It's just satisfaction for sin.
Satisfaction for sin. Turn if you would to 1 John chapter
4. We'll read verses 7 to 13 to
get the context of our verse, which will be found in verse
10. 1 John chapter 4, verses 7 to 13. Satisfaction for sin. Beloved, Let us love one another, for
love is of God. And everyone that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God, for God is love. In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved
us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God
at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth
in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know that we dwell
in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit. Now last week we saw John come
back to the theme, which he's been talking about in several
places throughout this epistle, which is God's born-again blood-washed
saints love one another. We love God's people. And we will see tonight where
the source of that love comes from. Where the source of that
love comes from. That's not natural for us as
humans to love the people of God. Because in our natural state,
we do not love God and we do not love the people of God. We
do not love the gospel and we do not love Christ. But when
you're born again of the Holy Spirit of God, you love Christ,
you love the gospel, you love the scriptures, and you love
God's people. And we will see tonight how the
love of God is manifested to his people. And like the hymn
writer wrote, it's vast, unmeasured. You cannot plumb the depths of
God's love for his people. You can't plumb it, beloved.
We'll be looking at verse 10 tonight again. Let's read the
verse with with verse nine, where we see clearly that God's love
towards his people was manifested to us when he sent his only begotten
son into the world to die for us. To die for us, that we might
live through him in verse 10, says the Lord Jesus Christ was
sent to be the propitiation beloved. For our sins. Look, it says,
in this was manifested the love of God. So God's love was manifested
by this act towards his people. What does it say? In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, John's writing to born again
believers, because that God sent his only begotten son into the
world that we might live through him. And this is speaking, beloved,
of spiritual life. Because we come into this world
dead in trespasses and sins. But when we're born again by
the Spirit of God, we're made alive in Christ. And we have,
right now, eternal life in Christ. And then it says this, herein
is love. Not that we love God. but that
he loved us. And how was his love for us manifested? And sent his son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Now the Bible word propitiation
is an absolute wonderful word. It's a wonderful word to the
people of God. For the believer on Christ, this
is a word that is precious, and this is a word that's treasured
by God's people. Listen to what Brother Tim James
comments on this wonderful word. And I came out of religion, and
this was true of me too, I never heard this word mentioned in
religion. I never heard about propitiation.
Just like I never really heard about the righteousness of Christ,
because in religion, people are trying to establish their own
righteousness. And probably the reason we didn't hear propitiation
is because people are trying to satisfy God's wrath and justice
by what they do. Now listen to what Brother Tim
James says about this. I spent most of my life prior to God-given
faith in the vaunted and empty halls of fundamentalist religion. I do not ever recall hearing
the word propitiation before I heard someone preach the gospel
of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. Since the time I was
caused to hear the truth, I like that, I have found that this
word and the doctrine is abundant in the writings and the sermons
of those who love the truth. Because it's precious to us.
It's a precious, precious word, beloved. Now the Greek definition
for this word propitiation here is atoning sacrifice, sin offering,
propitiation, expiation, one who makes propitiation, expiation,
atonement, atoning sacrifice to propitiate. So we see clearly in our text
tonight, herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he
loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. Now in the English definition
of this word, it means the action of propitiating or appeasing
God. Appeasing. So we see then that
the word propitiation means appeasement. Appeasement. Beloved, it means. To satisfy. Now, that's good news for sinners. That's real good news for sinners.
Two words that every gospel preacher hopes that you leave the message
with. Is substitution and satisfaction. Christ is the only substitute
of sinners, and God is absolutely satisfied with the sacrifice
of Christ. Period. Nothing else. Christ,
the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, dying as the substitute
of sinners, and God absolutely satisfied with the sacrifice
of Christ. So propitiation then is satisfaction. Each time this word is used,
it always has to do with the atoning, God-satisfying sacrifice
of Christ. Look over in 1 John 2, verses
1 and 2. This word, this specific word,
The Greek word for propitiation is only used twice in our text,
and over here in 1 John 2, verses 1 and 2. It actually is in verse
2, but I want to read verse 1 with it. My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin,
we have an advocate, oh, what an advocate we have, with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Now look at this, note this too.
Note the singularity of this word. And He is the propitiation. You notice that? Singular. The
propitiation. For our sins. And not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world. For all the
elect, Jew and Gentile, who would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now let's go back to our text again. And we'll read verses
9 and 10 again. And we'll see the same Greek
word used in verse 10. And this was manifest, the love
of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son
into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love. Here's love manifested. Not that
we love God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the
propitiation for our sins, to be the appeasement for our sins. So we see then that this word
always pertains to the offering of the blood of Christ to God.
