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Propitiation vs. Expiation

        The difference between propitiation and expiation is not always easy to understand even though we all experience it.

        Consider the case of a certain factory worker who was seriously injured on the job. After the doctors had done all they could he was still left partially paralyzed. An investigation revealed that the company was at fault because it did not provide a safe work place not the proper safety equipment for its employees. Thus it was liable for the dangerous conditions that resulted in this man’s injury and permanent paralysis.

        As we all have seen in similar situations the court will probably award the injured man a great sum of money for his pain suffering and permanent injury. Once the company pays the judgment against it it has expiated its wrongdoings. The demands of justice have been satisfied. The company no longer has any responsibility toward the injured man. That is expiation.

        But we have not dealt with how the inured man feels toward the company. He may be filled with resentment bitterness even hatred. He may spend the rest of his life abhorring the name of that company even though it has been directed to give him all the money he could possibly use. The debt that the wrong incurred has been expiated or paid for but the wrath that the wrong incurred has not been propitiated.

        When Christ died the not only paid the debt for our sins but reconciled us to God by satisfying the Father’s wrath. He was both an expiation and a propitiation for our sins. ── Michael P. GreenIllustrations for Biblical Preaching

 

CHRIST WORK OF

Em Griffin writes in Making Friends about three kinds of London maps: the street map the map depicting throughways and the underground map of the subway. "Each map is accurate and correct " he writes "but each map does not give the complete picture. To see the whole the three maps must be printed one on top of each other. However that is often confusing so I use only one 'layer' at a time.

"It is the same with the words used to describe the death of Jesus Christ. Each word like redemption reconciliation or justification is accurate and correct but each word does not give the complete picture. To see the whole we need to place one 'layer' one top of the other but that is sometimes confusing--we cannot see the trees for the whole! So we separate out each splendid concept and discover that the whole is more than the sum of its parts." ── John Ross.

 

ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.

The atonement that Christ made upon the cross when He died is the

. Source of all our spiritual blessing (Eph.1:7).

. Separating power in holiness (Heb.13:12).

. Spring in service ( 2 Cor.5:14).

. Success in conflict ( Rev.12:11).

. Solace in trouble (Heb.12:2 3).

. Stay in bereavement (1. Thess.4:14).

. Sufficiency in glory (Rev.7:14).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

CHRIST AS THE OPENER AND SHUTTER.

“ He that openeth and no man shutteth” (Rev.3:7).

. Christ as the Convincer of sins opens our eyes to see ourselves. “ I the Lord have called Thee(Christ) in righteousness and will hold Thine hand and will keep Thee and give Thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes” ( Isaiah 42:6 7).

. Christ as the Deliverer from sin: He opened the prison house of sin and gave us liberty. The first time that Christ preached in the Synagogue at Nazareth He opened the book or scroll of the Scriptures and turned to the place having reference to Himself as the Deliverer and turned to the place having reference to Himself as the Deliverer and said “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18). As He delivered Israel out of the hand of Pharaoh so He has delivered us out of the power of the god of this world. As He delivered Peter out of prison so He has delivered us out of the prison-house of sin and brought us into the glorious liberty of the Gospel.

. He opens the heart to receive Himself as the possessor. We read in Acts 16:14 how He opened Lydia’s heart. Again our Lord says “ Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me” (Rev.3:20).

. He opens our understanding by opening the Scriptures to us as the Teacher. When Christ appeared to His disciples after His resurrection in the upper room we read that “ He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures.” Also the confession of the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus was “ Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32 45).

. He has opened the sources of heaven for our supply. “ He opened the rock and the waters gushed out” (Psalm 105:41); “ Thou openest Thy hand they are filled with good” (Psalm 104:28).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

CHRIST AS THE POSSESSOR OF THE KEY OF DAVID.

“ He that hath the key of David. He that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth” (Rev.3:7).

“ The Key of David.” The key represents power authority office.

A person who has the key can unlock the door and thus reveal what is in the room. Christ has power to show what sin has done. Sin is like Ehud slaying Eglon king of Moab; after Ehud had slain the king he shut the door and escaped (Judges 3:23); sin has slain us and naturally we are dead in trespasses and sins.

Christ is the Revealer of the Father. He had to say to the lawyers when here on earth ” Ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves and them that were entering in ye hindered.” But it was not and is not so with Christ. He was faithful in speaking out the Father’s words and instead of hindering He has laid down His life for us and opened up a new and living way into the Father’s presence.

