1 John 2:2:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

This Gem radiates propitiation.  Propitiation is not a familiar word these days.  But in terms of forgiveness it should be.  A propitiation is an appeasement, a conciliatory action that turns one from anger to mercy.  The Apostle John can call Jesus the propitiation for our sin because Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sin.  His conciliatory act of atonement turned Heavenly Father from wrath to mercy.

This can be illustrated using the concept of Justice and Mercy.  Mercy desires to give man what he does not deserve.  The definition of "mercy" is charity, leniency, clemency.  It is being sympathetic, being forgiving.  It implies giving someone a blessing he or she did not earn.  Justice, on the other hand, demands fairness.  In the case of the forgiveness of sin; Justice demands fair payment for each and every sin.  When a person sins he or she sins against Heavenly Father.  This is a serious offense, regardless of the sin.  Justice demands fair payment as restitution for such disobedience.  The fair payment of such disobedience is Eternal Death.  This is a fair payment; none the less it is a payment no man can make and still live with Heavenly Father.

While the demand of Justice is unmet, Mercy cannot act, cannot dispense forgiveness.  To do so would cheat Justice.  So Mercy is effectively bound until Justice receives full payment.  But when Christ became the propitiation for our sins he atoned for our sins.  He met the demand of Justice for each and every sin of every person of the entire world.  And he did this whether they believe in him or not.  With the demands of Justice sated; Mercy is unfettered.  Mercy is free to act by offering forgiveness.

Christ's act of propitiation is reminiscent of the role the young bull played on the Day of the Atonement (see previous Gem).  The sacrifice of the young bull as a perfect substitute for Aaron symbolized the appeasement of God’s wrath towards Aaron’s sin.  It symbolized the massive payment due Justice, a payment of Eternal Death.  The result of this conciliatory act was Heavenly Father (Mercy) mercifully covering Aaron’s sin, transforming him into a being so clean, so righteous, as to be able to come into his presence.

But the bull did not choose to be a propitiation.  Jesus Christ did. Jesus was THE appeasement for our sins. Jesus Christ’s voluntary act of propitiation did what no animal sacrifice could; it turned Heavenly Father from wrath to mercy.  Heavenly Father could afford to be merciful and cancel our sin because the propitiation of Christ paid the price demanded by Justice.  Now Mercy could act by granting forgiveness.