Propitiation: Satisfaction of Wrath

Hebrews 2:17
Therefore He(Jesus) 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.

1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

God’s wrath is real. It is the just response of a Holy God to man’s utter rebellion and sinfulness. The pages of the Bible are replete with this truth. It is found in both testaments and is foundational to fully understanding the cross of Jesus Christ.

So, what can we do? Nothing. Your goodness will never be enough to satisfy the wrath that our sins deserve. You cannot go to church enough, give away enough money to charity, be kind enough to cause God to overlook your rebellion. This is a huge problem. Is there a solution? Yes, and it is a huge solution.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the solution. Jesus is the propitiation for our sin. If you are familiar with this word then you will rejoice at the reminder of it’s meaning. If it is new to you then I encourage to learn, meditate and embrace this critical truth.

Propitiation is the satisfaction of wrath. And it occurred in Jesus Christ. God could not be just and let sin go unpunished. So, the Bible teaches us that Jesus took the punishment and wrath that our sins deserved.

Romans 3:23-26
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Some have misunderstood this doctrine of wrath and satisfaction. It is not a bribe. Like many of the pagan religions whose gods are filled with anger and then bribed to divert that anger.

God’s anger is not capricious, it is deserved. And it is not diverted, it is satisfied. God’s righteous anger must find its full expression and complete satisfaction. Where? Not in our actions, but in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross!

The cross is absolutely amazing. It satisfies God’s just demands that call for all sin to be punished. God does not wipe our sins under the proverbial “rug”. He placed them fully on His own Son.

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.(NIV)

The cross of Christ is not just expiation. The old RSV version translated the Greek word “hilasterion” as expiation instead of propitiation. Expiation is the removal of sin. Through the cross we can have our sins removed. This is a clear truth presented in scripture. But, the cross doesn’t just cleanse sin, it satisfies wrath as well.

Some liberal theologians over the years have had a problem with the concept of wrath. They don’t want a wrathful God so they say that the cross is only for expiation.

But Isaiah is crystal clear – Jesus suffered the punishment that we deserved. He satisfied the just wrath of a righteous God that was engendered by our sin.

This is not just a theological discussion. It is the core, the centerpiece, the truth that leads to life. We would be utterly hopeless if Jesus’ blood was not for the propitiation of our sins. We would have no opportunity for meaningful lasting life, peace with God, peace from God, true joy, or the promise of heaven.

That is extremely relevant! What an amazing God! How loving and kind! That Jesus would become my sin and take the punishment that I deserved is a truth that I will spend an eternity contemplating.
Thank You Jesus!


I have just scratched the surface in discussing the concept of propitiation. There have been volumes written on this subject by many people much more intelligent than myself.