What is the difference between redemption and propitiation?

What is the difference between redemption and propitiation?

Beginning at the end of 2004, Truth and Tidings printed our brother Lloyd Cain’s helpful series on great gospel words. A few brief comments at this point might once more "put us in remembrance of these" great gospel truths. Both truths are outcomes of that once-for-all work the Lord Jesus accomplished on the cross.

Redemption focuses primarily on the blessing the one who trusts Christ receives. Propitiation points to what God has received from the death of Christ, whether or not a sinner trusts Christ.

Redemption paints the sinner as a slave of sin and emphasizes three truths through three New Testament words. When Paul speaks about being redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13)," TARGET="_blank">Gal 3:13), the word tells us of the purpose of redemption. We have been bought out of the slave market of sin, delivered to serve righteousness. Paul again tells us that we have been justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24)." TARGET="_blank">Rom 3:24). This word emphasizes the power of redemption, delivering us completely. The third word draws our thinking to the price of redemption. Paul says "He gave Himself that He might redeem us" (Titus 2:14)." TARGET="_blank">Titus 2:14). What a price! Peter uses the same word to tell us we are redeemed "by the precious blood of Christ" (1Pe 1:18, 19)." TARGET="_blank">1Pe 1:18, 19). God is the loving, yet righteous One Who paid a great price to deliver and bless us.

Propitiation emphasizes the holiness and majesty of God, Who has been dishonored and affronted by sin. So infinite is the value of the sacrifice of Christ that in that death God has received full satisfaction for the offense of all sin! That satisfaction is through the blood of Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24, 25)," TARGET="_blank">Rom 3:24, 25), addresses our sins and the world’s (1Jo 2:2)," TARGET="_blank">1Jo 2:2), and is the foundation of all blessing that will ever result from the death of Christ (1John 4:10)," TARGET="_blank">1John 4:10), as pictured in the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat (the propitiatory, Heb 9:5;" TARGET="_blank">Heb 9:5; a related word).

David Oliver
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Why did Satan attempt to usurp God's throne?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL and email address in your answer.

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To whom does "the great" and "the strong" refer in Isaiah 53:12?

To whom does "the great" and "the strong" refer in Isaiah 53:12" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 53:12?

The wording of the KJV presents a difficulty: our Lord as Victor is not on the level of "the great." He is unrivaled. Most authorities have not given too much light on this verse. Undoubtedly, however, this delightful chapter concludes with the Servant of Jehovah coming forth as the mighty Victor. The Septuagint may give us a clearer understanding of this text. It reads, "Therefore shall He inherit the many" (that He delivered in conquest), "and He shall divide the spoils of the mighty" (that He conquered as the Victor). Another has put it, "He divides the portion as a great one, and He divides the spoil as a strong one." The Victor shares the spoil with His friends. The spoil is evidently from the defeated foe. Isn't David's conquest in the valley a picture of this? David inherits the many by his victory as a great one. In the victory over the mighty He divides the spoil, as the strong one, with the delivered nation.

A. Hull

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Free Bible Games

Some of the free Bible games here include:

1. The Bible board game Lost Bible Searchers Game . This free Bible game requires each player to travel the map of the Bible world collecting lost pages from books of the Bible.

2. Books of the Bible Game . This collection of six free Bible games uses the names of the books of the Bible to help students learn their order and some facts about each book.

3. Criminal Suspects of the Bible . This free Bible game requires students to identify the bad guy based on a police record of his/her crime.

4. Tribulation Survivor Game . This is one of the many free Bible games in the downloads section. Students are put into the Great Tribulation with the goal of surviving great disasters, persecution of the Antichrist and famine.

For more traditional free Bible games, browse the350 Sunday school worksheets that contain a coloring page, crossword puzzle and other activities to review a Bible story.

Use one of the puzzle makers below to create your own free Bible game.

Word Find

Word Scramble

Crossword Puzzle Creator

Cryptogram Puzzle Creator

Fallen Quotes

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Is the rapture found in the Bible?

Does the Bible teach there will be no rapture or millennium?

Clear, literal teaching of the Word of God is convincing on this subject. The rapture, meaning "snatched away," is taught clearly in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus mentioned it in John 14:1-3." TARGET="_blank">John 14:1-3. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-57," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Paul teaches that the dead in Christ will be raised with incorruptible bodies and the living (mortal) will put on immortality and be caught up together (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Seven terrible years, when God's wrath will be poured out upon the earth (Matthew 24:21)," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 24:21), follow the rapture. This concludes when the Lord descends to earth in power and great glory (Revelation 19:11- 21)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 19:11- 21). He will banish Satan to the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:2)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:2). This millennial reign of Christ on earth is described in the Old Testament (Isaiah 11;" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 11; Jeremiah 31:31; 40;" TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 31:31; 40; Ezekiel 40-48;" TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 40-48; Zechariah 8-14)." TARGET="_blank">Zechariah 8-14). In Revelation 20:4-7," TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:4-7, the 1000 years are mentioned six times. After the 1000 years, God will create the New Heaven and the New Earth (2 Peter 3:10-13)" TARGET="_blank">2 Peter 3:10-13) for His eternal kingdom.

