Jesus, Our Wrath Absorber

While keeping before our mind and talking about the subject of the final judgment to come is very important (and I suspect we consider it far less frequently than we should), it is not the most important thing. That which is most important, that which is of first importance is Christ and His saving work on behalf of those who deserve only the wrath of God (1 Cor. 15:3-4). As important as it may be to think about Hell, after thinking about Hell I find my heart needing to think now about Christ--thinking about Christ as the One who fully absorbed the wrath of God as a substitute for all His elect so that they will never experience it themselves (1 Thess. 1:10). This central aspect of the saving work of Christ is found in the word propitiation. The Savior has made propitiation for His people; the Savior has made propitiation even for the likes of me!

Reflect on the following thoughts expressed by J.I. Packer, as he writes about the heart of the gospel that is to be found in this glorious, wonderful truth of propitiation:

What we have said so far may be summed up as follows. The gospel tells us that our Creator has become our Redeemer. It announces that the Son of God has become man "for us men and for our salvation" and has died on the cross to save us from eternal judgment. The basic description of the saving death of Christ in the Bible is a propitiation, that is, as that which quenched God's wrath against us by obliterating our sins from his sight. God's wrath is his righteousness reacting against unrighteousness; it shows itself in retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the nightmare prospect of retributive justice by becoming our representative substitute, in obedience to his Father's will, and receiving the wages of our sin in our place.

By this means justice has been done, for the sins of all that will ever be pardoned were judged and punished in the person of God the Son, and it is on this basis that pardon is now offered to us offenders. Redeeming love and retributive justice joined hands, so to speak, at Calvary, for there God showed himself to be "just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus...."

In heaven, where these things are better understood, angels and men unite to praise "the Lamb, who was slain" (Rev. 5:12; see 7:9-12). Here on earth those who by grace have been made spiritual realists do the same.

Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!.....

* * *

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
Amazing love! How can it be?
For O, my God, it found out me!....

* * *

If Thou hast my discharge procured,
And freely in my room endured
The whole of wrath divine,
Payment God cannot twice demand,
First at my bleeding Surety's hand,
And then again at mine.

Turn then, my soul, unto thy rest;
The merits of thy great High Priest
Have bought thy liberty.
Trust in His efficacious blood,
Nor fear thy banishment from God,
Since Jesus died for thee!

These are the songs of the heirs of heaven, those who have seen "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face [that is, the person, office, and achievement] of Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6). The joyful news of redeeming love and propitiating mercy, which is the heart of the gospel, spurs them to never-ending praise. Are you among their number? (Knowing God, by J.I. Packer, pgs. 189, 198-199)