Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 99:395 (Jul 1942)
Article: Divine Propitiation Part 2
Author: Richard Herman Seume

BSac 99:395 (Jul 42) p. 354

Divine Propitiation
Part 2

Richard Herman Seume

(Continued from the April-June Number, 1942)

{Editor’s note: Footnotes in the original printed edition were numbered 19–27, but in this electronic edition are numbered 1–9 respectively.}

The Means of Propitiation

We come now to the main body of our thesis, namely, the soteriological aspects of the death of Christ and their relation to propitiation. We have demonstrated the need for propitiation; it remains for us to answer that need with a provided means. Marvelous is the report that God has done something about the sin question; He has provided a Savior who met the righteous demands of His justice in every particular. What His infinite holiness required, Christ accomplished perfectly in His work on the cross. Now the evangel has gone forth to all the earth-God is propitious to this world of sinners. It is no longer a question as to whether God will be propitious to sinful men; He is already so, and waits to receive those who will come to Him in faith. Men are not now lost because Christ has failed to do something for them, but they are lost because they will not believe what He has done in their behalf.

Before we consider the substitutionary character of the death of Christ in its major aspects, let us note the Scriptural statement respecting this truth.

1. The Scriptural Statement of the Doctrine.

a. According to Genesis.

Genesis 3:15 constitutes a preview of the death of Christ: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” In this verse we have a clear statement regarding the death of Christ. How remarkable it

BSac 99:395 (Jul 42) p. 355

is that the book of beginnings should recognize the cross work and its glorious triumph.

b. According to the Prophets.

The outstanding predictions include Psalms 22:1–21; 40:6–7; Isaiah 52:13–53:12. It is well for us to consider the witness of the prophet Isaiah in connection with the Suffering Servant as He bore the sins of mankind. In the fifty-third chapter of his book we note the following prediction: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed....