by his blood alone.

"the doctrine of propitiation is precisely this--that God loved the objects of his wrath so much that he gave his own son to the end that he by his blood should make provision for the removal of his wrath." -- john murray.

sometimes this can be just too much to think about. propitiation (according to merriam-webster) literally means to appease or pacify the anger or agitation of, or to regain the favor or good will of. Jesus' death pacified the wrath of God toward our sin, but the glory of it is that he gave his son to remove his own wrath... therefore, there is no opportunity to call God an injust God or to call him a "blood-thirsty" God (as I've heard recently). God's own action propitiates his own wrath.

sometimes i think it can be easy to see God as one or the other -- a father who loves us or the judge and king of the universe -- one who is just by also one who is justifier. this can be so dangerous, because unless our God is a God "of both holy anger and sacrificial love," our view of the gospel and of God himself becomes so distorted. if we see God as simply one who is pouring his wrath out on us, we don't see his grace or his love and have no motivation to live a decent life. we cannot measure up to his standards and righteousness, we are never able to live up to what he has called us to be or who he has told us we are. but on the other hand, if we see God who is wholly and completely love without any aspect of wrath at all, then we live our life with a certain liberation yet have nothing to rely on. you can compare it to a parent who is completely permissive to their child, setting no limits and giving no guidance, never confronting their children--and this is so destructive. this "loving" view of God makes us feel like orphans.

we need both of these views of God because he is both. that is the wonder of the cross--that in one stroke statisfies fully both the love of God and the justice of God which demands punishment for our sin.


*tim keller's romans study made me think a lot of this, not myself.