Hi @bling,
Paul's epistle to the Romans goes from subject to subject in its synopsis, and therefore the fact that Romans 6 does not speak of propitiation in no way means that propitiation is not a subject in Paul's mind.
In Romans 3:25 Paul does indeed speak of propitiation, and the apostle John speaks of it in 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:10. I suggest doing a study on what the word means. Get yourself a Bible Dictionary and understand the word by its definition therein.
Because the way I define it is in that it is an appeasement of God's wrath against and justice towards sin. It happens so that God can be both just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. Romans 3:26. I take this to mean that God's justice is satisfied in the Cross so that He can show mercy and still be perfectly just.
You cannot just go to a Bible dictionary to define how a particular word is used in a particular bible verse. Other translations have “propitiation” (ἱλαστήριον hilastērion is the Greek) translated it: expiation and atonement sacrifices. No one knows for sure what the meaning of ἱλαστήριον hilastērion really should be in a particular verse.
Propitiation makes the problem God’s problem (He cannot associate with sinful man) and must there for punish someone (it does not have to be the sinner himself which is up surd).
We like to talk about punishing the intangible “sin” or God’s wrath toward sin, which cannot be done since it is the sinner who is upsetting God and needs either punishment or disciplining.
God is upset with man sinning and will do almost anything to resolve the situation, so in that respect the resolving of the situation will reduce God’s wrath over sinful man down and is a kind of propitiation, but it is not God who needs to change in any way (have some personal satisfaction or satisfy some cosmic justice requirement), but man who changes through the atoning sacrifice which improves the relationship.
When your child rebelliously disobeys you and you get angry over it are you looking to be “satisfied” with punishing vengeance or justice?
Do you need something done to forgive your child?
Loving discipline correctly accepted is a great learning experience that will create an even better relationship between parent and child.
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