Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 2
1 JOHN 2.2:
And he is the propitiation for our ſins, and not for ours only, but alſo for the ſins of the whole World.
IN theſe words we have Chriſt deſcribed by his function external, 1. Advocate, 2. Propitiation for our ſin; and ſecondly by his inward qualification, righteous; Jeſus Chriſt the righteous.
We have done with his office of Advocation, we come now to the ſecond, He is the propitiation for our ſins, and not ours only, but the ſins of the whole World.
Doct. Jeſus Chriſt is the propitiation for the ſins not only of beleeving Jewes, but likewiſe of beleeving Chriſtians all the World over.
He is the Reconciliation as ſome tranſlations render it, but that expreſſeth not the full meaning, we muſt know therefore that Propitiation foreign includes Three things.
1 That he ſhould expiate our ſins, that is, make ſatisfaction for our Sins, a man may be a means of Reconciliation without ſatisfaction, but he cannot be Propitiation without offering ſatisfaction for the wrong done; now Chriſt did make ſatisfaction for our ſins, Heb. 2.17. and to make ſatisfaction, he did offer a ſatisfactory ſacrifice for our ſins, 1 Pet. 2.24. he bearing the ſin and puniſhment due thereunto, it is as much as if we had done it.
2 To be a Propitiation it is required, that he make peace and reconciliation, for though a man ſometimes recompence and ſatisfie a wrong, yet the Party wronged will not be at peace with him, and reconciled to him, but Chriſt hath taken upon him to reconcile God to us, ſo as that his wrath is turned from us, and favour reſtored to us, Col. 1.21. now this reconciling implies Three things.
1 That ſometimes we were friends with God.
2 That we fell out with God.
3 Being fallen out, we are reconciled again, and made at peace with him; Now this is procured by Chriſt, whereas we were once friends with God in Paradiſe and fell from him and his favour, Chriſt hath come and made up that breach, and reconciled us again.
Thirdly, When Chriſt is ſaid to be a Propitiation for our ſins, it implies, that he hath procured the manifeſtation of Gods favour to us, for ſuppoſe a Friend make ſatisfaction for another, and reconcilement with another with whom he is fallen out, yet if he know it not, his heart is as looſe as ever, but Chriſt hath not only procured us Gods favour, but he tells us, his Father is reconciled with us, and at peace with us, Job. 33.23. and 26. there is the effect of Chriſts propitiation, that we ſhall ſee Gods face with joy, we ſhall pray to him with comfort, Joh. 14.21. He that loveth me ſhall be loved of my Father, &c. which ſhews, that he will bring rhem together, and there ſhall be a mutuall expreſſion of love to one another, and ref…ſhment in one another, God ſhall take comfort in us, and we in him, Rev. 3.20. for that Chriſt goes further in this caſe than any man can.
Abſolom had offended his Father, in ſlaying his brother Ammon, well, he flyes away from his Fathers Court, Joab procures a Reconcilement, but yet he could not ſatisfie for the blood he had ſhed; he procured indeed ſo much that he was ſent for home by the King but yet ſaith the King, Let him returne to his own houſe, he ſhall not ſee my face, 2 Sam. 14.24. Joab could not ſatisfie for his blood, and the King would not ſee his face, ſo there wanted ſatisfaction and manifeſtation of the Kings favour; well, afterwards manifeſtation was procured, but yet there wanted Propitiation, becauſe ſatisfaction could not be made; but Chriſt hath not only procured favour, but ſatisfaction, and hath declared his favour towards us. Now further, Chriſt hath done this, not only for the believing Jewes, but all Chriſtians all the World over, for to whom doth he ſpeake here? why to little Children, and what were they? why they were Jewes, as appears, verſ. 7. who from the firſt giving of the Law were commanded to love one another; now beſides theſe weak Jewes, the Apoſtle ſaith, He is our propitiation, including the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and not only ſo, but for the ſins of the whole World. Now the World is diverſly taken in Scripture;
1 World is ſometimes put for the frame of Nature, as Act. 17.24.
2 It is ſometimes taken for the pleaſure and profits of the World, as 1 Joh. 2.16.
3 It is ſometimes put for the wicked of the World, Joh. 15.19.
4 It is ſometimes taken for the Gentiles in oppoſition to the Jewes, Rom. 11.12.
5 It is ſometimes taken for the Believers of the World, 2 Cor. 5.19. though it may have further extent, but here it is taken in oppoſition to Chriſtian Jewes, he is not only a propitiation for the Jewes, but alſo for the believing Gentiles.
