35: What is "propitiation"?

A few episodes back, I read a verse from 1 John where Jesus is said to be the propitiation for our sin. That’s a word that most people don’t use often, but it’s important to know what it means. Webster dictionary defines it as “the act of gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of someone.” That accurately represents how the word is used in the Bible. Because of our sin, we are out of favor with God. Jesus accomplished propitiation for us. His sacrifice appeased God’s wrath and made it possible for us to have God’s favor. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross for our sins. We simply respond in faith.