Three Big Words – Three Big Thoughts

Propitiation, Atonement and Reconciliation

are three big words - not only in size,  but in importance.  Each expresses a precious truth about what Christ did and provided for us when He died on the cross for our sin.  We want to look at each word and the truth it contains so we may fully love, honor and worship our Great Savior!

Atonement – Covering our sin through sacrifice

Atonement is a payment made to remove a separation so two people can be reconciled, or reunited.  Sin had separated, or estranged, us from God.  Christ’s giving His blood (life) covered, or paid for, our sins (atoned for).  This perfect priestly offering removed us from under God’s wrath by appeasing His righteous demands (propitiation).  It also restore us to fellowship with God (reconciled us), the very ones who were once alienated from and even hostile to God and His will for our lives.  Atonement is the blood price paid to appease God’s wrath and provide ground to restore the relationship.  Study that idea in these verses:

·         Hebrew 5:1-3

·         Hebrews 9:6-14, 22

Propitiation – Pacifying God’s righteous wrath by payment

This is the least familiar word.  To propitiate is to “win the good will of, to appease.” Jesus was the “atoning sacrifice” for our sins (NIV).  Our sin not only separated us from God, it placed us under His wrath.  Not only did our offenses need to be made right, but His righteous wrath also needed to be appeased. For propitiation (satisfaction) to occur, the offending party must do or offer something to win back the good will of the one offended.  Jesus propitiated the Father for us by offering Himself as the propitiation.  He took God’s wrath for us.  Read and record what these verses say about this concept:

·         God’s wrath & our need for propitiation: Luke 18:13;  John 3:36;   Romans 1:18; 5:9

·         Christ’s propitiation: Romans 3:25-26;  Hebrews 2:17; 9:5:   1 John 2:2; 4:10

Reconciliation – Restoring the relationship between enemies

People at odds with one another need to be reconciled.  They must be brought back together into fellowship, have their relationship restored.  God did not need to be reconciled to us, because He had done nothing wrong.  However, because of our sin and resulting estrangement from Him, we needed to be reconciled to God.  Jesus has provided that for us as God’s means of reconciliation.   How do you see our need for reconciliation and Christ’s provision in these verses? 

·         Romans 5:6-11

·         2 Corinthians 5:18-21

·         Colossians 1:19-22

Wanted: Carpenter Apprentices ... Kerry S. Doyal

Wanted: Carpenter Apprentices

We all know a couple that we love one of the two and we - shall we say - struggle with the not-better half.  I am sure I have been that half for some people. That’s okay, they have some friends struggling with their spouses’ choice too. 

Many feel this way about the church. They love Jesus, but struggle with His bride. There seems to be a glaring disconnect: how did He end up with her, what was He thinking?

The church is an easy target and does much to paint bull’s-eyes on herself. Some of the attitudes and behaviors of Jesus’ chosen spouse are astounding, inexcusable. “She said and did what? And she is married to Him?”

Pick your favorite and convenient horror story. Does it involve an abusive pastor, fickle so-called friends, gossip, closed cliques, abused pastors, “those preacher’s kids”, or wrongly judged and mistreated preacher’s kids and spouses?

Maybe your church story’s main character is a hypocritical deacon, or a Holy Joe that lived like the devil? Is money involved, or improprieties of 1000 different kinds?

GUILTY! Yes, His bride should blush and tear her wedding gown in repentance over her sinfulness. But this is not news. Most of the New Testament is written to help Christ’s Bride learn to be beautiful.  The letters – epistles if you like church talk - are filled with correctives. This Fair Lady needs much learnin’ and refining.  

Jesus’ earthly father handed off a trade to his boy: carpentry. This included wood and stone construction. He learned the hard, honest trade of building. According to Matthew 16:17-18, Jesus is still doing construction:

“Jesus replied, "…And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Using those who know Him, He is erecting, correcting and perfecting a spiritual house (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2).

Among the things Jesus is doing in heaven, at the top of His list is shepherding His sheep: finding the lost ones, healing the hurt, separating those fighting, and protecting, providing for and using all of them. Have you read Psalm 23 or John 10 lately?  

In our fair city literally built around churches – Church Circle – if you cannot find one church to connect with, guess who might be the issue? With over 200 to shop from – which is what we consumer Christians do – if not one suites your taste – how convenient. 

