Justification is Impossible Without Propitiation

By Dane Gardow

Many Christians are aware of the doctrine of justification, but the doctrine of propitiation may not be as largely known or appealed to. Though the realities described by these doctrines are so interconnected that they cannot be separated, they deal with two distinct phenomena, and in order to have a genuine appreciation of the former, it is crucial to have an exquisite understanding of the latter.

The doctrine of justification covers the issue of when and how people are saved. Salvation is by grace through faith alone, apart from works. Sinners are saved when they put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; when sinners believe in Him, they are justified. To be justified means to be "declared righteous." When there is no sufficient evidence to convict a person of a crime before a court of law, the defendant is found not guilty; he or she is justified and released. A person is justified before God in a similar fashion, but the court in which this divine edict takes place is not on earth or before a human judge but in heaven, before the throne of God. God is the One who justifies, and His declaration is instantaneous and permanent.

However, because God is a holy and righteous God who perfectly upholds justice, He must punish all sin; and yet, through justification, sinners are delivered from the rightful punishment their sins require. It is the divine work of propitiation that reconciles the mercy and justice of God and allows Him to remain just while justifying sinners, whose rebellion deserves nothing but His fiery justice. Apart from an understanding of propitiation, one cannot biblically explain either how it is possible for God to bring all sin to justice and yet forgive sinners, or what exactly the significance of the death of Christ entails.

The doctrine of propitiation explains these issues by establishing the basis upon which justification is made possible. To propitiate means "to appease" or "to satisfy." God is good and must punish evil; therefore, the only righteous and necessary response God has for those who have broken His law is divine wrath, fury, and indignation. It is precisely this wrath that must be appeased or propitiated if anyone is to have a hope of being justified; God cannot and will not justify anyone unless His justice and wrath are first propitiated.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth in order to provide a worthy sacrifice that would propitiate the wrath of God, which burns against all transgressors of His law. Unlike justification, which takes place instantaneously in heaven, propitiation took place for several hours on earth, at the cross. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, He became sin as He bore in Himself all the sins of His people. This transference of sin diverted the wrath of God away from them and toward Himself, and He "became a curse" as He took the crushing blow that was meant for them (Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:10). Jesus was consumed by the wrath of God, and thereby completely satisfied divine justice against all who repent of their sins and believe in Him. Had He not stood in the way, the wrath of God would have never been appeased and, therefore, would have consumed all of us forever in Hell.

An understanding of justification is imperative, but propitiation laid the groundwork that made it possible. Unless the former is complemented by a prolific understanding of the latter, ignorance, superficiality, and indifference are inevitable. Understanding both, however, generates the ability to explain and further appreciate the sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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