1 John 2:2

 "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." 

- 1 John 2:2

The word propitiation in the Greek means to appease or satisfy. So, when the text says that He (Christ) is the propitiation for ours sins it means that Jesus satisfied God The Father's wrath for our trespasses when He sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world. Jesus' death for our sins was a complete and sufficient atonement for God. As a result, the Father extends His grace to all of mankind - commanding all to repent of their sins and trust in what Jesus did for them, suffering and dying in their place. When a person does this, they are forgiven of their sins and they receive the gift of eternal life. The Father pardons their sins and treats them as if they had never sinned. Amazing!

It is important that I make a critical distinction here. Just because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, does not mean that everyone goes to heaven. Jesus had to die or else all of mankind is doomed to hell in a godless eternity. Jesus' death was/is completely sufficient to save every person that will ever live. But His death is only efficient (e.g. effective) to those who believe; meaning the benefits of Christ's atonement only applies savingly to the genuine repentant sinner. Those who refuse to believe do not receive the benefits God's saving grace because they willfully reject The Father's gift of eternal life in Christ alone. They by their own sinful rebellion have reserved themselves to the wrath of God (John 3:36). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Rejection of Jesus Christ is suicide

When a person thinks they are secure in their soul despite their sin, they are deceived. That false security gives birth to defiance and arrogance which leads to a demonic narcissism. The tragic part about this is the person doesn't know that they are this way. They have made the determination that they do not need to receive the gospel and repent of their sins. They have determined for themselves that they are good. In Proverbs 14:12 we read, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." King Solomon the writer could not have said it more clearer than that. Man's way is the way to hell. 

Charles Spurgeon on 1 John 2:2

By which is meant, not only that Jesus Christ died for Gentiles as well as Jews, and for some of all nations, but that there is that in the atonement of Christ which might be sufficient for every creature under heaven if God had so chosen every creature. The limitation lies, not in the value of the atonement itself, but in the design and intention of the Eternal God. God sent His Son to lay down His life for His sheep. We know that Christ redeemed us from among men, so that the redemption is particularly and specially for the elect; yet at the same time the price offered was so precious, the blood was so infinite in value, that if every man that ever lived had to be redeemed Christ could have done it. It is this that makes us bold to preach the gospel to every creature, since we know there is no limit in the value of the atonement, though still we know that the design of it is for the chosen people of God alone.

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John, ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 1 Jn 2:2.

Matthew Henry

He is the expiatory victim, the propitiatory sacrifice that has been offered to the Judge for all our offences against his majesty, law, and government. In vain do the professors of Rome distinguish between and advocate of redemption and an advocate of intercession, or a mediator of such different service. The Mediator of intercession, the Advocate for us, is the Mediator of redemption, the propitiation for our sins. It is his propitiation that he pleads. And we might be apt to suppose that his blood had lost its value and efficacy if no mention had been made of it in heaven since the time it was shed. But now we see it is of esteem there, since it is continually represented in the intercession of the great advocate (the attorney-general) for the church of God. He ever lives to make intercession for those that come to God through him. 4. By the extent of his plea, the latitude of his propitiation. It is not confined to one nation; and not particularly to the ancient Israel of God: He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only (not only for the sins of us Jews, us that are Abraham’s seed according to the flesh), but also for those of the whole world (v. 2); not only for the past, or us present believers, but for the sins of all who shall hereafter believe on him or come to God through him. The extent and intent of the Mediator’s death reach to all tribes, nations, and countries. As he is the only, so he is the universal atonement and propitiation for all that are saved and brought home to God, and to his favor and forgiveness.

 Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 2444.

 

Psalm 109

 A Psalm For Divine Justice Against One’s Enemies

This is a Psalm of David - desiring deliverance by the God he praises from his enemies. Although David was kind and prayed for them, they treated him badly. As a result David desires the Lord destroy his wicked enemies along with their ancestry and posterity.

David pronounces numerous curses on what appears as one enemy initially. We do not know who this enemy is. I would imagine many have guessed perhaps Saul who wanted to kill David for the sake of his kingdom, or Ahithophel who was one of David’s counselors who betrayed him to pledge his allegiance to David’s son Absalom who attempted to usurp his father’s kingdom (2 Sam 16:22;17:14), or Doeg the Edomite, a servant of Saul.