A person who has the key has the power to admit into the house or to let out. Christ says “ I have the keys of hell ( hades) and the grave” (Rev.1:18). Satan seems to have had the keys before Christ died. We have a picture to us of the state of things in Luke 11:21 22. Satan had the keys—the authority over the unseen world—before Christ came but Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil.

A person who has the key of the house has authority over the house and hence a right to enter into all the rooms. Christ has authority over His Church for we are all His house.

There are two words rendered “power” in the New Testament one meaning strength and the other authority.

In reference to the past. “ I have power (authority) to lay it (life) down and I have power ( authority) to take it again. This commandment have I received from My Father.” Christ was sent by the Father to die. He had His authority from His Father for all that He did; hence when Pilate boasted of the authority he had and said to Him “ Knowest thou not that I have power ( authority) to crucify Thee and have power ( authority) to release Thee?” Christ replied “ Thou couldest have no power ( authortity) at all against Me except it were given thee from above” (John 19:10 11).

In reference to the present. Christ is the Head of all principality and authority (Col.2:10) and because He is such He has authority to make those who believe in Him childrenof God for “ As many as received Him to them gave He power ( authority) to become the children of God” (John 1:12). Yea all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him as He says “ All power (authority) is given unto Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt.28:18) and that was the reason He gave His disciples for sending them forth to preach the Gospel and make disciples.

In reference to the future. Christ having the key of David has reference to the fact that He is yet to reign over the House of David ( see Psalm 132:11; Acts 2:30; Isaiah 9:6 7; Ezek.34:23 24; 37:24 25; Luke 1:32 33). Christ shall literally stand upon the Mount of Olives overcome the enemies of Israel gather out everything that offends and reign over this earth one thousand years.

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

CHRIST THE EARNEST WORKER.

(John 9:4).

Christ’s authority for working was because He was “sent;” His model in working was according to the “ works of Him” who commissioned Him and the necessity that was laid upon Him is seen in the “ I must.” If the following Scriptures are pondered it will be seen how Christ viewed His life and death as an absolute necessity. Constantly Christ uses the term “must.”

. The must of work (Luke 2:49; John 9:4; 10:16).

. The must of walk (LUKE 13:33).

. The must of death (John 3:14; 12:34).

. The must of preaching (Luke 4:43).

. The must of seeking (John 4:4).

. The must of resurrection (John 20:9).

. The must of increase (John 3:30).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

CHRIST THE PROPHET.

Jesus was recognized as the Prophet that Moses had spoken of and promised to Israel (Deut.18:15-18).

Powerful     prophet  (Matt.13:54).

Royal        prophet  (Matt.16:16).

Omnipotent   prophet  (Luke 7:16).

Penetrating   prophet  (John 4:19).

Healing       prophet  (Mark 5:29).

Enlightening   prophet  (John 7:40).

Truthful       prophet  (John3:34).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

POSITION OF CHRIST.

The Position of Christ. “ Sit Thou on My right hand.” He sits at the right hand of God—

Ⅰ. As our Intercessor to plead for us (Romans 8:34).

Ⅱ. As the Honoured One for us (Mark 16:19).

Ⅲ. As the Channel of blessing to us (Acts 2:33).

Ⅳ. As the Waiting One to receive us (Acts 7:56).

Ⅴ. As Head of the body to minister to us (Eph.1:20-22)

Ⅵ. As the Object to attract us (Col. 3:1).

Ⅶ. As the Sin-purger who has cleared us (Heb.1:13).

Ⅷ. As the Glorified One who is to reign (Heb.1:13).

Ⅸ. As Our Representative (Heb.8:1).

Ⅹ. As the Accomplisher of His work (Heb.10:12).

Ⅺ. As the Conqueror over His foes (Heb.12:2).

Ⅻ. As the Almighty One (1.Peter 3:22).

XIII.  As the Expecting One (Psalm 110:1).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

Jesus Our Shepherd
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Foretold in Old Testament prophecy is the promise of a Shepherd...
   a. It would be glad tidings for the cities of Judah - Isa 40:9-11
   b. He would gather Israel as a shepherd does his flock - Jer 31:10
   c. He would feed them
a type of David (who would be his ancestor)
      - Ezek 34:23
 
2. Revealed in the New Testament is that Jesus is that Shepherd...
   a. He is the Good Shepherd
who will bring other sheep into His fold!
      - Jn 10:1-16
   b. He is the Chief Shepherd
who has other shepherds watching His
      flock! - 1 Pe 5:4
   c. He is the Great Shepherd
who through His blood makes us complete!
      - He 13:20
 
3. The motif of a shepherd is revealing...
   a. It pictures the blessings enjoyed by those who follow Jesus
   b. It should remind us of the duties we have as His sheep
 
[What can we glean from the Scriptures concerning "Jesus Our Shepherd"?
Certainly there are...]
 
