First, with Propitiation, the first time we meet with this word, and as applied to Christ, is in

Romans 3:25   Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation,” either to be the author of propitiation; for whose sake, and on account of what he was to do and suffer, God would be propitious to men—his justice be appeased—and he be at peace with them; laying aside all marks of displeasure, anger, and resentment against them: for this was Christ’s work as Mediator.  He drew nigh to God, and treated with him about terms of peace, and entered into measures of peace with him; interposed between justice and them, became a Mediator between God and man, to bring them together.

Hence he has the names of Shiloh, the Prince of peace, the Man the Peace, and Jesus our peace, who has made both one.  Or else to be the propitiatory sacrifice for sin; such hilastic, propitiatory, and expiatory sacrifices there were under the law. [They were] typical of the expiatory and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ; and as God in them smelled a sweet savor of rest, as types of Christ.  So his sacrifice was an offering of a sweet smelling savor to him.  He was well pleased with it, it gave him content and satisfaction, because his justice was appeased by it, and the demands of his law were answered.  Yea, it was magnified and made honorable; the word used in the above text ilasthrion, [hilasterion, pronounced he-las-tay-ree-ohn] is the same which the Greek version of Exodus 25:21, and which the apostle in Hebrews 9:5 uses of the mercy seat; which, with the cherubim upon it, and the ark, with the law therein under it, to which it was a lid or cover, formed a seat for the divine Majesty.

Exodus 25:21   And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

Hebrews 9:5   And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

[It] was an emblem of his mercy and justice shining in the atonement made by Christ, which this exhibited to view; and gave encouragement to draw nigh to this mercy seat, or throne of grace, in hope of finding grace and mercy, and enjoying communion with God.

A glimpse of this the poor publican had, when he said, “God be merciful,” ilasyhti [hilasteti, pronounced he-las-tay-ti], “propitious, to me a sinner!” or be merciful to me, through the propitiation of the Messiah.

Now Christ was “set forth” to be the propitiation in the purposes and decrees of God, proeyeto [proetheto, pronounced pro-eh-theh-to].  God foreordained him, as he was foreordained to be the Lamb slain, as the ransom price and propitiatory sacrifice; whose sufferings and death, which were the sacrifice, were according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.

I Peter 1:19    But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Acts 2:23   Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:28   For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

And he was set forth in the promises and prophecies spoken of by all the holy prophets that were from the beginning of the world; as the seed of the woman that should bruise the serpents head, destroy him and his works, among which this is a principal one, making an end of sin, by a complete atonement for it.  And he was set forth as such in the types and shadows of the law, the trespass offerings, and sin offerings.  [These] are said to bear the sins of the congregation, and to make atonement for them; which were typical of Christ, who was made an offering for sin, bore the sins of many, and made atonement for them.

Leviticus 10:17   Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

And he has been set forth, in the fulness of time, in the exhibition of him, in human nature, in which he was manifested to take away sin; and he has put it away, and even abolished it, by the propitiatory sacrifice of himself.  And he is still set forth in the gospel, as the sin bearing and sin atoning Savior who has satisfied law and justice, and made peace by the blood of his cross.  Therefore it is called the word of reconciliation, the gospel of peace, and the word preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

There are two other places where Christ is spoken of as ilasmov [hilasmos pronounced he-las-mos], the propitiation, and these are in the first epistle of the apostle John; in one of them

I John 4:10   Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

It is said, “God sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins,” that is, sent him in human nature, to offer up soul and body as a sacrifice, and thereby make expiation of sin, and full atonement for it; and in the other it is said:

I 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.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins,” the sins both of Jews and Gentiles; for which he is become a propitiatory sacrifice; upon which God is “merciful,” ilewv [hileos, pronounced he-leh-os], propitious to his people, notwithstanding all their “unrighteousness, sins, and transgressions,” or is “pacified towards them for all that they have done.”

Hebrews 8:12    For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

(Ezekiel 16:63   That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

2.   Secondly, the word atonement, though often used in the Old Testament, of typical sacrifices, making expiation of sin.

Leviticus 4:20   And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

Leviticus 4:26   And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 4:31   And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 4:35   And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

[See also] Leviticus 5:6,18; 16:6,10-11,16-18,27,30,32-34.

Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

where the word rpk [kaphar, pronounced kaw-fahr] is used, which signifies to cover, and Christ, by his sacrifice, the antitype of these, is a covering to his people, from the curses of the law they have broken—from the wrath of God they have deserved—and from avenging justice their sins exposed them to.

Yet it [the word atonement] is but once used in the New Testament

Romans 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

“By whom we have received the atonement” made for them by Christ their surety, head, and representative; that is, the benefit of it, the application of it by the Spirit of God, who takes the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ, and applies to his people, and shows them their interest therein; the effect of which is joy, peace, and comfort.

