to the elect. This twofold propitiation is set forth in I John 2:2.

The sum of the four point Calvinist position is that Christ is said, in some sense, to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, meaning all mankind without exception. This, according to another Calvinistic universalist, is "the normal unbiased approach to this text."

The meaning and nature of propitiation is not a matter of disagreement between four and five point Calvinists. The issue lies in the extent of propitiation as taught in I John 2:2. Much has been written concerning both sides of the issue. An examination of these writings reveals that the crux of the difference hinges upon the term "whole world." The four point Calvinists say the meaning is obvious. The words themselves, they say, without any wresting, signify all men in the world, that is, world means world. John Owen, the Puritan, writes, concerning the dogmatism with which the modified Calvinists assert their "darling" proof for unlimited atonement, by saying:

The world, the whole world, all, all men!-who can oppose it? Call them [the modified Calvinists] to the context in the several places where the words are; appeal to rules of interpretation; mind them of the circumstances and scope of the place, the sense of the same words in other places; ... [and] they... cry out, the bare word, the letter is theirs: "Away with the gloss and interpretation; give us [the modified Calvinists] leave to believe what the word expressly saith."

Biblical Universal Terminology

That I John 2:2 contains universal language is evident from the term "whole world." John 3:16 also uses the universal term "world" in the same manner. It is clear, therefore, that there is a biblical or divine universalism taught in Scripture. However, the issue does not center on the fact that universal terminology is used. It centers on the meaning or interpretation of that terminology.”

Quotes credited to Gary Long are from his book, 
Definite Atonement, by Gary D. Long,
© 1st Backus Book Publishers edition, 1988. 

It is hoped the reader will learn to discern between a 4 point universalist Calvinists, and a 5 point Calvinists. Another term that is helpful is “High Arminian.” True High Arminians and True Calvinists reject easy believism, and decisional regeneration. Also note, it is not our learning that merits salvation, but instead, ye must be born again (John 3:7; Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13).  

Keep in mind, our rule of faith is the Scriptures, and these various terms are used to help understand the sense and meaning of Scripture, like the terms Trinity, Rapture, Geocentricism, and so forth are used to help explain the sense, toward understanding the Scripture.

The words “the world” from John 3:16 and the words “whole world” from 1 John 2:2 refer to such as should be saved, and not each and every person without exception. I am not a universalist. Satan, it is said, deceiveth the whole world (Rev 12:9), but it should be obvious to any that does not mean each and every person without exception, for Christ opens the eyes of the sheep (1 John 5:20). Neither does 1 John 2:2 and John 3:16 refer to each and every person without exception. Christ is not the Shepherd of the goats. The goats shall not be saved, but all that are saved were before by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3; John 10:14, 16, 27; 1 Pet 2:25; Matt 25:32-33; Ps 79:13, 95:7; 100:3).

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

The gospel is to be presented to each and every person. As many as repent and believe shall be saved, showing themselves to be sheep, while their testimony is they were before by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph 2:3), but now Christ has become precious to them (1 Pet 2:4, 6, 7), Christ’s blood is become precious to them (1 Pet 1:19), and the faith they have obtained is precious to them (2 Pet 1:1).

Here is a link with additional words about propitiation: God's Wrath Averted 
This link deals with the false practice of Decisional Regeneration: Decisional Regeneration

Bible Study Letters

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalms 66:16

[ Home Page ] [ Main Menu ]

Bob Krajcik
[ Bible Study Letters ]
 Your Comments Welcomed
Your Privacy Respected
Send Your Comments, Questions,
Praise Reports or Prayer Requests

[ Top of Page ]