The Foundation of Fellowship (Part Three)

John teaches, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). We have twofold provision in Jesus Christ: 1) an Advocate and 2) a Propitiator. Verse one set forth Jesus as our Advocate. Verse two sets forth Jesus as our Propitiator – the One who satisfies the holy demands of an absolute God (1:5). Jesus is not only our Advocate, but He is the sacrifice for our sins as well. Jesus can plead our cause because of what He did. He does not plead our cause for what we did, do, or will do. The Greek puts great emphasis on the person of the propitiator. Jesus alone is able to propitiate God. He is in His own person and work the propitiation. This connects closely with His role as our Advocate (2:1). In other words, Jesus’ work of propitiation undergirds and gives strength and productiveness to His work of being our Advocate! This word “propitiation” carries the idea of satisfaction. It refers to the full satisfaction of the absolute, holy, and righteous character of God. In other words, my sin does not and cannot undo the sacrifice of Christ for my sin. Because Jesus is the propitiation for my sins, He can act as my Advocate before God. That is why Jesus undertakes my case before the Father when I sin. Propitiation reflects the idea that the negative and degrading effects of our sin are removed through the grace of God. Praise Jesus forevermore! Through propitiation—the work of Jesus on the cross for us—the sin of all those who would ever believe in Christ was cancelled. That cancellation is eternal in its consequence, even though we still have the sinful nature. In other words, believers are delivered from the penalty and power of sin, but not the presence of it. That comes when God glorifies us with perfect bodies (Romans 8:30). Be encouraged!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor