and he himself [Jesus Christ the Righteous One] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:2 NET
Leviticus 16 contains instructions for observing the Day of Atonement, an annual sacrifice that dealt with sin. The high priest would sacrifice a bull for his sins and a goat for the sins of the people. He would then take some of the blood of those sacrifices into the Most Holy Place and sprinkle it on the Atonement Cover. In summarizing the activities on the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:30 says, “For on this day atonement is to be made for you to cleanse you from all your sins.”
John tells us here that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. What the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement looked forward to, Jesus accomplished on the cross. He cleansed us from our sins.
Exactly how Jesus’ sacrifice atones for our sins is debated. Does his sacrifice expiate (or cover) our sins? Or does it propitiate (or placate) God’s wrath? Most argue for the latter meaning. But what is important is that our sins were dealt with at the cross.
The Scope of the Atonement
A more significant issue here is the scope of Jesus’ atonement. John tells us that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sins, referring to the Christian community. But John then says that Jesus’ sacrifice was for the whole world.
This raises a question. If Jesus’ sacrifice applies to the sins of the whole world, will everyone be saved? John clearly refutes that. We do not have to read this letter very far to see John dividing people between those who obey God and those who do not (1 John 2:3-5). Between those who walk as Jesus did and those who do not (1 John 2:6).
While Jesus’ sacrifice provided atonement for all people, it only applies to those who come to Jesus in faith and walk with him in obedience to God’s commands. It is available to all people. But it is only applied to those who receive it by faith.