And who have we sinned against? We've sinned against God, haven't
we? We've sinned against God's law. We've sinned against his
justice. We've sinned against him. So
he must be satisfied. The holy, righteous, sovereign
God of the universe must be satisfied. Must be appeased. Must be. And so by the death of Christ,
the payment of of the sin debt of all the elect of all the ages
is paid and God is appeased. appeased because Christ satisfied
the law and justice of God in our place. And he was sent by
the father to do this. To do this. For those whom the
father has loved from eternity and his love was manifested to
us by the fact that he sent Christ to be the propitiation for our
sins. My oh my. And let us consider here, too,
how God's ways are not our ways. God's ways are not our ways.
His thoughts are not our thoughts, especially here in the propitiation
work of Christ set forth here in our text before us. In paganism,
man propitiates his gods, which are the gods of his imagination.
And in religion, becomes a form of commercialism or bribery as
they seek to gain merit and favor with God by what they do. in
what they offer. All by their actions. But in
Christianity, in true Christianity, God propitiates His wrath by
His own action. By His own action. God appeases
His wrath by His own action. See, His ways are not our ways.
His thoughts are not our thoughts, beloved. Natural man thinks,
well, I'm just going to offer this up and it'll be good, and
I'm a good person, and I'm good. Well, they're offering those
things to a God of their own imagination, not the God of the
Bible. But in biblical propitiation, God's wrath appeased by his own
actions he sent the father sent the Lord Jesus Christ the father
that's clear in our text the father sent the Lord Jesus Christ
to be the propitiation for our sins for our sins for the sins of
all his people and take note how this this great This great
work of propitiation is a finished work, beloved. It's complete.
It's complete. Notice the words there, to be,
in verse 10. Do you notice in your scriptures
it's italicized? That means that those words were
added by the translators. They're not in the original Greek.
They're added by the translator. So so let's read that here in
his love. Not that we love God, but he
loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.
OK. But but let's read it without
those words. Here in his love, not that we
love God, but that he loved us and sent his son the propitiation. For our sins. My. That's the same verbiage as we
saw over in chapter 2 when it says, and He is the propitiation
for our sins. There's only one. And it's so clear in this text.
And He is the propitiation for our sins in verse 2 of chapter
2. So we see that God did not send
his son to be the propitiation. He sent his son who is the propitiation. The only propitiation. He sent his son who is the propitiation. The only one spotless, sinless
Lamb of God. The only one who could appease
the justice and law of a holy and righteous God. The propitiation. We see then that this speaks
of an accomplished act because Christ is the propitiation. So
marvel at the wonderful truth that's being set forth here before
us. Remember, Christ is the Word.
He's the second person of the eternity made flesh. But we also
know, we also know, beloved, that he's the lamb slain from
the foundation of the world, right? The propitiation. Do you see how scripture ties
in with scripture, beloved? He is the only lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. The propitiation sent by God
for the sins of God's elect. to propitiate for the sins of
God's elect, to pay everything that God demanded to redeem us
from our sins. And all our sins were laid upon
Him, imputed to Him, and His perfect spotless righteousness
is imputed to us, all by the grace of God. So He is the only sacrifice that
is appeasing to our great, holy, and just God. He is the propitiation. the propitiation, the sinless,
spotless lamb of God. And the great love of God that
we saying of. Is manifested in the fact that
God, the father, sent his son, the word of God to be the propitiation
for the sins of God's elect. Wonder of wonders, beloved wonder
of wonders, And this, again, this work is a finished work.
It's a finished work. He is the propitiation, the only
one who could appease God's wrath in our place. The only one. The only one who could satisfy
the justice of God. Because we rightly deserve the
justice and wrath of God to be poured out upon us, don't we?
We justly deserve the sword of God's judgment to fall upon us. But beloved, it fell upon the
propitiation in our place. The Lord Jesus Christ. Sent by
the father. To redeem us from all our sins. And only he could make satisfaction
for the sins of God's people. So what a title then. What a
title for our Lord and Savior. We can call him the propitiation. Sent by God. The propitiation,
the only one. the propitiation for our sins
sent by God all because of God's great love for us, His great
everlasting love. And we see plainly and evidently
that the propitiation the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished by
dying in the room and place of His people brings forth reconciliation
of God's people to God. Turn, if you would, to 2 Chronicles,
chapter 29. 2 Chronicles, chapter 29. The truth of reconciliation is
set forth both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. And the
fact that Christ appeased the law and justice of God in our
place, doing that, He reconciled us to God, beloved. He reconciled
us back to God. Look at this in 2nd Chronicles
chapter 29 verses 23 and 24. And they bought forth the he
goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation.
