Perhaps you should study Romans 3:25, where the form of the Greek word actually refers to the place or location of propitiation, hence Christ is our Propitiatory Shelter.
Not exactly.
ιλαστηριον is an accusative case noun which refers to the thing which brings about the expiation. In this case it is obviously referring to the Person of Jesus Christ.
The only time it is used of a place is metaphorically when it refers to the Mercy Seat, the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, because it was there the blood of the expiatory sacrifice was sprinkled annually on Yom Kippur.
The greek
term for sin is to "Miss the mark". When we fail to obey these truths that are the standard we sin. God has given us His WORD, that's the standard. When and If a person repents - "turn away" from their sins and lives by that standard I believe through the dwelling of the Holy Spirit you can live a life without "missing the mark".
TCassidy,
Come on now, lets really examine this. Your "holier than thou" comments that you rail at me on most post is driven by what? Is it really hard to believe someone that truly loves the Lord and takes the WORD as absolute in Walking in the Spirit that you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh? The Word of GOD humbles me to know that if it wasn't for Jesus changing my attitude I would be a lost man cloaked in the walls of the church. Some churches say "I don't believe in healing, speaking in tongues, living a sinless life, there are no perfect marriages etc."
You will see a lot of divorces, family issues in those churches.. Where is the saving power of the Holy Spirit if this type of unbelief purveys? Many are going through the motions!
I agree, for the most part, but also think the term "propitiatory shelter" may be an over simplification. Christ's propitiation is more, in my opinion, then just a shelter. Christ's propitiatory sacrifice produces not just a shelter from God's wrath, but a complete reconciliation of the sinner to God.
By the way, I sent you a PM. We may have known each other 40 years ago or so. :)