Propitiation for the World

1 Peter 2:24

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.“

“…by whose stripes ye were healed”. How powerful is that statement by the Apostle Peter and the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 53:5 as they penned down these words through the Holy Spirit! Jesus Christ took our place to suffer such agonising pain just so that we may be healed, and Him dying on the cross reveals the divine judgement of God on sin. There is nothing in time or eternity that can ever be more certain than what Jesus accomplished through the cross, by becoming the way, the truth, and the life for the entire human race (John 14:6). Through Christ, we have communion and fellowship with God the Father.

Sometimes we might think, why did Christ have to do this? Why did He Himself have to suffer for the sake of sinners? But we must realise, that it was what God intended in His sovereign plan from the beginning (Revelations 13:8). Going to the cross was Christ’s ultimate purpose when He came down to minister among His people whom He loved. And He took on our sins on Himself, that by Him sin was put to death and eternal life was given unto us! This act of great selflessness remains the central event in time and through all eternity, and should be the fundamental focus of our faith.

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has torn the veil that separates us from God, and we should not let this great privilege be in vain. God had taken all the cost and pain of sin and imputed it upon His only beloved Son. Even as we remind ourselves of what Christ did for each one of us, let these thoughts not be for a season only, but for all the days of our lives as we walk with Him.

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.