The Doctrine of Expiation

One of the great benefits mentioned in this passage in Hebrews 9:22 — if you're taking notes — is that the blood of Christ expunged our record. What a benefit. This is important to recognize that this is the doctrine of expiation. And so if I could just take a moment and explain to you the doctrine of expiation and what that is and how Jesus Christ has expunged or removed our sin — in Hebrews 9:22 it says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness or remission of sin. And so the doctrine of expiation means this: that someone has been covered by another, covered by another.

And so you can write down expiation if you want to. And what it means is that you've been covered by another. The removal of sin has been done by another who took on your penalty. The penalty for the sin that you deserve to have to pay was paid by another, by a substitute. Hence the reason why one of my favorite doctrines is the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the payment of our sin. But as a result of having that substitute in your place to pay your sin's debt, the consequences have been paid on your behalf. Because Jesus did that, not only has eternal death and separation in hell forever been removed — there are no consequences — but also the penalty is no longer lingering on you. You are no longer liable.

It's been covered, completely paid. The debt was covered by another. The guilty party — us — we've been legally freed. Theologically freed. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and a result of this expiation is that it was for freedom that Christ sets you free — Galatians 5:1. For freedom.

Now you can think through this doctrine from a civil perspective, but it is very limiting. And let me explain to you the difference between expungement and expiation. In civil law, you can have your record expunged. Average people, average employers, average criminal investigators perhaps can investigate your reputation or your record. And if you have had your record expunged, they can't see but so far. But judges, lawyers, governors, presidents — they can get behind the scenes, so to speak, and dig a little bit deeper behind perhaps an expunged record and still see the crimes.

But that's the difference between expungement and expiation — because when your record has been removed by Christ, you can look and dig as deep as you want. It's been cleaned.

So live with this doctrine in mind that you have been completely washed clean — even from the guilt and the shame. They've been removed, been paid for, every single bit of it. Expiation is far superior to expungement. And God's removal of sin and our guilt and our penalties is far superior to anything that we can do as mankind. And so what can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.