But further, Chriſt is not only a Propitiation for his children, but for the whole World, that is, the whole body of the Creation, for as by Adams fall the whole World was curſed, Chriſt by his death renewed the bleſſing to the World again. the whole body of the Creation, Rom. 8.20. therefore it is ſaid, the whole body of the Creation waites for the liberty which the Sons of God have. A type of this we have in Noah, Gen. 8.20, 21. Noah being a Type of Chriſt, and making attonement for the World by Sacrifice, God ſmelt a ſweet favour, and doth promiſe that he would no more curſe the earth for mans ſake, and that which was done by Type in him, is perfectly procured by Chriſt, all the creatures are encouraged to rejoyce in his Redemption, becauſe they are Redeemed in him, Iſa. 44.23. All the creatures are become the ſervants of Chriſt, ſubject to the dominion of Chriſt, he hath bought them all, Rom. 14.9. Chriſt is now Lord of all, he hath bought not only us, but our Ground, and Cattle, and Houſes, and our Children, and he hath ſo purchaſed it, that the world ſhall be a bleſſing to the Church, the Tumults, and Agitations, and Diſorders, ſhall be for the good of his people.
Queſt. Whether hath Chriſt made any propitiation for the wicked? for Reprobates? how elſe for all the World?
Anſ. You muſt diſtinguiſh between ſuch and the reſt of the World, in this they all agree, that Chriſt is Lord over all, wicked and good, he hath bought all, 2 Pet. 2.5. ſo that they are vaſſalls to be ruled by Chriſts Dominion, he hath bought them for the Churches ſervice to doe them good.
2 I ſay that Chriſt hath laid down a ſufficient price for all, and thus much he hath procured Gods patience to forbeare them, and his bounty to lead them to Repentance, Rom. 2.45. yea he hath procured for them, not only gifts fitting them for Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, and the common Gifts and Graces of his Spirit, but many ſanctifying Gifts, ſee Heb. 10.29.
Queſt. Is Chri… then a propitiation for them?
Anſ. To make… propitiation is required, not only that ſuch a ſatisfaction and reconciliation be propounded, but that they lay hold on it, as the ſacrifices in the old Law, who are they that had an attonement made by the ſacrifice they offered? only thoſe that laid their hands on the head of the ſacrifice, Lev. 1.4. ſo then this is nothing for the propitiation of the Wicked, they do not lay hold on the head of Chriſt, they doe not take hold on him as an Advocate and propitiation; therefore they are left inexcuſable. This point is likewiſe handled by Paul, Rom. 3.25. 2 Cor. 5.19. the whole world was out with God, he purchaſed ſomething for all.
Ʋſe 2. It ſhews that it is a wicked opinion of the Papiſts that ſay, the bread in the Sacrament is a propitiatory ſacrifice for the ſins of the World, as they wrong Chriſt in his Advocation, ſo alſo in his propitiation, Heb. 10.10. if there had been need of another propitiation, his had been inſufficient, but they aſcribe this to the ſacramentall bread, to purgatory, and they ſay afflictions are ſatisfactions for our ſins, and their own voluntary devotions are ſatisfactory, as whippings, and pilgrimages, and faſtings, why if Chriſt be the propitiation, there needs no more but him.
So alſo they wrong him, in adding other Advocates, as Angels, and Saints, eſpecially the Virgin Mary.
Object. You will ſay you allow one friend to pray for another here on Earth, and to intreat God for him, and may not Saints in heaven pray for us, as well as Saints on Earth?
Anſ. 1. We have both commands and examples for the one, Jam. 5. and Paul often deſires the prayers of the church, but we have none for the other.
2 We deſire none but ſuch as know our caſes to pray for us, but it is uncertaine whether the Angells, or Saints in Heaven knows us or our wants; it is cartain they know not our thoughts.
