1 John 2:1-2 contain a parenthetical comment that enables us to understand why, as 1 John 1:5-10 tells us, God is faithful and just to forgive us of, or send away, these acts of sin as issues between us and a loving Father. These Bible verses show us the characteristics of God the Father, His attitude and perspective. Unfortunately, a chapter division occurs here, giving the impression that verse 2:1 introduces a new subject. Rather than introducing a new subject, these verses explain what makes Christianity unique when talking about God and His incredibly generous forgiveness in verses 1-10. Remember the verses follow 1 John 1:5-10:
My children, these things I am writing to you in order that you should not sin, and if anyone might sin, we have a helper personally facing the Father. And He Himself is a satisfaction for our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also for all the world. (1 John 2:1-2)
Remember something about sin: sin is a weak, vicious, nasty choice. So when we have made a weak, vicious, nasty choice, we have a helper through the characteristics of God the Father. If we pretend that our sins are not weak, vicious and nasty, we won’t qualify for help, because we’re minimizing what we have done. “Harmless little sins” don’t need any help. If we admit that we have weak, vicious, and nasty sins that harm other people and ourselves, and if we ask God, “God, restore my conscience,” then we have a helper, Jesus Christ the righteous, our paraclete, or “helper” who faces the Father. Notice what we’re told about Christ:
And He Himself is the propitiation, or satisfaction, concerning our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the entire world. (1 John 2:2)
“Propitiation” is the Old Testament word for “satisfaction” or “pleasure.” The term is used for the place of propitiation on the Ark of the Covenant, the lid of the ark that was made of gold. That lid, where the blood was sprinkled, represented the Lord Jesus Christ. The blood-covered slab of gold was the place of satisfaction. The whole purpose of that place was to make God the Father satisfied concerning sin.
What makes Christianity unique is if we say the word “sin” to God, He’ll say, “satisfaction.” We say, “How can you be satisfied?” He says, “My Son died for that particular sin. I’m satisfied, are you?” His Son is the satisfaction.
The issue of sin has been settled.
