The Finished Work of Christ
Kenny Hodges
October 24, 2016

The Finished Work of Christ

“When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:10

What was finished? God’s provision of salvation for the world because of His love for mankind. John 3:16-18

When we speak of the finished work of Christ we mean these three doctrines:

1. REDEMPTION

2. RECONCILIATION

3. PROPITIATION

2. Reconciliation

Reconciliation is the restoration of a relationship of peace and fellowship where there had previously been hostility and alienation.

The word translated ‘reconciliation’ is Katallasso which means a complete change.

Reconciliation is provided for the whole world!

Reconciliation is received by faith!

Romans 5:8-11
Colossians 1:19-22
Ephesians 2:11-16
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

3. Propitiation

Propitiation is the turning away of wrath by an offering. The wrath of God, because of sin, was propitiated or completely satisfied by the death of Christ.

Propitiation comes from two Greek words:

  1. Hilasmos – that which propitiates or satisfies.

  2. Hilasterion – the place of propitiation.

Hilasmos – that which propitiates or satisfies.

1 John 2:2 – And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 John 4:10 – 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.

Hilasterion – the place of propitiation.

Romans 3:25 – whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith…

Hebrews 9:5 – And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…

Two Distinct Dimensions of Propitiation

  1. The World – All mankind has been propitiated by Christ’s blood.

  2. Believers – Christ becomes the very place of propitiation for those who believe in Him.

Propitiation is the work of God by which His wrath is satisfied by the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. This propitiation is universal in that the sins of the world are propitiated by Christ’s sacrifice, but specific in that through faith, the believer enters into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the living Mercy Seat!

(see figure in pdf notes)