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He Is The Propitiation For Our Sins – Atonement at the Mercy Seat

Propitiation for our Sins — Sermon outline by G. E. Watkins on the meaning and importance of Jesus being the propitiation for our sins.

Introduction: 1 John 1:7 – 2:2

1. John is discussing the sin problem among Christians.

1) 1:7 Walk in the light … blood cleanses.

2) 1:8 We may be assured we have a sin problem.

3) 1:9 forgiven, cleansed if we confess sins.

4) 1:10 Assured again, we must deal with sin.

5) 2:1 John stresses where it is we must go if we are in sin.

6) 2:2 He is the hILASMOS, the propitiation for our sins.

2. I believe some go their entire lives without knowing just what that word means. WHAT A LOSS! This is GOLD!

3. If you pay attention today this will be the last day you won’t know what it means.

4. Today we’re going to chip this nugget of gold out of the boulder. If you make notes you’ll be able to study it anytime.

Discussion:

I.   PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS – NEW TESTAMENT CLUES

1. Romans 3:25

1) Jesus is a propitiation for our sins

2) Slight variant of our word, hILASTERION.

2. Same word used in Heb. 9:5.

3. There is a connection here that must be understood.

1) In the 3rd century BC a translation of the Law of God was made from the Hebrew into Greek. Today it is called the Septuagint.

2) This translation serves as a bridge of understanding between the Greek of the NT and the Hebrew of the OT.

3) Keep this in mind as we continue.

II.  PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. Strictly speaking “propitiation” is a NT word.

2. However, through our bridge we find it mentioned 26 times in 22 verses.

3. Exo. 25:17 for example. “You shall make a hILASTERION (LXX).

4. The mercy seat was the lid atop the ark of the covenant.

5. As it is with many revered things and places, the significance comes from what happens or happened there.

1) Gettysburg

2) Alamo

3) Normandy

4) Iwo Jima

5) Ground Zero

6. So it is with the Mercy Seat.

III. PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS – THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

1. In the seventh month, tenth day the children of Israel were to fast, Lev. 16:29.

2. It was a day of repentance and cleansing from sin.

3. The high priest had to make a sacrifice for his own cleansing first, Lev. 16:6.

4. Blood had to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat, v. 14

5. Goat was killed, blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat FOR THE PEOPLE, v. 15.

6. v. 16, “Thus he shall make atonement.”

IV.  JESUS, THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS

1. Again, it is what happens at a place that makes it significant.

2. The law has shadows of realities to come, Heb. 10:1. The Mercy Seat is such a shadow.

3. In the Old Testament scene of atonement Jesus is the High Priest, Heb. 9:7-14.

4. He is the goat, the atoning blood is His.

1) John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

2) Matthew 26:28, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured our for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

3) John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

4) Eph. 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

5) Heb. 9:12, “he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

5. But what of the seat itself? What is that in the New Testament scheme?

1) Between the Cherubim on that old seat was where God dwelled, 2 Sam. 6:2.

2) Where Moses heard the voice of God, Num. 7:89

3) That Mercy Seat was a representation of the throne room of God in Heaven.

a. Ezekiel 1 (Ezek. 10, these creatures are identified as Cherubim.)

b. Rev. 4:6-7 (Ezek. 1:10, As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.)

4) So the blood of Christ was sprinkled on the throne of the Father for our atonement.

Conclusion:

1. So the word “propitiation” goes from be a dry theological word to a living vibrant one. Full of meaning.

2. I think now of the deep tragedy of those who have not appropriated the atonement for their own souls.

1) Some are even Christians who stand condemned because of sin. It doesn’t have to be. Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9

2) There are others, perhaps those in this audience, who have not obeyed God’s will, so that THAT atonement might be your atonement.

3. Invitation