Paid in Full

Dear AGC family,

As the Easter season approaches, we are often reminded that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and the sins of the world. But what does that really mean? Scripture tells us that, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

The word propitiation signifies a complete and perfect payment that takes away or cancels the wrath of God against us because of our sins. In other words, the debt against us is paid in full. The imagery harkens back to the mercy seat in the Old Testament. The blood from the sacrifice was sprinkled on the mercy seat and in front of it once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement to cover the sins of the people and those of himself. This was done every year. This sacrifice foreshadowed the once and for all sacrifice the Messiah would make on the cross that did not just cover our sins; it erased them completely. That ultimate propitiation removed the curse of sin from us, paid the penalty demanded by a holy God, and restored us as sons and daughters to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus our Savior.

As we reflect on Easter this year, let us be reminded again of the cost of our salvation. Let us pause and meditate on the propitiation that was paid for each of us and applied to each of us when we came to Christ in repentance and brokenness and left restored, forgiven, and cleansed! The receipt of that payment, that propitiation, is seen in the words of the Gospels that proclaim, “He is not here, He is risen!” Death was not the victor; we have a way to remove the curse of sin and be reconciled to our Heavenly Father. We just need to come; the invitation is open to everyone. Easter impacts each of us individually and gives us a message of hope, the good news of the Gospel, that we can share with others – For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son – that whosoever comes to Him will be saved!

He is risen indeed!

Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President