Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Propitiation

Colossians 1:20 speaks of the propitiatory work of Christ. Although Paul does not overtly describe Jesus’ death on the cross as a “propitiation” in this passage, the idea is implied when Paul says he was “making peace through the blood of his cross.” The death of Jesus Christ propitiated the wrath of God aimed at a fallen world. But what does propitiation mean? It's the idea that Jesus absorbed all of the wrath that God the Father had toward the sin of humans by dying on the cross. Jesus stood in between us and the Father and bore the punishment that was rightfully ours. You can see how this principle paves the way for our redemption. Speaking about the propitiation of Christ, Robert L. Reymond writes something absolutely crucial. Don't miss this, or you'll miss the point:

“…major revision is essential in the thinking of the Christian mind, which is accustomed to viewing the cross work of Christ as having been directed primarily, if not solely, toward men. In light of the fact that Paul and John (and probably the author of Hebrews as well) expressly represented it as a propitiating work, it is important to recognize that Christ's cross work had a God-ward reference. Indeed, if one reflects even for a moment on the sinful condition of the race vis-a-vis the holy character of God, it will become clear that God-ward reference was the cross' primary reference.”[2]

The Father's wrath needed to be appeased and Jesus was the only one who could do it, being fully man and fully God (and thus able to satisfy God's need for a blood-price to be paid and his need for that sacrifice to be perfect as he is perfect). As Reymond points out, the work of the cross was primarily directed toward the Father, since he was the rightful, offended party with a rightful wrath in need of satisfaction. The primary orientation of the cross was not us. Yes, we were the ones in need of rescuing, but we were not the offended party who needed our grievances addressed. After all, there is no wrath that any man can have toward God that is in any way justified. Just try to think of something, I dare you.

Also, the glory of Christ's propitiation is more about magnifying the love of God than anything else. Although we enjoy the benefits of propitiation, it's not about us! John Stott elaborates on this in ways I couldn't have said better myself:

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly that God's love is the source, not the consequence, of the atonement…. God does not love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us. It is God's wrath which needed to be propitiated, and God's love which did the propitiating. If it may be said that the propitiation ‘changed’ God, whereby he changed himself, let us be clear he did not change from wrath to love, or from emnity to grace, since his character is unchanged. But the propitiation changed with his dealings with us.” [3]

The Father wasn't "only wrath" before the cross occurred and he's not "only love" now that the work is finished. There was love expressed and grace given to humans pre-Christ and there will be more wrath to come at the Final Judgement when the presence of sin and Satan will be demolished. Glory in the fact that—in Christ—this wrath is no longer directed toward you. Glory in the fact that God's immeasurable love motivated sending Jesus to propitiate you.

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[2] Robert L. Reymond. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998) p.639

[3] John Stott. The Cross of Christ (Intervarsity Press) p. 174