And they laid their hands upon them. And the priests killed
them. And they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar
to make an atonement. To make an atonement. Verse 24
of 2nd Chronicles 29. For all are Israel. For the king
commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be
made for all of Israel. Christ is sent by the father,
the king of glory. The king of glory. To be the
propitiation for the sins of his people. Now turn, if you
would, to Daniel 9.24. Daniel 9.24. And look what it
says here. Daniel 9.24, 70 weeks are determined upon thy
people and upon thy holy city to finish the transgression and
to make an end of sins. Look at that. And to make an
end of sins. And to make what? Reconciliation
for iniquity. reconciliation for iniquity,
and to bring in everlasting righteousness. Whose righteousness are we clothed
in? The everlasting righteousness of Christ, God's righteousness.
And to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most
holy. So when did this happen? What's
said here in Daniel 9.24? Turn, if you would, to 2 Corinthians
chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. We'll read verses 17 to 21. And then we'll go to Hebrews
chapter 2. We've seen it in the Old Testament.
Now we will see reconciliation in the New Testament. And the
reason we're looking at this is because Christ is the only
one who appeased the wrath of God in our place. He's the only
one who can reconcile us to God. So in the Old Testament, we saw
a shadow. Now we will see the substance.
Now we will see the substance here. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses
17 to 21. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us, believers, to what? To Himself. To Himself. by Jesus Christ, remember, the
propitiation, the one propitiation sent by God. So it says here,
God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and has given
unto us the ministry of reconciliation. The gospel is preached as a gospel
of reconciliation through Christ Jesus our Lord. to wit that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. God's people, God's
preachers, are ambassadors for Christ. We tell the great things
that God has done for us in and through Christ. As though God
did besiege you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin
for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness
of God in him. Now look at Hebrews chapter 2. In the book of Hebrews, chapter
2, verses 16 to 18, the scriptures declare this. And again, we saw the type in
the shadow in 2 Chronicles 29 and in Daniel, chapter 9. Now we see the substance again
in 2 Corinthians, and now here in Hebrews, chapter 2, verses
16 to 18. For verily he took not on him,
being Christ, the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of
Abraham. He is bone of our bone, and he is flesh of our flesh.
He is God incarnate in the flesh. Wherefore in all things it behooved
him to be made like unto his brethren, that's his people,
that he might be a merciful, and oh how merciful he is, and
faithful high priest. He is the only faithful one.
in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation, remember
who he is, the propitiation, to make reconciliation for the
sins of the people. That's God's elect. For in that
he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to secure
them that are tempted. So beloved of God, this wonderful
reconciliation, was all accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ, the
propitiation for the people of God. As we see in our text, Christ
is himself called the propitiation, sent by God. When Adam fell,
it made a dreadful breach, beloved, between God and man, dead in
trespasses and sin. We who are the sons and daughters
of Adam are born in that state, sinners. But our scriptures here
tonight declare that Christ, the sent one of God, the propitiation for the sins of God's people, has made peace by His blood,
has made peace by His blood, the blood of His cross, God's
people, are forgiven of all their sins. And beloved, this is an
accomplished act. It's accomplished never to be
repeated again. Never to be repeated again. So
we saw the types and the shadows in the Old Testament. And here's
the substance. The substance is right in our
text below. Let's go back to first John.
And let's unpack this verse a little bit more, praying the Holy Spirit
of God will illuminate the scriptures for us. And I pray the Lord will
make us marvel at the wonderful truth set before us in this little
verse here. The eternal love of God and the
fact that Christ who is God in our flesh is the propitiation
for our sins. Let's read verses 9 and 10 again.