A. Joyce

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How can I change or control my thought life?

How can I change or control my thought life?

Paul's statement, "Think on these things" (Philippians 4:8)," TARGET="_blank">Philippians 4:8), shows that we can choose the focus of our thoughts.

A controlled mind (1 Peter 1:13)" TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 1:13) characterizes normal Christian living. The power of the Spirit of God within and of devotion to Christ produces obedience to God's Word and likeness to Christ. Spiritually healthy habits - reading and meditating on the Word of God, confessing sins and communing with the Lord in prayer, maintaining wholesome relationships with others, and participating in the spiritual activities of an assembly -preserve us from most problems with an unholy thought life. Healthy Christian thinking is the byproduct of healthy Christian living.

A history of bad habits in thinking, of spiritual departure, or of inappropriate responses to circumstances in life will deepen problems in a believer's thought life. Replacing these habits with spiritual habits helps to change our thought life.

The remedy is focusing on Christ's loveliness and on things positive and Christ-honoring (Philippians 4:8)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 4:8).

Here are 4 suggestions:

1. When facing conditions that trigger wrong thoughts, read conveniently placed index cards on which you have written relevant Bible verses. This allows God's Word to speak to and strengthen your mind.

2. Prayerfully eliminate idle time, lonely interludes, or physical tiredness.

3. Cultivate the companionship of an omniscient God.

4. Carefully select your food. Some "food" you see and hear will sow seeds of wrong thoughts. Replace this with spiritually strengthening food. Listen to and sing songs rich in Biblical truth. By these means the word of Christ will dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16)." TARGET="_blank">Colossians 3:16).

D. Oliver
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How can God be fair and send people to Hell for eternity?

How can God be fair and send people to Hell for eternity?

“Fair” is a word that implies “treating everyone the same”, or “giving everyone an equal chance”. In the Bible Jesus tells us a true story (complete with names, Luke 16)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16) about a very rich man and a beggar, a homeless man so destitute that dogs licked his untreated oozing sores. He survived on the garbage the rich man threw out.

Is that fair? No . . . it is not.

Many are bitter toward God because He has allowed them to be poor, broken and sick in this life while, taking away friends and family while others sail along without a care or trouble. The famous poem “Invictus” was written by a man who – through no fault of his - suffered deeply in this life and shook his fist at God in return.

But this story gives us the other side of the story. When God gives poverty and earthly suffering He tends to compensate by giving spiritual favors to the ones who missed out. “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5)" TARGET="_blank">James 2:5) Jesus even said, “Blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God . . . blessed are ye that hunger now . . . blessed are ye that weep” and contra positively, “Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation” (Luke 6:20-27)" TARGET="_blank">Luke 6:20-27)

As it turned out, the rich man never prepared for eternity, and the homeless man, having nothing this life, did. When they died the saved man went to heaven, and the wealthy man opened his eyes in the flames of hell. The rich man, now the beggar, asked his many times over great-grandfather Abraham to send the homeless from heaven with a drop of water to cool his tongue, but was told it was physically impossible to move from one place to the other. Abraham reminded the rich man, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented”, explaining how fair God is.

When the rich man appealed for the homeless man to be sent back to earth to warn the rich man’s brothers to get saved we get another insight on how fair God is. Abraham explains that EVERYONE has the Bible and churches and preachers to tell them all they need to know to get desperate to get ready, and a supernatural visit from a dead person would not change a single mind. Other Scriptures that tell us that even the creation all around us drives us to seek the One who made it, and that God is carefully looking for any seeking heart anywhere in the world to guide to His Son. If what you already know should persuade you to drop everything and – to the point of losing everything, if necessary – gain eternal life for yourself, miracles will not change that.

Turns out God balances everything out very carefully. Everyone gets enough information to motivate them to find God’s salvation. The Lord says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 19:13)" TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 19:13) Eternal hell cannot be changed, as this is the unavoidable consequence of dying without knowing God, part of the fabric of the universe. God has, however, sent His only Son – Jesus – to bear the punishment of hell for us in unimagined and completely unfair suffering on the cross so we can all be born again. That payment is worth more than the universe, all of us included. Having done so He commands us all to repent and trust Jesus as Savior and Lord (master). God expects us to drop everything and do exactly what He says. When He provides opportunity after opportunity to do so, even with special favors given to us that He withholds from others as well as special warnings aimed directly at us, and we decide we have better things to do, is God unfair when we suddenly open our eyes to find that we have shamed and dismissed Him one too many times?

