Changed by His Love
1 John 2:2: And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The word propitiation, as it is used here in John’s epistle, is a different word from that used in the Epistle to the Romans. In Romans the meaning is “mercy seat”—Christ is the propitiation, the mercy seat, the meeting place between God and man. However, here in 1 John propitiation means “an atonement or an expiation.” It means that sins have been paid for by the suffering of Another. Christ is my Advocate, interceding for me, and He Himself is the propitiation.
Notice that John does not say that if anyone repents, he has an Advocate nor if anyone confesses his sins, he has an Advocate. Neither does he say that if anyone goes through a ceremony to get rid of his sins, he has an Advocate. What he does say is that if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. Before we even repent of that cruel or brutal word we said, the very moment we had that evil thought, and the moment we did that wrong act, Jesus Christ was there at the throne of God to represent us as Satan was there accusing us. Then, because of the faithful advocacy of Christ, the Holy Spirit brings conviction to us, and we confess our sin to the Father. As we said before, to confess means that we get on God’s side and we see our sin from His viewpoint and confess that it is sin. 1
Loving Him
When Christ went to the cross, you were on His heart. He wanted to die the death you deserved so you could live a life for His glory. Perhaps we should praise Him everyday for being our sin bearer and our Advocate. What kind of life would you be living today if you never received His salvation? “Having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7
Loving Others
He did for me what I could never do for myself.
Make Me Like You
Lord, thank You for always calling me to Your throne of grace and mercy for fellowship.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 John) (electronic ed., Vol. 56, pp. 39–40).