In this was manifest the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him, here in his love. Not that we love God, but
that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for
our sins. Or we could just say, sent his
Son the propitiation for our sins. So we see very clearly
that the reason for Christ being sent to be the propitiation of
God's people is the distinguishing love of God towards His people. The distinguishing love of God
towards His people. And we've seen this through this
epistle, we've seen this all through scripture. The contrast,
especially in this epistle as we look through it, the contrast
between the believer and the unbeliever. the saved and those
of the world we've seen that contrast as we went through this
study and we know that it's only God who made us to differ we
know that don't we we know that for a fact that it's only God
who made us to differ our great sovereign God now we see here
in verse 9 that the love of God again was manifest to his people
in the fact that Christ was sent in verse 10 to be the propitiation
for the sins of his people Now here in His love, look at this,
here in His love, not that we love God, but that He loved us. Here in His love, not that we
love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son, the propitiation
for our sins. There is no man or woman in our natural state that loves
God. No man or woman in our natural
state that loves God, that is very clear right here, here in
his love, not that we love God. No man or woman in a natural,
unregenerate state loves God, this is so clearly bought forth
here, and God did not send Christ based upon our love Because our
unregenerate hearts as to loving God is like a broken cistern
that can't hold water. No one in their unregenerate
state loves God. None. That's plainly what the
scriptures declare. So we come nearer to John's meaning
when we look at the negative as applying to those who do love
God. Not that we love God. This is
that our love to God, even when it does exist, and even when
it influences our lives, is not worthy to be mentioned as a fountain
and supply for this love. Our love is poor at best when
compared to God's love. When compared to God's love towards
his people, here's a good illustration that Spurgeon used on the love
of God for his people. He said, if we had to enlighten
the world, a child might point us to a bright mirror reflecting
the sun, and he might cry, here in his light. A child might say,
oh yeah, there's light. You and I would say, poor child,
that is but borrowed brightness. Borrowed brightness the light
is not there, but yonder in the Sun The light is in the Sun the love
now listen to this the love of the Saints That the love that
God works in us For the love of with of one another is nothing
more than the reflection of the love of God So think of that The love that
the saints have is nothing more than the reflection of the love
of God. And think of these words in light
of the verses we've looked at as we go through this study and
know that this love that we have for the brethren, this love that
we have for God is worked in us by Him. We can't take credit
for nothing. Nothing at all. Look at again,
look at verses seven and eight in this chapter. Beloved, let
us love one another, for love is of who? God. It comes from
him. And everyone that loveth is born
of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God, for God is love. And we know the context of that
was love in the brethren. And then listen to what Paul
writes over in 1 Thessalonians. He says, but as touching brotherly
love, you need not that I write unto you, for you yourselves
are taught of God to love one another. Paul said, I don't even
have to teach you on this, because God's people love one another.
And then he goes on to say, and indeed, you do it toward all
the brethren which are all in Macedonia, but we besiege you,
brethren. that she increased more and more
turn if you would the first Peter chapter 4 first Peter chapter
4 look at this look at this wonderful little verse here you know again
remember that the love of of the Saints is nothing more than
a reflection of the love of God look with that in mind look at
what Peter writes here first Peter chapter 4 verse 8
and above all things have fervent charity but we know in the scriptures
the word charity is love Have fervent love. And it says among
yourselves. Among yourselves. For charity,
love, shall cover what? The multitude of sins. The multitude
of sins. So this wondrous love does not
point out our brothers' and sisters' faults and shortcomings. It doesn't
speak to others of our brothers' or sisters' weaknesses. or their failings, because we
know if we start speaking like that, we know we all have shortcomings,
and we know we all have failings, because we're sinners just like
them. Just like them. The moment we start to point
out the faults and failings of our brothers and sisters in Christ
is a moment when we are in deep, deep trouble. Deep, deep trouble,
beloved. Because again, we all have faults,
and we all have failings of our own. And Brother Henry says,
usually when someone's doing that, they're just trying to
compare themselves to someone else to make themselves feel
better. We're all sinners. We're all on level ground, beloved.
