a. Propitiation Propitiation means to satisfy God by providing an appropriate sacrifice. So atonement means reconciliation and propitiation means “satisfaction.” In order to satisfy God without compromising his justice, the Israelite high priest sprinkled the blood of animals on the mercy seat (the top of the Ark of the Covenant) on the Day of Atonement. The mercy seat was the place where God met with the high priest. Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, is the propitiation for our sins (see 1 John 4:10 KJV).
b. Priesthood of the Believer Under the Old Covenant of Law, only the high priest could enter the presence of God, in the Most Holy place of the Temple. And the high priest could do so only once per year—on the Day of Atonement. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the Temple separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two from the top to the bottom (see Matt. 27:50,51). The tearing of the veil symbolized that believers are now like priests, having access directly to God. So we hold to the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer. Jesus is our High Priestin heaven, so we do not need a priest on earth to pray for us. We can come boldly before the throne of God’s grace (see Hebrews 10:19-22 KJV).
