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, ESV)
The game of golf can be crazy at times. A crazy bounce, a crazy shot, a crazy hole, and a crazy break are all par for the course. Yes, the pun was intended.
And as golfers, we often use crazy words; at least they are crazy to a non-golfer. I’m not talking about those bad words that might slip out after an errant tee shot. But, words that describe some aspect of the game that only golfers use. Here are just a few words that matter in golf.
A Fried Egg – The golf ball has landed in a bunker with only half the ball above the sandy surface. A hard shot awaits.
Cabbage – Not for coleslaw, but the ball has come to rest in very thick, high grass.
Hack – A self-deprecating term used to assess a really bad day or bad shot on the golf course.
Yanked – This is a bad golf shot that quickly goes in the direction of your lead foot.
Chunk – When you hit the ground well before you hit the ball, you’ve chunked it. Other acceptable words are fat, heavy, thick, or chili dip.
Whether you are a fairly new golfer or you’ve played your entire life, you’ve probably heard these words and phrases a time or two. All these words have meaning and are important in describing some aspect of the game.
Words in the Bible matter, too, and have significantly greater importance than our golf slang. One of those important words in the Bible is “propitiation.”
“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, ESV)
John is writing to churches affected by false teachers and their heretical views on the nature of Christ and his cross-work. In his first letter, he gave five reasons why he wrote to them, one of which was so that they would not sin (2:1). He then uses the word propitiation in verse two. Wayne Grudem offers this helpful definition for this mostly unfamiliar word: “Propitiation is a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and, in so doing, changes God’s wrath toward us into favor.”
The Lord Jesus Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice that changed God’s wrath into His favor to all, who by faith (Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12; Romans 3:23-26) are born again (John 3:3; Romans 6:23, 10:13) through confession and repentance of sin (Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38).
Wrath – In His holiness, God cannot be indifferent to sin. As J.I. Packer stated, it is “a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil.”
Favor – In His holiness, God extends His grace and blessings to the undeserving.
We deserve God’s wrath, having earned it in our sinfulness. But God, being rich in mercy, has made a way for our condemnation to be absorbed by another. As we live this day, may we reflect on God’s amazing grace and His provision of His only Son as our propitiation.
Prayer: Father, apart from Jesus, your wrath would await me because of my sinfulness. Thank you for Jesus. Amen