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In the New Testament passage of 1 John 2 we encounter one of several Bible occurrences of the most blessed
assurance of Jesus Christ's Advocacy for Christian believers and his personal and complete propitiation for their
sins: 1 John 2: 1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man
sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world. JFB commentary (Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown) says: "We have an advocate—Advocacy
is God's family blessing; other blessings He grants to good and bad alike, but justification, sanctification,
continued intercession, and peace, He grants to His children alone." "And
he—Greek, "And Himself." He is our all-prevailing Advocate, because He
is Himself "the propitiation"; abstract, as in1Co 1:30: He is to us all that is needed for propitiation "in behalf of our sins"; the propitiatory
sacrifice, provided by the Father's love, removing the estrangement, and appeasing the righteous wrath,
on God's part, against the sinner." I include more extensive quotes of the JFB
commentary below. The Mercy Seat (propitiation connection) - great Youtube video 41:42min. - Pastor Garry Clark - Fellowship Church of Englewood, FL - He's a bit flamboyant, and casual, but has good stuff. Try to watch at least
10 minutes. May need to move video to start point.
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The New Testament passage of Romans 3, also, presents the gracious word and truth of Christ's
propitiation: (JFB commentary on this chapter). 20 Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without
the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom
God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. Notice that it is through faith in Christ's
blood that God's propitiation becomes available. |
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Here are important details regarding obtaining the propitiation in Jesus Christ -- 1
John chapter 1: (JFB commentary). 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew
unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that
ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your
joy may be full. 5 This
then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not
in us. |
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Here is the entire JFB commentary for 1 John 1-2: My
little children—The diminutive expresses the tender affection of an aged pastor and spiritual father.
My own dear children, that is, sons and daughters (see on 1Jo 2:12). these things—(1Jo 1:6-10). My purpose in writing what I have just written is not that you should abuse them as giving a license to
sin but, on the contrary, "in order that ye may not sin at all" (the Greek aorist, implying the
absence not only of the habit, but of single acts of sin [Alford]). In order
to "walk in the light" (1Jo 1:5, 7), the first step is confession of sin (1Jo 1:9), the next (1Jo 2:1) is that we should forsake all sin. The divine purpose has for its aim, either to prevent the
commission of, or to destroy sin [Bengel]. And,
&c.—connected with the former; Furthermore, "if any man sin," let him, while loathing
and condemning it, not fear to go at once to God, the Judge, confessing it, for "we have an Advocate
with Him." He is speaking of a BELIEVER'S occasional sins of infirmity through
Satan's fraud and malice. The use of "we" immediately afterwards implies that we all are liable
to this, though not necessarily constrained to sin. we have an advocate—Advocacy
is God's family blessing; other blessings He grants to good and bad alike, but justification, sanctification,
continued intercession, and peace, He grants to His children alone. advocate—Greek,
"paraclete," the same term as is applied to the Holy Ghost, as the "other Comforter";
showing the unity of the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity. Christ is the Intercessor for us above;
and, in His absence, here below the Holy Ghost is the other Intercessor in us. Christ's advocacy
is inseparable from the Holy Spirit's comfort and working in us, as the spirit of intercessory prayer.
righteous—As our "advocate," Christ is not a mere suppliant
petitioner. He pleads for us on the ground of justice, or righteousness, as well as mercy. Though
He can say nothing good of us, He can say much for us. It is His righteousness,
or obedience to the law, and endurance of its full penalty for us, on which He grounds His claim for our acquittal.
The sense therefore is, "in that He is righteous"; in contrast to our sin ("if
any man sin"). The Father, by raising Him from the dead, and setting Him at His own right, has once
for all accepted Christ's claim for us. Therefore the accuser's charges against God's children are vain. "The
righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God's righteousness is, in Jesus Christ, ours" [Luther].
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1 John 4 speaks also of the propitiation God has provided believers in Jesus Christ: (JFB commentary) 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is of God: 3 And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;
he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God,
but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another. 12 No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he
in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son
of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein
is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother,
he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also. |
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