Propitiation, Faith, and the Integrity of God

Introduction: Preparation for Worship

Silent Prayer and Confession of Sin

Purpose: To confess any known sin and restore fellowship with God.

Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Exegetical Note: Confession is not about feeling sorry or promising not to sin again, but simply naming the sin to God.

Opening Prayer

Thanksgiving for the day and the opportunity to gather.

Intercession for Neville’s recovery and for God’s blessing on the teaching.

II. The Search for Purpose and Meaning

Illustration: The Finite Universe

Triangle represents the finite universe; circle represents God (infinite, no beginning or end).

Progression: Soil → Grass → Animals → People.

Each created thing gains purpose from what is above it, but ultimate purpose is lacking without reference to God.

Ecclesiastes Reference

“God has placed eternity in the heart of man that he would seek Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, implied)

Necessity of Something Outside the Finite

True purpose and meaning require something infinite and personal—God.

III. The Nature of God and Comparative Religion

God Must Be Both Infinite and Personal

Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age): Infinite but impersonal.

Western mythologies (Greek, Nordic): Personal but not infinite.

Only three religions claim an infinite and personal God: Judaism, Islam, Christianity.

Only Christianity claims God became flesh in Jesus Christ.

The Uniqueness of Christianity

God entered the finite world in Jesus Christ.

Supported by eyewitness accounts, fulfilled prophecy, and historical record.

IV. The Doctrine of Faith

Definition and Nature of Faith

Faith is a system of perception, alongside empiricism (experience) and rationalism (reason).

Faith is not exclusive to religion; everyone uses faith daily.

Why Faith for Salvation?

Faith is non-meritorious; the merit is in the object, not the subject.

Illustration: Faith in a sabotaged chair—no matter the amount of faith, if the object is flawed, faith is ineffective.

How Much Faith Is Needed?

Only a little faith is required for salvation; the object (Jesus Christ) is what matters.

Scripture References:

Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Romans 3:28 – “A person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 3:27-28 – “What becomes of our boasting? It is excluded… by the law of faith.”

Romans 4:20-21 – Abraham’s faith in God’s promise.

V. The Attributes and Integrity of God

Attributes of God

Eternal (no beginning or end)

All-powerful (Omnipotent)

All-knowing (Omniscient)

Omnipresent

Merciful, Gracious, Loving

The Integrity of God

Comprised of Righteousness (+R) and Justice.

God’s love is not the point of contact; His integrity is.

God cannot compromise His righteousness or justice.

VI. The Problem of Man’s Relative Righteousness

Man’s Condition

Relative righteousness (not perfect)

Sinful, spiritually dead, lacking eternal life

Barrier Between God and Man

God’s righteousness demands perfection; His justice must judge sin.

The Mosaic Law was a “school bus” to teach the impossibility of self-righteousness.

VII. The Work of Christ: Propitiation

Jesus Christ: God-Man, Sinless Life, Sacrifice

Jesus lived a sinless life, fully God and fully man.

Went to the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice.

Propitiation Defined

Scripture Reference: Romans 3:23-25 – “All have sinned… justified by His grace… whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith.”

Greek Word: Hilasterion – “Mercy seat,” “satisfaction,” “gracious,” “mercy.”

Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:2 – “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Scripture Reference: Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…”

Result of Propitiation

Sin is paid for—past, present, future.

No one goes to hell for sin; the issue is unbelief (rejection of God’s provision).

At salvation, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer (Doctrine of Imputation).

VIII. The Parable of Propitiation: Luke 18:9-14

Text: Luke 18:9-14

Two men: Pharisee (self-righteous) and Tax Collector (humble).

Pharisee: Stands by himself, boasts of his works, trusts in his own righteousness.

Tax Collector: Stands afar off, humbly asks for mercy (“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”).

Exegetical Notes: Greek Tenses and Voices

“Stand” (histēmi): Pharisee—passive voice (action received, self-righteousness); Tax Collector—active voice (action produced, humility).

Pharisee’s prayer: 29 words; Tax Collector’s: 6 words.

“Be merciful” (hilaskomai): Culminative aorist tense, looking forward to the cross.

“Mercy seat” (hilasterion): Same word as “propitiation” in Romans 3:25.

Old Testament Typology: The Ark and Mercy Seat

Ark contained manna (rejection of God’s provision), Aaron’s rod (rebellion), and the tablets (law-breaking).

Covered by the mercy seat (gold, typifying deity), sprinkled with blood (sacrifice).

God’s righteousness and justice (cherubs) look at the blood, not the contents (sin).

Exodus Reference: God meets with man at the mercy seat.

Application

Pharisee trusted in relative righteousness; Tax Collector in God’s mercy.

Only humility and faith in God’s provision result in justification.

IX. The Necessity and Simplicity of Faith

Faith as the Only Non-Meritorious System

Anyone can exercise faith; no merit in the act itself.

Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone.

Unbelief: The Only Barrier

Not a sin that cannot be forgiven, but a rejection of the only means of salvation.

Illustration: Lifeboat in the ocean—refusing the only means of rescue.

Colossians 2:6

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

The Christian life is lived by faith, just as salvation is received by faith.

X. The Christian Life: Walking by Faith

Confession and Restoration of Fellowship

Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:9 – Confession restores fellowship and the filling of the Spirit.

Spiritual Growth

The Word of God is spiritual food for the new creation.

The same faith that saves is the faith that sustains and matures the believer.

XI. Conclusion and Application

Summary

God’s integrity (righteousness and justice) demanded a perfect sacrifice.

Jesus Christ is the propitiation, satisfying God’s demands.

Faith is the only means of appropriating salvation and living the Christian life.

Humility is required—recognizing our need and God’s provision.

Closing Prayer

Thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice and the provision of salvation.

Petition for continued growth in faith and understanding of God’s plan.

Scripture References in Order Used

1 John 1:9 – Confession of sin

(Implied) Ecclesiastes 3:11 – Eternity in the heart of man

Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation by grace through faith

Romans 3:28 – Justification by faith apart from works

John 3:16 – Whoever believes has eternal life

Romans 3:27-28 – Boasting excluded by the law of faith

Romans 4:20-21 – Abraham’s faith

Romans 3:23-25 – All have sinned; Christ as propitiation

1 John 2:2 – Christ as propitiation for the world

Romans 5:1 – Justified by faith, peace with God

2 Corinthians 5:21 – Christ made sin for us

Luke 18:9-14 – Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

(Implied) Exodus (Ark and Mercy Seat)

Colossians 2:6 – Walk in Christ as you received Him

Exegetical Notes (As Presented in Sermon)

Greek Terms:

Histēmi (“stand”): Passive voice (Pharisee), active voice (Tax Collector).

Hilasterion (“propitiation,” “mercy seat”): Used in Romans 3:25 and in the Septuagint for the mercy seat.

Hilaskomai (“be merciful”): Culminative aorist tense, looking forward to the cross.

Tenses:

Aorist tense (Pharisee): Point in time.

Perfect tense (Tax Collector): Ongoing attitude/result.

Typology:

Ark of the Covenant: Contents represent sin; mercy seat represents Christ’s atoning work.

Blood sprinkled on mercy seat: Satisfies God’s righteousness and justice.

Application for Teaching

Emphasize the necessity of faith as the only non-meritorious means of salvation.

Teach the integrity of God—righteousness and justice—as the basis for understanding propitiation.

Use the parable in Luke 18 to illustrate the difference between self-righteousness and humility before God.

Reinforce the doctrine of imputation and the permanence of salvation.

Encourage daily confession and faith-rest living for spiritual growth.