Yes, I know they ask for money, dress and talk funny, have hard pews, boring sermons and imperfect leaders (come visit my church if you need Exhibit A). Also agreed is that not everyone there is as sincere as you are (“hypocrites” is such a tired excuse). True too that some people use it as a social club. 

Your point?  Can the church “do church” better? No doubt. So?  If Jesus says He is in love with His bride – He did die for her – then who are we to demand perfection this side of heaven? That is one of the promises of heaven – a pure, spotless, wrinkle-free Bride (Ephesians 5:25-33).

Yes, you got hurt one time, or several times. Tell it to Jesus who let his future bride nail Him to a cross.

Yes, speak prophetically to her of her sins, but not merely pathetically of her in your bitterness.

Do Vols fans give up because a few fans behave poorly?  Some do every week without fail. As one wit said: did you give up eating because Mom once burned the biscuits?  Can you say potluck casseroles?  But I digress.

Here is a hot secret: If you trash talk my wife, tell me you hate her, we are going to have issues.  She is mine, I am hers, we are one. To try to separate us, to get me to side with you to impress me is worse than dumb, that may prove painful.  

Ask a policeman the most dangerous calls they receive: domestics. If they get between sparring spouses, they risk creating a powerful tag team. Ask Jesus if you can disrespect and dismiss His bride?  Don’t get Him started. 

Which church or pastor do you owe a thank you note for providing you with a cheap excuse to give up on church?

Jesus the Carpenter is still building: creating, enlarging and putting finishing touches on His church.  Rumors of His bride’s death are greatly exaggerated.  Hell’s gates may look stronger and seem more daunting, but not to Him.

Christ has not given up on His church and neither must we.  It is not an option. To stay outside the church is in some real ways to stay away from Jesus.  Selective accountability is a dangerous place to be. All pride is (1 Peter 5). 

Jesus is forming and fortifying Himself a people. He is using and empowering those who know Him – confess Him in truth. Build with Him! (Matt. 16:13-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Acts 2:42). If I dare: Any old jackass can kick down a barn.

Get on His winning team! Christ’s church – His called-out ones - cannot be stopped  (1 Peter 2:4-8; Romans 8). When we keep Christ as the chief cornerstone, building on Him, look out, hell. 

Sanctify them by the truth

Your kindness, your keen mind, your laugh, sense of humor… 

But, enough about me…

What sets you apart, gives you distinction, what makes you "you"?  

How about for the Christian?

What makes us distinct from those who do not know or follow Christ?  Love, purity, being forgiven & forgivers... the list could go on & on.  (Hopefully, it would not merely be a list of what we do NOT do.)

At the base of our distinction would be Jesus' word:  His truth, teachings, guidance and leading for life.  Having and holding to His truth sets us apart, sanctifies us.

On the eve of His crucifixion, He prayed for His followers, including later ones – us.

Hear part of His passionate pleas for us, found in John 17:14-19:

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." (NIV)

Summarizing:

q  He gave us His word & the world hated us, like it did Him. 

q  Why?  Because He is not of this world, His values vary from theirs, like ours should too. 

q  We need spiritual protection as we engage as His foreign agents. 

q  His truth makes us distinct, sanctifies us and leads to more Christ likeness. 

q  This is essential, as we have been sent to this truth-rejecting, Christ-killing world.

There is no end to the implications of how having His word makes us different – the truth about Jesus, His Father, life, God's will. . .

Jesus Word – His truth – not only makes us distinct, it makes us despised.  We don't "go along to get along".  A different Drummer sets our pace & leads us to walk out of step with the world.  We can not applaud things they do, reward things they value.  This more than ticks them off – it makes them murderously mad.  Ask our brothers & sisters in India, China, Burma, N. Korea or Cuba.

Over the entrance to the library where I attended Bible College are these words:  "Thy Word is Truth".  Since it is truest Truth with a capital "T" – we need to let this Truth fully define us, sanctify us.

When His truth is grasped and guides our life, HE will set us apart and make us useful ambassadors in a world filled with falsehood and folly.

Let His truth define you more fully today – no matter the cost.

John 17:9   “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.  (ESV)