We're all on level ground. All of us. And we are all sinners
in the eyes of God. We saw that when we read that
proverb, that the eyes of the Lord behold the evil and the
good. Nothing escapes His eyes. Absolutely nothing. Nothing. And then look at verse 10, it
says, look at look at the first part of this here in his love,
not that we love God, but that he loved us. So notice the source
of this love that. That God has for us. It's distinguishing
love, it comes from him. It comes from Him. Christ wasn't
sent because we love God. God didn't look down through
time and see who would choose Him or love Him and then elect
the people based upon that. No. The Scripture declares the
opposite to be true. Turn if you would to Romans chapter
5. The Scripture declares the opposite to be true. Think of this, if God had waited,
on our outpouring of love, then Christ would never have been
sent. You ever think of that? He'd never be sent. If God had
awaited for our outpouring of love, Christ never would have
been sent. No. Look at this in Romans 5,
verses 6 to 10. For when we were yet without
strength in due time, Christ died for who? The ungodly. That's us in our natural state. And there, see how that ties
in with here in His love? Not that we love God. We were
the ungodly. We didn't love God. Let's read
on, though. This gets better and better. For when we were yet without
strength and due time, Christ died for the ungodly. He was
the propitiation for the ungodly, for His people. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die, yet pure adventure for a
good man, some would even dare to die. But God commanded his
love toward us. Oh, here we go. He commanded
his love toward us, beloved his people, and that while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us. He died for our sins. He died
for the ungodly, his elect, dead in trespasses and sins. Look
at this much more than being now justified by his blood. We're
justified by the precious blood of Christ. We shall be saved
from wrath through him. Why? Because the wrath of God's
been appeased. It fell upon Christ. It fell
upon him in our place. This is wonderful news for if
when we were enemies and that means enemies. We were reconciled
to God by the death of his son. Much more, now we see the word
reconciled again, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life. By the great, by the propitiation
of God. Oh, this is wonderful. So this
love is distinguished, it's specific rather than general. And those
who are loved are propitiated for. Look at these words in verse
10. Look at this. Here in His love,
not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son,
the propitiation for our sins. He loved us. He loved us. John writes this
by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. And we know that our
great God is love, we know that He's good, we know that He's
gracious, but we also know that He's a God of wrath and a God
of justice. You can't magnify one of God's
attributes over the other attributes. He's holy, He's just. But we saw there in Romans 5,
verse 6, we are called the ungodly. That's us in our natural state,
beloved. So there's nothing in us to attract
the love of God to us in our natural state. When God looked down through
time, all he saw was us dead in trespasses and sins. And he
chose one old-timer said that. He chose to have mercy on whom
he had mercy. But don't forget, he knows the end from the beginning.
He knows the opposite of how we're going through time. He
knows it all. He knows it all. And our great
God, He's so gracious, He's perfect, He's holy, and yet He loves His
people with an everlasting love. We saw that in Romans 5, 6. Romans
5, 6 we saw that. He loves them with an everlasting
love. My. And the scripture declares
that when we were ungodly, He loved us. He commanded His love
toward us. Now look at our scripture again
and think upon this. Look at this here in his love,
not that we love God. But that he loved us. Here is love manifested, look
at these words before us and not that we love God and look
at the little hinge word. Always remember that large doors
swing on little hinges, don't they? Large doors swing on little
hinges. Little wee hinges just swing
them doors like they're nothing. Well here's a great doctrinal
truth that just swings here before us. But, the word but, that He
loved us. Marvel at these three words right
here before us. He loved us. God who owed us nothing but His
wrath and judgment which we justly deserve, has loved His people,
sinners born and dead, and trespassers in sin, sinners from the top
of our heads to the bottom of our feet, says He's loved us. He loved us, and we know that
His love is an everlasting love, isn't it? Oh my, He loved us
from eternity. So meditate upon these wonderful
words this week. He loved us. He loved us. Marvel at this words. Three little
words. Three little words, but how glorious
are the meaning of these three little words. The first word,
he. He. He who is infinitely holy. He who is infinitely holy. He
who cannot endure iniquity in his presence. He loves us. He loved us. He whose glory is the astonishment
of all the elect angels. He who the demons say, oh, I
know you, the Holy One of Israel, and tremble in His presence.
He. He who all the blood-washed saints
give all glory, honor, and praise. He loved us. He who the Scriptures proclaim
that the heavens cannot contain Marvel at these little words.