Alfred Corduan

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How should an assembly approach the subject of homosexuality?

How can we fulfill this responsibility effectively?

Those who teach the young or work with younger believers must be prepared to handle this subject appropriately. Bible Readings on related subjects or relevant passages should include considered comments on this topic.

At some point in gospel meetings or gatherings for Christian teaching, believers or unbelievers who have this tendency, who have imbibed society’s thinking on the subject, or who have committed such acts will be present. On some occasions, parents whose hearts are broken because of the intrusion of this sin into their family will be present. Harsh denunciations of this sin, expressions of personal revulsion, or snide references to the common idioms for this behavior are insensitive and unbecoming. Any form of speech that offends the moral sensitivities of the listeners or that compromises the dignity of God’s Word and sacred truth is inappropriate. Any statements deemed as irrational or merely emotional are counterproductive; the compelling authority of Scripture is our sole basis of persuasion.

Compassionate teaching regarding the life-transforming power of God’s grace offers hope for those enslaved by sin. The sanctifying power of God’s Word, of the indwelling Spirit, and of abiding in Christ can deliver from lust. None of us have avoided some experience with lust and sin’s slavery; we cannot be condescending.

In no case should our aversion to the subject limit our interest or expressions of loving help to those engaging in such behavior. Neither our words nor acts should build an emotional or social wall between "us and them." Fulfilling our responsibility to care for others, reach all with the gospel, maintain a godly testimony, and preserve holiness in our own lives requires divine wisdom and power.

D. Oliver
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Why did the newly-anointed Solomon ride on a mule, not a donkey or a mare?

Why did the newly-anointed Solomon ride on a mule, not a donkey or a mare?

First, a definite answer. Solomon rode on a mule (1Ki 1:38)" TARGET="_blank">1Ki 1:38) because his father David told Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to "cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule" (v 33). This is the word for a "she-mule" (BDB, TWOT). Its three Old Testament uses are all in this passage (see v 44), referring to one mule, David’s. Solomon’s riding on David’s mule in company with David’s advisors gave a clear message: he was the successor David had chosen. Years later in secular history, female mules became preferable for riding and males for bearing burdens. That may have been a factor in David’s having this special mule.

Second, an observation. David’s sons all rode on (male) mules (2Sa 13:29)" TARGET="_blank">2Sa 13:29) and Absalom rode a mule at the end of his life (2Sa 18:9)." TARGET="_blank">2Sa 18:9). Since a mule is crossbred between a mare and a male donkey, and since crossbreeding was prohibited in Israel (Lev 19:19)," TARGET="_blank">Lev 19:19), mules were likely imported (TWOT), and were thus more valued. They (along with horses, silver, and gold, etc.) symbolized the wealth that other kings brought to Solomon annually (1Ki 10:25)." TARGET="_blank">1Ki 10:25).

Third, a suggestion. The greatest reason for David’s choice of a mule rather than a horse may have been God’s prohibition for kings (Deu 17:16)" TARGET="_blank">Deu 17:16): they were not to multiply horses to themselves. David was careful in this. Solomon, to his own destruction, was not (1Ki 10:26, 28)." TARGET="_blank">1Ki 10:26, 28).

D. Oliver
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Should I forgive my brother if he refuses to repent?

In light of Matthew 18:21-22" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 18:21-22 and Luke 17:3, 4," TARGET="_blank">Luke 17:3, 4, is a Christian bound to forgive another Christian only if he repents?

Every offended Christian ought to be willing to forgive another Christian whether or not the offender repents. God loves to forgive. Being followers of God (Ephesians 5:1)," TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:1), we ought to be ready to forgive, too. Psalm 86:5" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 86:5 states, "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive."

An unforgiving spirit produces bitterness and ruins Christian life. The apostle Paul exhorted, "Let all bitterness ... be put away from you...: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:31, 32).

When a believer recognizes that he has offended another, he should attempt to restore the enjoyment of fellowship with his offended brother. Sometimes, however, a Christian may not even be aware or feel - that he has offended another. In such a case, a spirit of forgiveness on the part of the Christian who has been hurt will enable him to lay aside the hurt without ever raising the matter. Love "thinketh no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:5)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:5) means love keeps no record of evil; thus, Christian love will lay a matter to rest - and forget it - without raising the issue or demanding repentance (1 Peter 4:8)." TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 4:8).

J. Beattie

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