3 And when we deſire other men here on Earth to pray for us, we doe not make them Advocates as they do Angels and Saints.
1 We do not deſire them to pray in their own merits and name, as they doe the Angels and Saints in Heaven.
2 They pray to the Virgin Mary for graces, miſerere peecati, &c. and command thy Son to grant ſuch and ſuch things, ſo they ask ſpirituall gifts of the Saints, which is peculiar to God.
3 They doe herein aſcribe to them certain proper works, make them Patrons of ſeverall Countryes, and part among them ſeverall offices, they pray to one for healing of one diſeaſe, and to another for another.
Ʋſe 2 If Chriſt be our reconciliation, then it ſhews us what we are without Chriſt, enemies to God, and ſuch enemies, then if all the Angells and Saints in heaven ſhould put in for us, they could not make propitiation for us, it is only Chriſts Prerogative, Col. 1.21. Rom. 5.20. Epheſ. 2.3. we are enemies and ſtrangers to God, and all our imaginations of our hearts wholly evill continually, we are ready to delude our ſelves, I hope I am not ſo farre out with God, I am not an enemy, but we are all ſo by nature.
Ʋſe 3. It ſhould teach us, when we doe find and feele that we are ſinners, to conſider of Chriſts Reconciliation, and Propitiation.
Q. I doe believe that Chriſt hath made an Attonement for ſinners, and reconciled all Beleevers, but how ſhall I know that I am of that number or no?
Anſ. 1. Hath Chriſt ever brought you to ſee Gods face with comfort? if you have at any time beheld Gods face with joy and comfort, know that this could not be, unleſſe Chriſt had been a Propitiation for you.
Obj. I, but that comfort is all gone again?
Anſ. No man that is brought into the Kings preſence ſtands alwayes before him, but there is a time for the King to ſequeſter himſelfe from him, ſo there is no Chriſtian that ſtands alwayes in the preſence of Gods face, it is enough if thou haſt been brought to kiſs Gods hand, and taſte of his favour.
Obj. But I have never felt any comfort or joy in Prayer, and other Ordinances?
Anſ. 1. I would ask you, Are you fallen out with your ſins? if you be, you love God, and are beloved of him, Pſal. 97.10.
2 Doe you finde that you love God much, for you have been a great ſinner, and yet God hath had mercy on you, if ſo, it is a ſign much is forgiven you.
3 Do you finde your hearts compaſſionate over other mens ſins? it is a ſign yours are forgiven, Matth. 17.23. to. 33. Eph. 4. ult.
Ʋſe 4. If we find that we are enemies to God, and our peace is not made with him, it is our wiſdome to pacifie God, doe as Adoniah did when he had offended King Solomon, he ran and tooke hold of the hornes of the Altar, 1 King. 1.15. ſo we ſhould run and lay hold on Chriſt, as he that had any benefit by a Sacrifice, was to lay his hands on his head, ſo, would you have any benefit by Chriſt? lay hold on him, confeſſe your ſins over him, intreat him to make your peace with God.
Q. But how ſhall I know whether I lay hold on Chriſt?
A. 1. No man layes hold on Chriſt, but he takes him for better, for worſe, he takes him to be a Ruler, as well as a Saviour, you muſt give up your ſelves to be guided by his will, as well as to receive any benefit by him.
2 If you finde your hearts wholly reſting on Chriſt, and none but him, if this be the frame of your heart, that there is none in Heaven or Earth that you deſire in compariſon of him, Pſal. 73.25. then you have laid hold upon him.
Ʋſe 5. For Chriſtians that have their ſins pardoned, and are in Chriſt, though it be thus with you, yet you are not to think that you have no need of Chriſt, for were you as St. John, and the Apoſtles Pillars, yet you have need of an Advocate, and Propitiation ſtill, for in many things you ſin daily, and fall out with God, ſo that if God ſhould fall out with us as often as we with him, we ſhould never have peace, therefore ſtill goe to Chriſt, intreat him to be your Attonement from day to day, Chriſt is not only a Peace-maker, but a Peace-keeper; we daily offend God, or others, or our ſelves, and therefore ſtand daily in need of Chriſts mediation.
We have much need of Chriſts Spirit to helpe us in our prayers.