Verses 1-5:

• These verses mirror what was happening to Jesus the day he was crucified; they lied and were hateful toward Him. They attacked the Lord without cause. For His kindness they accused Him (Jesus) of being a rebel.

    Verses 6-15:

• This is where David uses what scholars call imprecatory language against his enemies. To imprecate someone is to pronounce curses on them. Here are the curses David pronounces:

• Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy. Let an accuser stand at his right hand (vs 6)

• When he is tried, let him be found guilty. Let his prayer become sin (vs 7)

• May his days be few; may another take his place. This was fulfilled in Judas after he betrayed the Lord and hanged himself. This curse was not only contemporaneous, it was a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy [(vs 8), (fulfilled in Acts 1:8)]. Judas was replaced by Matthias as an apostle

• Then David pronounces woes on his enemies’ family; he desires the man dies so that his children are fatherless and his wife a widow. He also pronounces that he desires his family becomes homeless and begging on the street. David wants the creditors to seize all his possessions, and that strangers steal what he has. David desires despair on the man’s entire family (vv 9-15)

Now, why would David be so hardcore on his enemy and his families’ destruction? Verse sixteen tells us that his enemy was ruthless and blood thirsty. He showed no compassion for the poor, the needy and the brokenhearted. As a matter of fact he killed them. David also desired that any curses he pronounced on anyone that it would come back on him. His enemies never blessed anyone (vs 17).

David said that his enemies wore cursing like a cloak; that evil entered his body like water and like oil into his bones (vs 18). David said since the wicked love their evil so much, may they be afflicted with evil forever as a payment from the Lord for those that have spoken evil about him (vv 19-20). David pleads his case for deliverance. He’s tired of fighting. He’s weak from fasting, his body is mal-nourished and his enemies continue to taunt. Verse 25  was fulfilled in Christ in Matthew 27:39-40a, those who passed hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!”

     Verses 26-31:

• David cries to the only one that can save him, God Almighty. David leans on God’s love as the virtue he needs for help. He wants his enemies to know that the Lord is his deliverer. David wants the Lord to bless him whenever his enemies curse him. Again he wants his enemies put to shame so that he can give the Lord praise. In the end, David knows the Lord will vindicate him and all those who are poor and desperate that need help from God.

In case the reader is wondering why David did not seek the welfare of his enemies due to all the curses he pronounced, remember he said at the beginning of the Psalm, that he treated his enemies with kindness although they reciprocated evil against him (Matthew 5:44). Although the matter for David was personal, he did not take personal vengeance. Everything he desired to be done to his enemies was righteous and according to the Mosaic law (Exodus 20;Deuteronomy 32). David obeyed Deuteronomy 32:35 which says, “Vengeance is mine” says the Lord-”I will repay.”

What can we learn from this Psalm?

No one likes being persecuted for no reason. It's just not right. Those who harm others, stealing, taunting and even killing are a menace to society and need to be either locked up or executed - they’re incorrigible. Jesus promised us that in this world we will have trouble, but it never justifies someone being evil against another without a cause. Those who commit evil deserve to have it return to them in greater measure.

Like David we MUST not take personal vengeance against those that hate us no matter how tempting it may be. Here’s another caveat, do not rejoice when they fall either. Why? Because it would upset the Lord and the judgment He was going to render He may withdraw. Proverbs 24:17-18 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and do not set your heart on their destruction. Lest the Lord see it and it displeases Him and He (The Lord) turn away His wrath from him (your enemy).

There is tremendous wisdom packed in these two verses. 1) Although the wicked deserve punishment by God, we have to make sure we do not gloat in their destruction. If we do, the Lord may decide to spare your enemies’ judgment. Think about the burn that would be to the one that had to endure ongoing persecution from this malevolent person(s) if God spared your enemies because we gloated in their demise! 2) This shows the love of God even for the most despicable people. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked although they deserve to die (Ezekiel 18:32;33:11). Those that die in their sins will immediately wake up in hell.

Proverbs 28:17 says, “Anyone tormented with the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold him back.” Proverbs 19:19 says, “A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again” (ESV). In other words let the deeds of the murderous wicked haunt him until it kills him; do not help him! This is justice; life for life.