He loved us. He loved us. He who rules in
absolute sovereignty over all things visible and invisible. He loves us. Written to his people. A people of his chosen. A people
who are redeemed by the propitiation, the Lord Jesus Christ. people
who are born again of the Holy Spirit of God. And note the third word, He loved
us. He loved us. The second word, actually, look
at that. He saw us and are ruined and fall. He saw us dead and
trespasses and sins and by His grace and mercy He chose a people,
beloved. All because his love was set
upon us. He loved us from before the foundation
of the world. And then the last word, us. The
most insignificant of beings. As we saw in the scripture, the
ungodly. As Spurgeon said, animated dust. Sinners from the top of our head
to the bottom of our feet. But beloved, all the wrath and
judgment that was deserved us. Fell upon the great substitute,
the Lord Jesus Christ. All because he loved us. All because God has loved us
from eternity. Greater love hath no man than
this end. And the man laid down his life for his friend. You
cannot you as we sing in that this this is vast. This is debtless
love. And as a believer, when I when
I meditate upon the fact that he loved us, he loved we who
are his people. He loved me, each believer can
say. We just get lost, don't we, in the marvel, in the vastness
of his love. of who He is. And note the rest
of the verse. Those who are loved by God are
the ones who are propitiated for by the one who is called
the propitiation sent from God. In His name, beloved, is the
Lord Jesus Christ. here in His love, not that we
love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Those whom God loves, He sent
His Son to be the propitiation for their sins. Christ alone
satisfied Again, the wrath and judgment
of God rightly deserving us. And God is so satisfied with
the sacrifice of Christ. That is pure, holy wrath. That we rightly deserved. Is
fully extinguished against us. Extinguished in Christ. Because it fell upon Him. It
fell upon Him. And it's God who sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. And God is satisfied with
that sacrifice. Christ has purchased us. Christ
has redeemed us with His precious blood. He redeemed every single
one, every single sheep that the Father gave Him in eternity.
And every believer says, praise God I'm included in that number.
Praise His mighty name. Because we know that the Scriptures
make it very clear that man cannot by works of righteousness by
themselves, by their own righteousness, or by any human merit, satisfy
the justice and law of God. We cannot do it. But we see here
that the propitiation sent by God, the Lord Jesus Christ, satisfied the wrath of God. in our place. Turn, if you would,
to Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. We'll read
a little portion and then we're finished. Look at this. Hebrews chapter 10. All those
sacrifices in the Old Testament could never take away sin. Could
never take away sin. But they pointed to one. who would take away the sins
of his people. The propitiation, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews
chapter 10 verses 4 to 9. For it is not possible that the
blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when
he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice an offer, and
thou wiltest not, but a body hast thou prepared. And this
is speaking of the word of God, the second person of the Trinity. A body has now prepared me in
burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin has now has no pleasure. They couldn't, they could not
make propitiation. They simply pointed to the one
who the scripture calls tonight, the propitiation, the Lord Jesus
Christ. In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, lo, I come in the
volume of the book. This whole book is written about
Christ, beloved. It is written of me to do thy
will, O God. He came to do the will of the
Father. And what was the will of the Father? Wow. Here in his love, not that we
love God, but that he loved us and sent his son, the propitiation
for our sins. It was the will of God that Christ
would die to redeem us and save us from our sins on Calvary's
cross. Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings,
and offering for sin, thou wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein,
which are offered by the law. Then said he, Lo, I come to do
thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that
he may establish the second. So the payment of our sins that
God demands has been absolutely fully paid for by Christ. And that is why our great King,
that is why our great Savior, and cherished these words, cried
on the cross, it is finished. Finished. And we know the scripture
says He was raised for our justification to show that God is absolutely
satisfied. with the sacrifice of Christ.
Substitution and satisfaction right before us, beloved. Right
before us. Herein is love. Not that we love
God, but that He loved us and sent His Son, the propitiation
for our sins. God's unchanging, indestructible
love for His people has provided that which He will accept. What He has required, Christ
fulfilled it all in the place of God's people. And all that
a sinner needs is found in Christ. Is found in Christ. Because He
is the only sacrifice that God is satisfied with. And God sees His people in Christ. He sees His people in Christ,
without sin and perfectly righteous before Him. Although we know
we're still sinners, don't we? That's evident for every one
of us. But God sees us in Christ, beloved. Clothed in the perfect,
spotless righteousness of Christ. And we are born again, a miracle
of grace. We're born again by the Holy
Spirit, the precious Holy Spirit of God. And beloved, we've been
purchased by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, all
according to the will and purpose of our great sovereign God. Herein
is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us and he sent
his son, the propitiation for our sins. Praise God. What a
Savior. Heavenly Father, we thank you
again for allowing us to gather together and look in your word
and all the wonders of scripture, the wonders that you sent your
son. For we who are the ungodly, scripture declares, we who are
your people, we were dead in trespasses and sins. And you
sent your son, the propitiation, the one propitiation, the lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. you sent them to die
for our sins. Oh Lord, it's no wonder that
the saints in glory in one day will join them, sing worthy is
the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb, because you alone, Lord Jesus,
are worthy to be praised. And we love you only because
you first loved us. In Jesus' name, amen.