A DEFINITION OF PROPITIATION IS THAT WHICH MAKES SOMEONE PLEASED OR LESS ANGRY BY PROVIDING SOMETHING THAT IS DESIRED AND THAT WILL SATISFY.

THE PENAL SUBSTITUTIONARY THEORY OF THE ATONEMENT, THE PST, IS REALLY SAYING THAT GOD CAN BE SATISFIED, HIS “WRATH” TURNED AWAY, BY HIS BEING ABLE TO PUNISH THE ONE WHO HAS FAILED HIM.

CAN ONE TRULY BELIEVE IN SUCH A GOD?  HOW DID JESUS SATISFY HIS HEAVENLY FATHER?  WE HEAR THE ANSWER AT HIS BAPTISM AND ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”

BEFORE JESUS’ DEATH, WE HEAR THE FATHER AGAIN GIVING TESTIMONY TO HIS SON.  AFTER JESUS EXPRESSED HIS DESIRE THAT THE FATHER’S NAME BE GLORIFIED IN HIMSELF, THE FATHER ANSWERED, “I HAVE BOTH GLORIFIED IT AND WILL GLORIFY IT AGAIN.”

WHEREIN LIES GOD’S SATISFACTION?  GOD FINDS HIS SATISFACTION IN THE PERFECTION OF HIS HUMAN SON.  JESUS REALIZED GOD’S ETERNAL DESIRE THAT MAN BE MADE FULLY IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND BE THE COMPLETE AND FULL EXPRESSION OF HIS BEING.  NOT UNTIL THE INCARNATION WAS THIS REALIZED.