The Propitiation for Our Sins I John 2:1-2 by John A. Kohler, III

Does I John 2:1-2 teach that Jesus Christ the righteous is the propitiation for the sins of every individual human being who has ever and will ever live on the face of the earth? Does this passage teach that He is the propitiation for the sins of both Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Moses and Pharaoh, and the Pharisee and the Publican? The answer to these questions is a resounding, “No!”

I. Christ cannot be the propitiation for the sins of every individual human being because of the meaning of the word ‘propitiation.’

A. This passage does not say, “And He is the potential propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also the potential propitiation for the sins of the whole world.” Instead, it teaches that He is the actual propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world (Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; I Jn. 4:10). If the words “whole world” mean every individual human being, then this passage teaches universal salvation.

B. In Romans 8:32, we are taught that Christ was delivered up to death on the cross for us all, referring to Christians. All of those individuals for whom Christ was delivered up are freely given all things by God the Father, including justification and glorification (vv. 28-30). If Christ was delivered up for every individual human being, then this passage also teaches universal salvation.

II. Christ cannot be the propitiation for the sins of every individual human being because of the meaning of the words ‘whole world.’

A. The word world is used 105 times in all of John’s writings, and in at least 94 of these cases, it cannot possibly mean every individual human being.

B. The word world is used 23 times in the entire book of I John. In at least 21 out of 23 of these times, it cannot possibly mean every individual human being.

C. In I John 5:19, the identical expression whole world does not refer to every individual human being, because it does not include God’s elect. In I John 2:2, the expression whole world does not refer to every individual human being, because it does not include the non-elect.

III. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole human race without distinction, not every individual human being without exception.

A. He is the propitiation for the sins of God’s elect among the Jews (I Jn. 1:1; 2:7,13,18-19).

B. He is the propitiation for the sins of God’s elect among the Gentiles from many kindreds, tribes, tongues, and nations (Jn. 11:51-52; Rom. 11:11-12,15; Rev. 5:9).

“Christ was not offered as a propitiation for any who would ultimately go to Hell and be punished for their sins. If Christ died as a propitiation for the sins of every individual without exception then He appeased the wrath of God for all men, which logically leads to the acceptance of a universal salvation.” Tom Ross

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