The word [propitiation] used properly signifies reconciliation, and so it is elsewhere translated; and the Hebrew word rpk is sometimes rendered to reconcile

Leviticus 6:30  And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

Atonement and reconciliation for sin, design the same thing, and both satisfaction for it. Which leads to observe,

3.  Thirdly, that the word reconciliation is frequently used with respect to this doctrine. Reconciliation began with God himself; “All things are of God,” originally, in nature, providence, and grace; particularly this,

II Corinthians 5:18   And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; It began in the thoughts of his heart, which were thoughts of peace.  It was brought into council and settled in covenant, called the council and covenant of peace.  It was carried into execution by Christ, who is frequently represented as the author of it, by his death, and the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:20-22  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  And it was made unto God, against whom sin is committed, whose law is broken, and his justice offended; and who is the Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Ephesians 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

It is a reconciliation for sin, to make atonement for it, and of sinners and enemies in their minds to God.

Daniel 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Hebrews 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Colossians 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

Which may be further illustrated, 1st, by observing the character of the persons reconciled; which will show the cause, reason, and necessity of a reconciliation to be made.  They are enemies, and in one of the texts referred to, they are said to be “enemies in their minds by wicked works,” which is expressive,

1.  Of the internal enmity there is in their minds and hearts; the carnal mind, as every man's mind is naturally carnal, is not only an enemy, but enmity itself, against God

Romans 8:7   Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

to the Being of God—wishing there was no God—to the nature and perfections of God, denying some of them, misrepresenting others, and framing him in their minds, as altogether such an one as themselves—to the purposes and decrees of God, which they cannot bear, and to which they insolently reply; and to the providence of God, they charge with inequality and unrighteousness.

And they are inwardly and secretly enemies to Christ, to his person and offices; particularly his kingly office, being unwilling that he should reign over them; and to his gospel, and the special doctrines of it; and to his ordinances, they care not to be subject unto.

And so they are to the Spirit, to his Person, whom they know not, nor can receive; to his operations, which they deride and ridicule.  The things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to them.

And they are enemies to the people of God, there is an old and implacable enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent.  The saints are hated by the world, because chosen and called out of the world.  God’s elect themselves, while in a state of nature, are hateful, and hating one another.  Paul, a chosen vessel of salvation, was, while unregenerate, exceeding mad against the saints.  But,

2.  There is an external enmity, which appears by wicked works and sinful actions openly committed: which are acts of hostility against God, are contrary to his nature and will are abominable in his sight provoke the eyes of his glory, excite his wrath, and cause it to be revealed from heaven, and for which it comes on the children of disobedience; and all are deserving of it.

Sins are breaches of the law of God, render men liable to the curses of it, and to death itself, the sanction of it.  They not only fill with enmity to God, and show it to him, but set men at a distance from him; so that they have no communion with him, are far off, are without him, and separate from him. But,

3.  Men are not only enemies internally, and externally to God, but there is an enmity on the part of God to them. There is a law enmity, or an enmity declared in the law against them.  They are declared by the law of God as enemies; traitors, and rebels to him; and as such God’s elect were considered, when Christ died to make reconciliation for them; for it is said, “while they were sinners Christ died for them, and when they were enemies they were reconciled to God, the death of his Son.”

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

There is a two fold reconciliation, one of which is the work of Christ, and was made at his death: the other the work of his Spirit, at conversion; when, by his grace, men are reconciled to the way of salvation by Christ; and both may be seen in one text.

If there had been no other enmity than what is in the hearts of men against God, there would have been no need of the sufferings and death of Christ to make reconciliation; but there was a law enmity on the part of God, and his justice, which required the death of Christ to take it away.

Not that there was any enmity in the heart of God to his elect.  That would be inconsistent with his everlasting and unchangeable love, which appeared strongly towards them at the time Christ died for them, reconciled them, and became the propitiation for their sins.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Titus 3:3-4  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.   But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared.

I John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

But they were, according to the law, and in the view of justice, deemed and declared as the enemies of God. So when the subjects of a king rise up in rebellion against him, there may be no enmity in his heart to them; yet they are, according to law, proclaimed rebels, and enemies to him, and may be treated as such, and proceeded against in due form of law, yet, after all, be pardoned by him.

There was, in some sense, a reciprocal enmity between God and men, which made a reconciliation necessary; and which was brought about by the bloodshed, sufferings, and death of Christ, when he slew the enmity of the law, and blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that were against sinners, so making peace.

Ephesians 2:14-16  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;    Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Colossians 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Which will further appear, by observing what reconciliation signifies and imports: there is something similar and analogous in a case when it is made between man and man, though not altogether the same; and some caution must be taken, lest we go into mistakes.  Reconciliation between man and man, supposes a former state of friendship subsisting between them, a breach of that friendship, and a renewing and restoration of it; and there is something like it in reconciliation between God and man.

Man, in his primeval state, was in strict friendship with God, not only Adam personally being made after the image, and in the likeness of God, having dominion over all the creatures, made for his use, and which were brought to him, to be named by him; and having an habitation in a most delightful garden, where he was allowed to eat of all kind of fruit in it, but one; and where he enjoyed communion with God: in all this honour he was; and not he only.  But all his posterity, considered in him, as their head and representative, were in a state of friendship with God.  Hence the covenant made with him, in which he was their federal head, is rightly called by divines, foedus amicitiae, a covenant of friendship.

