Christ All in All: Christ is our Propitiation

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

And sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.      —1 JOHN 4:10

If we have sinned, God is angry with us. It cannot be otherwise. All sin is a provocation to the pure eyes of His glory. It grieves Him. It vexes Him. His holy nature is against it. So also is His righteous law, which forbids it, which threatens it, let the sinner be who he will. If God be angry, some course must be taken to appease and pacify Him. It will not wear off of itself. 

There must be some propitiation, something to make atonement. Now what should that be? This man bid fair, but it would not do. Nothing of our own, prayers, tears, alms penances, pilgrimages, nothing of anyone's else for us will do. No, no. He is the propitiation—He, and none but He.

Jesus Christ is a propitiation appointed of God. He did not put Himself on it, but was called to it. He that knew best what would please Him did Himself see Him forth.

He is a propitiation accepted of God. How do we know that He was accepted? This was done by two extraordinary ways: the one, by a voice from heaven, expressly affirming it; the other, by raising Him from the dead. No other sacrifice ever was so.

Jesus Christ is a continual propitiation, not continually to be offered, but of continual virtue and efficacy. We read often of the continual burnt offering. The atonement made on the cross reaches us now as fully as if He had died but yesterday. The last sinner that will live to be reconciled and saved by Him will certainly find the truth of this.

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