Lesson 5: Related to God through Propitiation
 
 In this and the next few lessons we will look more closely at how Jesus’ death solved the problem of sin. If we may continue the idea of the box into which the shadow was placed (in the last lesson), then the box is the vehicle through which the shadow could be protected – the box is the propitiation. This word is found in such verses as Romans 3:25-26, Hebrews 2:17, and 1 John 4:10.

Propitiation is the way in which another stands between the two parties as a mediator, a go-between. God sees Jesus and the sacrifice He made on our behalf for our sin, and does not destroy us, even though we are not yet perfect – we are still a shadow that would be destroyed if we could step out of Jesus Christ.
But God is completely satisfied the sin problem has been solved perfectly because He accepted the sacrifice Jesus made. On our part, we must be the shadow willing to get into the box and trust the box will protect us – this is our step of faith. God is free to relate to believers because we are IN Jesus Christ, our propitiation.