But man abode not long in this state.  Sin, that whisperer and agitator, soon separated chief friends; alienated man from the life of God, caused him to apostatize from him, and to become a traitor to him; filled him with enmity to him, and set him at a distance from him.  And in this state of alienation and enmity, all his posterity naturally are; with respect to the elect of God among them.

Christ has interposed, appeased justice, satisfied the law, and made reconciliation for them, and brought them into an open state of friendship with God.  So that they are considered, in consequence of this, as Abraham was, the friends of God, and are treated as such.

James 2:23   And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Song of Solomon 5:1  I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

John 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

[They] have the blessings of divine favor bestowed upon them, and rich communications of grace made unto them.  But here we must proceed warily, and observe some things to prevent mistakes and misrepresentations; for perhaps there is not one thing in the whole scheme of evangelical truths more difficult rightly to fix than this.  It should be considered, that properly speaking there are no passions nor perturbations of mind in God, who is a spirit, simple and uncompounded, and not capable of such things.

When therefore displeasure, anger, provocation, resentment, etc. are ascribed to him, it must be understood after the manner of men; that he says something in his word, and does something in his providence, and the outward dispensations of it, which is somewhat similar to what men say and do, when the above is the case with them.

Otherwise we are not to conceive that God is in a passion, and is ruffled, and his mind disturbed, as they are.  Nor are we to imagine there is any change in God, as in men, who are sometimes friends, then enemies, and then friends again.  He changes not, there is no variableness nor shadow of turning in him. 

He may change his voice to his people, and speak comfortably to them in his gospel, who before spoke terribly to them in his law.  He may change his outward conduct and behavior towards them, and carry it friendly to them, when before as at a distance.  But he never changes his mind, counsel and affections to them.  His love is everlasting and invariable.  He ever rested in it, and nothing can separate from it.  His love is never changed to enmity, and from enmity to love again.  His special secret favor, as it is never lost, needed no recovery.

Nor did Christ, by making satisfaction and reconciliation for sin, procure the love and favor of God to his people; for Christ’s being sent to be the propitiation, his sufferings and death, sacrifice and satisfaction, were the fruit and effect of the love of God, and not the cause of it.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The reconciliation made by Christ was not to the love of God, which was never lost, but to the justice of God, offended by sin; the flaming sword, which turned every way and threatened vengeance, was plunged into the heart of Christ, the surety of his people.  [This] was done to declare the righteousness and satisfy the justice of God; and to open a way for mercy to display itself, and turn its hand upon the little ones.  Thus justice and mercy happily met together, and were reconciled to one another in their different pleas and demands.

Zechariah 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Romans 3:25-26  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Psalms 85:10  Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

The reconciliation made by Christ is for sin, to make satisfaction for it.

Daniel 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Hebrews 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

And on that account it is a reconciliation of sinners to God, he being thereby pacified towards them for all that they have done; being well pleased with what Christ has done and suffered for them.  He is well pleased with him, and with all that are considered in him, who are accepted in him the beloved, and are admitted into an open state of favor; which is meant by their having access through Christ into the grace wherein they stand.

Matthew 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Ephesians 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Romans 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Though the love of God to his elect is invariable and unchangeable in itself, yet the manifestation of it is different; and it may be distinguished into secret and open love.  There are obstructions by sin thrown in the way of love, which must be removed, in order to enjoy open favor and the blessings of it, and which are removed by Christ.  Thus Christ was made under the law, to redeem his people, that they might receive the adoption of children; and was made a curse for them, that the blessings of grace love had provided in covenant for them, might come upon them.  He was made sin, and a sin offering for them, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him; and be brought into a state of open fellowship and communion with him, who before were kept at a distance.

Thus David, though he most affectionately loved his son Absalom, and longed for him, when for an offence he fled.  And though through the mediation of Joab he was allowed to return to Jerusalem, yet the king would not suffer him to see his face for the space of full two years; when by the mediation of the same person he was admitted into the king’s presence, taken into open favor, and kissed by him.

II Samuel 13:39  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

II Samuel 14:1  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

II Samuel 14:21  And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

II Samuel 14:24  And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.

II Samuel 14:33  So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

The means by which this reconciliation is made, are the bloodshed and death of Christ.  He only is the reconciler and peace maker.  A sinner cannot make peace with God or reconciliation, that is, satisfaction for his sins; not by his works of righteousness, which are impure and imperfect; nor by repentance, which the law does not admit of.  Nor is it any satisfaction to it; nor by faith, for that does not make, only receives the atonement made by Christ.  There is nothing a sinner can do, will make peace and reconciliation for him.  And what will, he cannot do; which is no less than fulfilling the whole law, and answering all the demands of law and justice.

Romans 8:3-4  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Death being the sanction of the law, and the wages of sin, there is no reconciliation to be made but by death.