Ʋſe 6. Of conſolation to every Chriſtian ſoul, to conſider in the midſt of our ſins, that we have Chriſt for our propitiation, to keep our peace with God, there is not a day paſſeth over our heads wherein we fall not out with God, and if Chriſt ſhould not put in, what would become of us? but here is the comfort, Chriſt is our propitiation, and therefore it is certaine and ſure that he is more able to keep our peace than we are to breake it; and beſides, he hath taken it upon him, he hath made it his Office to be an Attonement between God and us; and here is alſo further comfort, that he hath not only been a means of reconciliation, but he hath manifeſted it unto us, he hath brought us to ſee Gods face with comfort.
But this is not all, but here is matter of further comfort, in that he being made a propitiation for the whole world, the whole World ſhall be at peace with us, there is a reconciliation betwixt me and all the Creatures, I have comfort from every bleſſing, from Chriſts Propitiation, Job 5.19. and 23. ſo that whatſoever a Chriſtian meets with, whether good deeds or bad, perſecution, &c. why this is his comfort, that the whole world ſhall be for his good, though I meet with croſſes and afflictions it ſhall be for my good, from this ground, that Chriſt is a propitiation for the whole world.
Ʋſe 7. Seeing God hath made ſo large an Attonement for all, let us draw one another to take heed of ſin, to run to Chriſt, make uſe of Chriſts Attonement, and take he…d of ſin; this uſe old Eli made, 1 Sam. 2.25. If one man ſin againſt another, t… Judge ſhall judge it, but if a man ſin againſt the Lord, who ſhall plead for him? If you fall out with God, and walke in ſin, who ſhall make your peace with him; that is a work no friend you have can doe, no meanes you can procure can make up that breach, none but Chriſt, and you muſt not preſume upon Chriſts mediation, he will not be a baud to any ones ſin that is a ſign of Reprobation to turn Gods grace into wantonneſſe, Jude 4. and take heed we doe not offend Chriſt; it is notable counſell God gives to Moſes to deliver to the people, Exod. 23.20, 21.22. Behold I ſend an Angel before thee (that is, Chriſt, the Angell of the Covenant) beware of him, provoke him not, he will not ſpare your miſdeeds, for my name is in him; if you doe willingly ſin againſt him he will not pardon you, therefore encourage all the friends you have to make uſe of Chriſts Reconciliation, he is a propitiation for little children, verſ. 1. for young men, for old men, in the following verſes, for all that are willing to lay hold on him, this uſe Paul makes, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20, 21. this is the chiefe point of the Goſpel, that God hath made Chriſt a propitiation for ſin, therefore we beſeech you to make uſe of it, take not Chriſts blood in vain, beware to offend his grace and mercy, and labour to bring on all to Chriſt, ſince the propitiation is ſo generall, ſeeing there is ſuch a Fountaine ſet open, let us draw at it for our ſelves, and for our children, let us teach our children that Chriſt is made a propitiation for their ſins.
We have heard Chriſt deſcribed from his externall Offices.
1 He is an Advocate.
2 A Propitiation.
We come now to his internal vertue, or qualification; Jeſus Chriſt the righteous.
Doct. Jeſus Chriſt is the righteous Lord, or, Jeſus Chriſt, either in his Office of an Advocate, or Reconciler, is Jeſus Chriſt the righteous.
The Scripture much teſtifies this, Heb. 4.15. 1 Pet. 3.8. 1 Pet. 2.22. and Pilate that condemned him gave him this teſtimony, I am innocent from the blood of this juſt man, Mat. 27.24. yea from his birth he had this teſtimony, that holy thing, Luke 1.33. in oppoſition to all others, who are ſinners from the very Wombe, he was holy in his Birth, in his Life, in his Death, 2 Cor. 5. ult. He knew no ſin; that is, he had experience of none, but the Father made him ſinfull by imputation, that we might be juſt by imputation.
It was meet that he ſhould be righteous without ſin; 1. That he might be our Reconciler. 2 That he might be our Advocate, if he had had any ſin, he could have been neither of theſe.
