Genesis 3:20 – 24

The Propitiation

The word propitiation means to pay the price to redeem or atone for.  It is used in reference to the top of the Ark of the Covenant which is called the mercy seat or covering.  If you have the NIV this word is not used.  You may not have heard it before. 

1. animals don’t wear clothes why do we

    a. Adam & Eve sinned & tried to cover themselves w/ fig leaves

    b. they were suddenly aware of nakedness before God

    c. Heb 4:13 everything is uncovered  & laid bare before God

    d. even though we try to hide our nakedness, shame and guilt we can’t

2. God made a covering out of animal skins

     a. God provided the sacrifice for Adam & Eve   

     b. animals first used but not sufficient to cover or atone

     c. looking forward to the cross Gen. 3:15

3. OT sacrifices, blood used to cleanse the alter and mercy seat,  

     a. Lev. 17:11 blood is used upon alter to make atonement

     b. high priest once a year entered Holy of Holies to offer

     c. Heb. 9:22 w/out shedding of blood no forgiveness of sin

     d. bulls & goats were only temporary better sacrifice needed

4. Jesus came to be the sacrificial lamb w/out spot or blemish

    a. Heb 2:17 Jesus became high priest that He might pay the price for our sins

    b. God is holy & sinful man could not approach w/out the price- shed blood

    c. Jesus blood shed, at death entered heaven & presented it upon the alter of heaven

5. man must be reconciled to God not God to Man 

    a. cross is the means whereby the barrier caused by sin between God & man is broken

    b. Jesus received the full wrath of God at the cross which we deserve

    c. Jesus paid the price we couldn’t pay we can’t cover our own sin

6. What does it mean to have your sins covered/atoned for

  a. Ro. 5:9 justified by His blood, saved from wrath

  b. I John 1:7 blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin

  c. Rev 1:5  Jesus washed us from sin in His own blood

  d. Romans 8:17 joint heirs w/ Jesus

There is no other name by which we can be cleansed of our sin and made right with God.  Jesus is our sacrifice, the only one acceptable to the Father. Jesus and Jesus alone is our covering the one who hides our shame and takes away our guilt.  Whatever you are trying to deal with on your own won’t work, it’s just like using fig leaves.  Today is a good day to turn in your fig leaves and get a proper covering from God.  Come on down I would love to pray with you.