I. THE BLESSINGS OF JESUS OUR SHEPHERD
 
   A. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US...
      1. He laid down His life for His sheep
         a. As foretold in the Old Testament - Zech 13:7; cf. Mt 26:31
         b. As Jesus told His disciples He would do - Jn 10:11
15
      2. Thus He is able to offer eternal life to His sheep - Jn 10:28;
         cf. 1 Jn 5:11-13
         a. Offering security to those who continue to believe
         b. Such that none can snatch them from the hand of God
         c. Though one can fall from God's hand through neglect - He 3:
            12-15; cf. Re 2:10
 
   B. HE NOW CARES FOR US...
      1. Having called us (through the gospel) - Jn 10:3; cf. 2 Th 2:
         13-14
      2. Having gathered us into His one fold (even Gentiles!) - Jn 10:
         16; cf. Ep 2:11-22
      3. As our Good Shepherd:
         a. He knows us - Jn 10:14
27; cf. 2 Ti 2:19
         b. He feeds us - Jn 10:9; cf. Psa 23:1
2
         c. He guides us - Jn 10:3
4; cf. Psa 23:3
         d. He cherishes us tenderly - Isa 40:11; cf. Ep 5:25-29
         e. He protects and preserves - Jer 31:10; Jn 10:28-29; cf. Jude
            28-29
 
[Wonderful are the blessings of Jesus our Shepherd!  Such blessings are
prefigured in that most beautiful of psalms (Psalms 23).
 
But what does the Shepherd expect of His sheep...?]
 
II. OUR DUTIES TO JESUS OUR SHEPHERD
 
   A. HEED HIS VOICE...
      1. His sheep hear His voice - Jn 10:2-3
      2. His sheep follow Him
for they know His voice - Jn 10:4
      3. Thus Jesus expects His sheep to heed His voice
         a. As proclaimed during His earthly ministry - Lk 6:46
         b. As stated in the Great Commission - Mt 28:18-20
      4. Which we do today by heeding the words of His apostles
         a. To receive them is to receive Him - Jn 13:20
         b. Thus the early church continued steadfastly in their
            doctrine - Ac 2:42
         c. For they taught the commandments of the Lord - 1 Co 14:37
      -- Are we following the Shepherd by heeding His voice?
 
   B. HOLD TO HIS FLOCK...
      1. There is one flock (or one body) - Jn 10:16; cf. Ep 4:4
      2. We should strive to maintain the unity of that flock
         a. For which Jesus prayed - Jn 17:20-23
         b. For which Jesus died - Ep 2:13-16
      3. Which we do today by:
         a. Not heeding the voice of "strangers" (false teachers)
            - Jn 10:5
8b; cf. 2 Jn 9
10
         b. Maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
            - Ep 4:1-3
      -- Are we doing our part to preserve the oneness of His flock?
 
   C. HELP HIS SHEPHERDS...
      1. The Chief Shepherd has shepherds to guide His flock
         a. They are the elders in a local congregation - 1 Pe 5:1-4
         b. Their duty is to oversee and pastor the flock - Ac 20:17
28;
            1 Pe 5:1-3
      2. Jesus expects His sheep to respect His shepherds
         a. To submit to their oversight
make their duty a joyful one
            - He 13:17
         b. To esteem them highly in love
being at peace - 1 Th 5:12-13
      -- Are we helping or hindering the work of the Lord's shepherds?
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Wonderful are the promises for those who follow "Jesus Our Shepherd"
   - cf. Re 7:13-17
 
2. Yet Jesus warned of some who...
   a. Are not His sheep
for they did not heed His voice - Jn 10:26-27
   b. Though in His flock (kingdom)
will one day be cast out - Mt 13:
      41-43; cf. also Jn 15:1-2
6
 
Yes
He described a Day in which the sheep and goats will be parted (Mt
25:31-34
41).  What side will we be on?  It depends on whether we
fulfill our duties as His sheep...

 

──Executable Outlines