Introduction:
Turn with me in your Bible’s to 1 John 2. We are going to read the first 6 verses, but before we do, I would like to ask a question. What do you think of when you think of the word “unite”? A few things come to mind like the United States of America, now, regardless of whether we think, at this current junction, that America is united or not, the founding fathers founded a constituent of states that represented one common goal, the freedom that man deserves to have on this planet in a civilized society. Typically, we think of a group of people coming together for a common belief or following after of specific cause as a way that people are united. How about the nations uniting in their hatred of God at the end of time? Uniting can be for good or for evil. How about the church? Do you see unity in the church, both individually and corporately? We are called to be united. Remember Jesus’ words in His high priestly prayer? He says in John 17:17-23, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even and You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that they world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me”. Last week we looked deeper into the work that Christ has done for us as He has redeemed us of all our sins. This week, I want to look at how He has not only forgiven us of our sins, but He has united us with Him. As His chosen people, He has called us to follow after Him and to be united in Him. This morning I want us to see Christ, initiate this Union, He has done the work to unite us to Him, and He has assured us that we are in Him.
- He initiates this Union (v.1)
First, let’s see how this Union is initiated by Christ Himself. We are going to look at verses 1 and 3, specifically. John begins chapter 2 with telling us who these verses are intended for. He delivers these verses to ‘his little children’. We know that John is not speaking, literally, to young kids, but he is speaking to those with whom he cares much about. One commentator says that ‘little children’ “is used only figuratively in the NT, and always in the plural” and “It is a term of affection by a teacher to his disciples under circumstances requiring tender appeal” (Vines). Where did John garner this type of affection for the brethren? Chapter 1 tells us that he heard the Christ, the Son of the living God. This type of loving and patient affection could only be repeated by someone who had seen someone else do it. And he did, in Christ who has this loving and patient affection. The Holy Spirit’s desire is that no man would sin and because man sins, He places for our benefit the reality that Christ is our Advocate to the Father. In the sinful moments of our lives, when we need someone to come and take care of it, Christ does. As our Advocate, He literally, is “called to one’s aid.” And in this sense Christ is called to our aid every time we need to confess our sins. This first verse is spoken of in a judicial sense. As in God the Father being the judge, we are the defendant, and as God the Father rightly condemns us for all of the sin that we have committed before Him, it is in this moment that Christ is actively taking our place, and by conquering the cross and rising from the grave, He is fit for the task at hand. Why is Christ alone fit for this task? Look at the end of verse 1. Jesus Christ is labeled as righteous. This is not, merely, an attribute of Christ, but is interwoven into His very being as the Divine Son of God. So, what does all of this have to do with union initiation? I am glad you asked. As I alluded to in the introduction, we are told what a united body of believers looks like. Christ is the substance of this united body. Without Him, it is impossible to be united as Christians in the church. There would be no desire to be together this morning. We see this unity in verse 1 by having Christ close to us as our Advocate. Going back to the courtroom for a moment. A lawyer and his client on both sides of the aisle would, if he were doing his job well, know his client pretty well. There would be a connection there. Now, Christ’s connection with us and His knowledge of who we are, far supersede a relationship in a courtroom. Nonetheless, we gain from this idea that Christ is close to us as our Advocate. He has bore our sin, He has cleansed us, and, now He has come alongside of us (united with us), not being permissive of our sins, but lovingly teaching us and disciplining us for them, not in wrath or anger but, with the objective to grow us more in His likeness, that we would be pleasing before the Father as His chosen people.
- He is the propitiation for our sins (He has done the work to unite us with Him) v.2))
As we look at our second point, how are we pleasing before the Father? We have looked before, that it is not by our works or merits that we are pleasing. We find the answer to this question in verse 2. The answer is that Christ is the propitiation for our sins. How has He done this? Daniel Akin answers this well, “Jesus Christ, by His bloody sacrifice on the cross, satisfied God’s holiness and turned away His righteous wrath from sinners.” This is why, when we take communion, it is such a precious time for each one of us who believe. We remember the price that was paid for us so that we could be reconciled to God. What a wonderful gift!
It is important for us to pause and consider why ‘propitiation’ is important for us to consider. It is a common word that is used in Reformed circles. First, as we consider our union with Christ, the word propitiation in this sense is specifically described as a work Christ. It is of no one else. Hence, when we say that we are saved by grace alone, through faith, by Christ alone we mean that Christ’s death and resurrection is the only satisfactory work for our atonement. Turn over to Colossians 1. We are going to read verses 20-23. I want us to notice Paul’s words regarding the perfect work of Christ and the purpose of it. I think you will find this helpful. Do you see how important it is for us to have an understanding of the word ‘propitiate’? Yes, Paul does not use that word specifically in Colossians 1, but it is plain to see that that is what he is implying. Thus, it is not a foreign concept in Scripture. I have said before that people go to seminary to learn big words that they never use. Here, I would beg to differ because this big word is central to our understanding of the work that Christ has done for us. Second, the word propitiation helps us to see how the Old Testament and New Testament are speaking about the same Person. Propitiate in the Old Testament is spoken of as the word ‘Atonement’. Numbers 5 makes this connection for us. We see much of the same language in this passage. Words like redeemer, restitution, and atonement are all parallel with the word propitiation and because we see that the meaning is the same, we have confidence that the Bible does not err in what it says. It is the inspired word of God that points all men to the Godman, Jesus Christ.
