Christ becomes our propitiation through faith in His shed blood.
God set forth Christ Jesus to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, making it possible to declare His righteousness and justify the believer (Romans 3:25-26). This provision rests entirely on the shed blood of Christ, not on human effort. Les Feldick emphasizes that faith and the blood appear together in the verse, and that Christ Himself is both the sacrifice and the mercy seat.
Romans 3:25 — This verse directly states that God set forth Christ to be a propitiation through faith in His blood.
Romans 3:26 — It shows that this declaration of righteousness is how God remains just while justifying those who believe in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26 declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, yet believers are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." God has set forth Christ Jesus "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." The purpose is "to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." First John 2:2 adds that Jesus Christ "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Hebrews 9:22 also underscores the necessity of blood, saying "without shedding of blood is no remission."
Les Feldick points out that in Romans 3:25, "propitiation" is a big word that most people skip over, but God brought both "faith" and "blood" together within half a verse. He teaches that God makes Christ a propitiation when we place our faith in His blood (Clip 1, Clip 2). Les also stresses that God has demanded shed blood for the remission of sin, and we cannot ignore that demand. The only way to answer the law's demand is God's mercy, pictured by the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant (Clip 0, Clip 2). He connects this to the redemption in Christ Jesus, saying there is no period between redemption and propitiation (Clip 3). Les further explains that everything in the tabernacle was a picture of Christ. Christ is not only the mercy seat, He is the blood of the mercy seat; He is not only the God of mercy, He is the sacrifice (Clip 5). On the Day of Atonement, Christ accomplished what the tabernacle pictured through His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection (Clip 7). Les also notes that the two mandatory statements are without shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God (Clip 4). Finally, Les notes that the word "propitiation" appears, in his understanding, only twice in Scripture—Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2—and John shows Jesus as the propitiation not only for our sins but for the whole world (Clip 6).
Scripture says God set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in His blood (Romans 3:25). Les emphasizes that faith and the blood appear within half a verse, so we cannot avoid either one. He points out that without the shedding of blood there is no remission, and without faith it is impossible to please God—both are mandatory.
In the tabernacle, the mercy seat of pure gold overshadowed the Ark containing the law. Les explains that the cherubim's wings covering the mercy seat indicate God's mercy, and God's mercy is the only thing that can answer the demands of the law. Thus Christ, as our propitiation, is the mercy seat who satisfies what the law demands.
Romans 3:24 says believers are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Paul immediately goes on to say in verse 25 that God set forth this same Christ Jesus to be a propitiation through faith in His blood. Les points out that there is no period between redemption and propitiation—the redemption and the propitiation are inseparable.
In 1 John 2:2, Jesus Christ is called the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world. Les observes that these are, in his awareness, the only two places the word is used in Scripture—Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2—and John makes clear that Christ's propitiation is universal in its scope.
Les teaches that everything in the tabernacle, especially on the Day of Atonement, pointed to Christ. Propitiation is the whole picture: what the tabernacle showed, Christ accomplished on the cross with His shed blood, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. All of it was done on our behalf.
God's Mercy Answers the Law
The mercy seat overshadowed the law, showing that God's mercy alone can answer what the law demands—a picture Christ fulfills as our propitiation.
Faith in His Blood
God makes Christ a propitiation when we place our faith in His blood; faith and the blood are both stated within half a verse.
Shed Blood Required
God demands shed blood for remission of sins, and Christ is made a propitiation when we place our faith in His blood so that God can declare His righteousness.
Redemption Leads to Propitiation
The redemption in Christ Jesus leads directly to God setting Him forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood.
Faith and Blood Go Together
The two mandatory statements are the shedding of blood for remission and faith to please God; both are essential for redemption.
Christ Our Mercy Seat and Sacrifice
Christ is our propitiation; He is not only the mercy seat but also the blood of the mercy seat, and He is the sacrifice.
Two Uses of Propitiation
Propitiation appears in Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2, and Christ's propitiation covers the sins of the whole world.
Tabernacle Fulfilled in Christ
Everything in the tabernacle pictured Christ, and He accomplished it all on the cross through His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Establishes universal sinfulness, setting up the need for propitiation.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Connects justification by grace to redemption in Christ.
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;
The central verse on Christ as propitiation through faith in His blood.
Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Shows the purpose: God is just and the justifier of believers.
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.
Extends Christ's propitiation to the whole world.
Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Supports God's requirement for shed blood.
Propitiation is the act by which God set forth Christ as the sacrifice that satisfies the demands of His holiness. Romans 3:25 says God made Christ to be a propitiation through faith in His blood. Les described the tabernacle mercy seat as a picture of God's mercy answering the law.
Scripture says Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but for the whole world (1 John 2:2). Les notes that Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2 are the two places he sees this word used.
Les teaches that our assurance and salvation are not based on good works or anything else we do, but entirely on the finished work of Christ. Christ is the believer's propitiation, sacrifice, and mercy seat, and He did it all on our behalf.
Watch the Teaching: What the Tabernacle Reveals About Christ Most People Miss