1 For the firſt, had he been ſinful himſelf, he could not have made attonement for ſin, it was required that all the Sacrifices ſhould be without blemiſh, Lev. 3. and 10 elſe it had not been accepted, as the Lord tells them, Mal. 1.8. all things defiled with ſin are abominable to God, Heb. 7.25, 26. unleſſe ſome attonement be made, now had he been ſinfull, he had ſtood in need of Sacrifice for himſelf, and could not have been an attonnment for our ſins, 2 Cor. 5. ult. he that knew no ſin, was imputed a ſinner for us, that we might be imputed righteous for his ſake.
2 It was meet that he ſhould be righteous, that he might be our Advocate, God hears not ſinners, Joh. 9.31. the blind man was not ſo blind, but he could ſay ſo much, but God hears Chriſt alwaies, and we ſhould have ſuch an Advocate, as ſhould continually prevail with God, look at all the parts of his advocation for us, and it is meet that he ſhould be righteous.
1 He appears for us in the ſight of God; and had he been a ſinner, his perſon would have been odious in Gods ſight.
2 He Advocates by pleading the merits of his own death, now how could it have been meritorious, had he dyed as a malefactor.
3 He gives us his name and his Spirit to uſe in our Prayers, now to uſe his name had been of no effect, if he had been a ſinner.
4 He prayes for us, makes known his will to his Father concerning us, but this would do no good, had he been a ſinner.
3 It is meet he ſhould be righteous, that he might be our juſtifier, our juſtification is by his obedience, his righteouſneſſe is imputed to us, now his righteouſneſſe could not have been imputed to us, had it been imperfect, 1 Cor. 2.3.
Ʋſe 1 It is a ground of much conſolation to ſuch as lay hold on Chriſt, and have him for their Advocate and Reconciler, for he is one that is juſt and righteous, and therefore fit to prevail for us, what hinders the joy of a Chriſtian?
Object. 1 I much doubt the pardon of my ſins, if I could be ſure of that, I ſhould be joyfull.
Anſ. You have ſuch a Reconciles as is Juſt and Righteous, and therefore will procure pardon for you.
Object. 2 But I am ſtill unjuſt and unrighteous.
Anſ. But your Reconciler is Juſt and Righteous, and it is not required that the reconciled ſhould be righteous, but he that reconciles us, it is meet that he be righteous.
Object. 3 I cannot pray, my prayers are heartleſſe and faithleſſe, &c.
Anſ. Well, but we have an advocate that is holy and juſt, and that prayes and intercedes for us, and we ſhall find the benefit of his Righteouſneſſe, though we fall daily into much unrighteouſneſſe, yet Jeſus Chriſt our Mediator is righteous.
Ʋſe 2 To teach us to be Righteous, as he is Righteous, God would have us conformable to the image of his Son, Rom. 8.29. and that conſiſts in Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe, God would have us ſo to walk, that our Sir-name may be Juſtus, Righteous towards God, to give him his due, Righteous to others, to give them their due, and Righteous to our ſelves.
To be called Chriſtians, and yet not to be righteous, is to be called Chriſtians, and yet to be no Chriſtians. Why are we called Chriſtians, but becauſe we are anoynted with the Unction of Chriſt? If a man profeſſe himſelf to be a Chriſtian, and is not Righteous, he is not a Chriſtian, for he hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, and therefore is none of Chriſts; not but that we may fail, but it is required that the ſtream and bent of our hearts and wayes be to walk Righteouſly; we aim at Righteouſneſſe, though ſometimes we miſſe the mark.
Ʋſe 3 May quiet us, if we fear evil in well doing, why? Becauſe Chriſt was moſt Righteous, yet he ſuffered much unrighteous dealing in a Righteous cauſe, we think we have much wrong, if for righteous dealing we meet with unrighteous dealing, if in innocency we meet with croſſes and Fire and Faggot, we cry out, O tempora, O mores, but it was the caſe of Chriſt, and therefore we muſt not think it ſtrange to ſuffer ill for well-doing, not only to be reviled, but to looſe our goods and our lives, if we ſhould meet with them, it is no more than Chriſt ſuffered, it was the ground of Atheiſts in old time, if they did ſee Bona maelis, & maela bonis evenire, why is there a God that doth govern the earth? But we muſt conſider God is patient as well as juſt, and therefore many times forbears puniſhment.