In researching the root word in the Greek from Strongs - propitiation comes back to God's Mercy - thus in the sacrificial system followed by Israel i.e. placing of the blood of the animal victim upon the Mercy Seat - a place of conciliation, not referring to the expiatory sacrifice itself. However, Jesus Christ is designated as the place the sinner deposits his sin and He is also the means of expiation.

So we see that this word means the propitiating thing or the propitiatory Gift, that caused God to deal with us Mercifully.

Christ is the Lamb of God that was slain whose blood cleanses us from all sin.

It is not the sinner who takes the initiative or makes the sacrifice, but God Himself who, out of His great Love for sinners provided the Way by which His Wrath against sin might be satisfied.

The effect of Christ's work on the cross is the Salvation of the sinner who then becomes capable of fellowship with a Holy God. The Way to God's presence is now open to anyone who will come, this fact symbolized by the rending of the veil of the temple which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple when Jesus Christ died. This connotes that the sinner may gain the favor of God through Jesus Christ. The sinner benefits from Christ's sacrifice through FAITH.

Jesus Christ is not only the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world but He is also our High Priest whose sacrifice applies not only to Israel, but to the whole world. Christ's blood provides forgiveness or actual deliverance from sin and the very nature of sin.

The animal sacrifice system demonstrated God's toleration of sin but through the blood of Jesus Christ God demonstrates His Love and Justice in that He took the initiative to send His Son into the world to shed His own blood. Thus God's Justice demands that sin must be paid by death involving the shedding of blood thereby bringing the one Believing into fellowship with Himself.

It is not only our sins that are dealt with - but us too. We become Sanctified through the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ once and for all.

What Jesus Christ did through His blood was lift our sins away from us - He did not just wink at them.

He changed our character in making us Just.

People who are Saved - inherently recognize God's rights upon them. We recognize not only God's rights over our life - but also, as a child of God we exercise His special rights before Him which the unrighteous cannot do.

Through Justification in Christ we regain the image man formerly had with God before the fall and with our born again imagine we have fellowship with Him.

As Herby would say, Isn't that precious?

Offering formulated from Strongs Greek word meanings and Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary.