Propitiation (2-8-12)

Hebrews 2:17 - "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."

Here in Hebrews chapter two the writer is talking about Jesus coming into this world and taking on a human body, becoming like us in all things in order that He might deliver us from the power of death. In this verse we're told that He was made like us in all things in order to make propitiation for our sins. God cannot tolerate sin. If we were ever to be reconciled with Him our sins would have to be taken out of the way. And Jesus, when He was made like us was able to sympathizes with our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way like we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4). And because He was made like us He is able to become our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for our sins. Under the Levitical law the high priest would enter into the holy of holies once a year, first to atone for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. Jesus, as our High Priest, rather than entering the holy of holies once a year, has entered into the very presence of God and has given the offering of Himself to cover for all time the sins of the people. He has entered into the presence of God to make propitiation for our sins.
The word propitiation carries with it the idea of a covering. Our Great High Priest has made a covering for our sins. This same word is used in Hebrews chapter 9 where the writer is talking about the mercy seat. The mercy seat was the lid or the covering for the ark of the covenant. In 1 John 2:2 we're told this - "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." Not only has Christ made propitiation for our sins, but He Himself is our propitiation. He is our covering. That's the very reason He was sent into the world, that He might become our propitiation. 1 John 4:10 says - "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God sending His Son to propitiate our sins is the greatest example in the Scriptures of Gods love. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son that through His blood we might receive mercy and be justified before God. This is what Paul talks about in Romans 3:24-26 saying - "Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." It's only through Christs propitiatory offering of Himself that God can show mercy of His justifying grace to sinners who believe. It's only by this covering that God is able to pass over the sins previously committed.