The Heart of the Gospel - Propitiation

Knowing God The Heart of the Gospel - 1 John 2:1-6 November 2, 2025 Pastor and writer Josh McDowell tells of a story of a young woman who gets pulled over for speeding. She gets the ticket, goes to the courthouse, and has to offer a plea before the judge. She pleads guilty, and she was sentenced to pay a fine. The judge makes the ruling, then does something very odd - he stands up, takes off his robe, stands beside this young lady, and pays the fine. Everyone present in the courtroom was stunned at this unexpected turn of events. It turns out, the judge was her father, and as a fair and good judge, he had no choice but to sentence her according to the law both in the judgement and in the consequence. So, while he did what the law required, he took on the judgement upon himself because of his love for his daughter. That, my friends, is a simplified explanation of our text today. More specific, a simplified illustration of the message of the Gospel. Guess what? Just like the young lady in the story, you are guilty, and I am guilty. But God, just like the judge in the story, has an answer to that guilt. Let's see what John reveals to us in 1 John 2:1-6: 1 MY LITTLE CHILDREN, I AM WRITING THESE THINGS TO YOU SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN. BUT IF ANYONE DOES SIN, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS. 2 HE IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS, AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. 3 AND BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 4 WHOEVER SAYS "I KNOW HIM" BUT DOES NOT KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM, 5 BUT WHOEVER KEEPS HIS WORD, IN HIM TRULY THE LOVE OF GOD IS PERFECTED. BY THIS WE MAY KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM: 6 WHOEVER SAYS HE ABIDES IN HIM OUGHT TO WALK IN THE SAME WAY IN WHICH HE WALKED. There is a long packed in to these 6 verses, so I want to dive right in with our main idea that is clearly revealed to us in this passage. Here it is: Propitiation is the heart of the Gospel. I think it is necessary to explore further, particularly verse 2 where John proclaims that Jesus is the PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS. Let's begin by answering ... THREE QUESTIONS: * What is propitiation? o Seemingly, some of the New Testament writers used some familiar language from pagan writings. In these writings, the idea of propitiation refers "to the appeasing of an angry god, usually by a sacrifice or offering." o The application here, means that God Himself "took the initiative to satisfy His own wrath so that His love may now be shown to the guilty sinner." o I have to say, I really like the way Pastor Pat put it on Monday morning: Propitiation is bridge between God's love and God's wrath. o Jesus is the One who bore the wrath of God against sin. o This really is what Paul is talking about in Romans 3, beginning in verse 21, where he says: 21 BUT NOW THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD HAS BEEN MANIFESTED APART FROM THE LAW, ALTHOUGH THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS BEAR WITNESS TO IT- 22 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE. FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION: 23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, 24 AND ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE AS A GIFT, THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS, 25 WHOM GOD PUT FORWARD AS A PROPITIATION BY HIS BLOOD, TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH. THIS WAS TO SHOW GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS DIVINE FORBEARANCE HE HAD PASSED OVER FORMER SINS. 26 IT WAS TO SHOW HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE PRESENT TIME, SO THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS. o Later, Paul reminds us of the penalty of sin - the wage, what we "earn" - when he said: FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. (Romans 6:23) o Jesus, as the propitiation for our sins, John says, is also the propitiation for the whole world's sins. o Let's explore that idea with our next question: * What does "the whole world" mean? o How many of you have heard of "universalism?" o What does universalism tell us? o Now, what does Scripture tell us? o Universalism says that all people will go to heaven. o Scripture tells us - even right here in this passage - that some are saved and others are not. o Let's take a look at Jesus' own words, beginning with John 3:16: 16 "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 17 FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM. 18 WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY SON OF GOD. o Notice how I took you through verse 18, a little lesser-known verse ... why? Because it clearly reveals that not everyone will believe, however, everyone is able to believe. Faith is available for all. o When the Bible speaks of the "whole world," it simply means that because the penalty of sin is for all people, the wrath of God has been satisfied for all people, through Jesus Christ, however, only those who have been forgiven of that sin through faith in Jesus will be saved from that wrath. o Finally, the sermon title and our main idea (based on the Packer book) says that propitiation is the heart of the Gospel. o So, the question must be ... * Why is propitiation the "heart" of the Gospel? o To answer this, I think it is best to go back to chapter one of this same epistle. o Immediately proceeding our passage today, John writes these words, beginning with 1 John 1:5: 5 THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND PROCLAIM TO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 6 IF WE SAY WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM WHILE WE WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT PRACTICE THE TRUTH. 