The end of verse 2 has been debated as to whether it refers to literally the entire world or if it is more of a general reference. If you were to just read it off of the page, it says that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the entire world. That means everyone, but is this the case? Well, we know that that is not the case. One commentator writes, “To be faithful to the truth revealed in Scripture, the whole world must be comprehended as a generic expression that refers to humanity throughout the earth, but not necessarily to every individual. The language of Scripture is strong and clear, stating that Christ’s death actually satisfies fully and eternally the demands of God’s wrath for those who believe.” Further, John 10 tells us that this is not the case. Listen to Jesus’ words, “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.”” Acts 20:28 singles out the flock by encouraging elders to be overseers of the flock that Christ has purchased with His blood. And we looked at John 17 in the introduction which also distinguishes the people of God as a redeemed people. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us that we were once of the world and that we are no longer of it. We are a people called by God and that we “have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v.13). Thus, we see the clarity that Scripture gives us. We are united in Christ as His chosen people that are a part of His flock. This is a distinguishing mark that is bestowed to believers only.
- He assures us that we are in Him (vv.3-6)
So, how do we know that we are one with Him and of the chosen sheepfold? Verses 3-6 assure us that we are in Him, which is our final point this morning.
Look with me at verse 3. John gives to us the outer working of our abiding in Christ. “We know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” Does this mean that we must keep every commandment? We know, of course, that we cannot keep them all, hence the need to be united in Christ. However, those in John’s Day and for us as well, are given a standard of living as a Christian. May similar words come from our mouth, listen to Psalm 119:25-32, “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have recounted my ways, and You have answered Me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts, so I will muse on Your wondrous deeds. My soul weeps because of grief; raise me up according to Your word. Remove the false way from me, and graciously grant me Your law. I have chosen the faithful way; I have place Your judgments before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Yahweh, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.” May this the plea that comes from we who believe!
Coming back to verse 4, notice the repetition. This should look familiar to us as we have already seen this in chapter 1 verse 6. John repeats for us in verse 4 of chapter 2 that it is impossible for someone to say that he is of Christ and, yet, refuses to physically follow after Him. This is what the antinomians believe. They say they are in Christ yet the way they live does not matter because they are already saved. Ryan Reeves defines it well, “Antinomianism, then, is conviction-less Christianity. It sees repentance as a single event, not to be repeated.” Sadly, this belief still goes on today. Clearly, John, through the Holy Spirit, is telling us that this is not the case. The walk must match the talk.
As we see in verse 3, John gives us an indicator of someone who is united to Christ in verses 5 and 6. He says, “By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” We have seen this before, haven’t we? In chapter 1 verse 7, we see a similar passage. The same aspiration applies to verse 5 as it did in chapter 1 verse 7, that we would be marked as this type of person; one who walks in the way that Christ has walked. In fact, the very completion or perfection of the love of God in a believer is marked by keeping His word. What is found in the word? The commandments that God longs for us to adhere to. So, these commands are not burdensome, but following them in the love of God assures us that we are indeed, in Christ. This is how Christ lived in John 5, when He tells the Jews that He does “whatever the Father does in the same manner.”
Brothers, this is the assurance that Christ provides for us, that we are in Him, that we follow Him, imperfectly, yes. However, these 6 verses tell us of the desperate need that we are in. We need Christ in our lives, that we would have the strength and ability to live the Christian life. This is true for us believers, and also for those who are not believing. You are in desperate need of the work of Christ in your life. Our text this morning, has continued the pattern that John has put forth before us, that the only hope that anyone has can ONLY be found in Christ. God desires to be close to mankind, but because of the stain of sin, He cannot even stand the sight of it, for those of you who have not repented, or maybe there are some here who have said they align with Christ, yet they do not walk as He walked, God knows you heart, He knows exactly where you stand at this very moment, today is the day of salvation, turn from your sins and trust in Christ and be saved by the Savior. And for us who have believed, this belief that we have and the assurance that comes from knowing Christ is a precious gift. May we rest fully assured that Christ has done all that is needed to save us and continues to walk with us day by day until He calls us home.
Conclusion:
One of the distinguishing marks of biblical Christianity is our Union with Christ. It is a special blessing that only Christianity ascribes to. No other religion promotes the closeness with God that we have. God wants to be close to us. So, may we be people of dependency upon God, may we regularly remember the work that Christ has done on the cross for us, and may we walk as He walked in such a way that we are reminded and comforted that we abide in Christ as He abides in us as Scripture so beautifully lays out for us.