7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. 8 IF WE SAY 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 WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US. o One of the key words here is "FELLOWSHIP," which was first introduced in 1 John 1:3. o Meaning that there is a direct correlation between our relationship with Jesus allowing us to have fellowship with God. o When we talk about sin, or more broadly, the concept of hell, we are speaking of separation from God. o The prophets consistently spoke of this very thing. Here are a couple of examples: * Isaiah 59:2 says: BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE MADE A SEPARATION BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU SO THAT HE DOES NOT HEAR. * Jeremiah 5:25 says: YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE TURNED THESE AWAY, AND YOUR SINS HAVE KEPT GOOD FROM YOU. o So, John opens his epistle to this group of believers who have been changed by the Lord Jesus, and therefore no longer walking in darkness, and now walking in the light, in fellowship with the Father, by reminding them that Jesus allows them to be in His presence through the forgiveness of sin. o So, he now, in chapter 2 - in our text - reminds us that, because that you are walking in light, you no longer obligated - in your flesh - to sin. Why? * Because Jesus is your propitiation. * By grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. o Without Jesus being the satisfaction of God's wrath, man cannot have fellowship with God. o That is why it is the heart of the Gospel. * Man and God completely separated by sin, reunited in fellowship because of God's act of love in sending His Son Jesus to take on the punishment that you and I deserve. o John provides us in the rest of this passage the way that shows our salvation. o Or, to say it another way, to show our changed hearts. o So, as we grow in our relationship with God, we must align our hearts with Him. o So, as we close this morning, let's discuss ... ALIGNING MY HEART WITH HIS I'll share with you three ways that John reveals to us in this passage. First, * Do not sin! (v.1) o I started reading a book last week from John MacArthur based on Romans 8. o In the opening verses of Romans 8, Paul is talking about walking in the Spirit versus walking in the flesh. o So, MacArthur points out that the reason the believer walks in the Spirit is because his new heart and mind are no longer "centered on the things of the flesh and ruled by sin." o The idea that John (and Paul agrees) is speaking about in this passage is that in Christ, we no longer have to sin, and that God doesn't want us to sin. * John adds clarity to this later in chapter 3, verses 9-10 when he says this: 9 NO ONE BORN OF GOD MAKES A PRACTICE OF SINNING, FOR GOD'S SEED ABIDES IN HIM; AND HE CANNOT KEEP ON SINNING, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD. 10 BY THIS IT IS EVIDENT WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: WHOEVER DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NOR IS THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER. o So, the idea is not that we become sinless, but as Christians, we should no longer "make a practice of sinning." o Or, as MacArthur puts it: "if a professing Christian habitually lives in sin and shows no concern for repentance, forgiveness, worship, or fellowship with other believers, he proves that he claims the name of Christ in vain." o But John makes clear, that when we do sin, God gives us an Advocate. o This leads us to the next way to align our hearts with His, namely, I must ... * Rely on the Advocate (vv.1-2) o The word used for advocate here that describes Jesus is the same word Jesus uses to tell His disciples about the Holy Spirit in John 14:16, and verse 26. o What does the Advocate do? o An advocate offers support, strength, and counsel and intercede[s] for us when necessary. o In the context of a courtroom, the advocate would be the lawyer, representing you and defending you. o So, Jesus, as the Advocate, stands before the Judge (God), and declares you righteous, and pays your debt, not because what you have done, but because He is the propitiation for you. o So, relying on the Advocate means that we are reliant on God alone for our salvation. o As such, when we respond, we can further align ourselves with God through our ... * Walk with Jesus (vv.3-6) o This whole section speaks to obedience. o Doing the Word as James put it. o This is directly associated with chapter 1, verse 7 and John's idea of walking in the light. That's obedience, because there is no darkness in Christ. o When we walk in the light, we are no longer interested in the darkness, which motivates us to obedience. o Wiersbe pointed out that, "There are three motives for obedience. We can obey because we have to, because we need to, or because we want to." The Christian obeys because he wants to. o John - simply put - is saying that a true Christian is walking with Jesus. o The writer of Hebrews reminded us that because Jesus lived the same life that we have, and was tempted, just like you and me, He is the example in which we must follow. o One pastor made a comment about the well-known WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) movement, stating that it should be supplemented with HDJD, "How Did Jesus Do it?" o I couldn't agree more. o Where we search for our morality is going to determine your walk. Earlier, we said it this way, that, propitiation is the heart of the Gospel. A Holy and Perfect God loves us so much, that He doesn't want us to face His wrath, so He built a bridge, allowing each and every person to be reconciled to Him, through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price, so that we can live free. Are you living free? Let's pray. 2