The Propitiation for Our Sins
Weekly Devotional #002
Scripture
“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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” — 1 John 2:1-6
Puritan Devotional
“Christ stands as our advocate alone before God’s bar and pleads before the Father. Whatever can rightly be charged upon us, he accepts the whole charge upon himself, acknowledging the crimes to be his own. And this, he must do. If he hides the sin, or lessens it, he is faulty; if he leaves it still upon us, we die. He must then take our iniquity to himself, make it his own, and so deliver us. Having thus taken the sin upon himself, as lawfully he may and lovingly he does—’for we are members of his body’ (it’s his hand, his foot, his ear that has sinned)—it follows that we live if he lives; and who can desire more? What comfort is this in a day of trouble and distress for sin!” — John Bunyan, Works
Musings
Oh that rugged cross, my salvation. My sin so deep and dark cast out by Christ’s willing sacrifice. How could a measly worm such as I ever live up to the calling? How can I ever pray enough, serve enough, obey enough? The truth is I can’t. There’s nothing I can do to earn my salvation. How can any possible work be added to Christ’s once for all sacrifice? If I could contribute a single hair on my head to my salvation, the cross would be null and void. There would be no point for Christ to go to the cross and die, rise, and ascend to the right hand of God, and be our ultimate advocate with the Father. As we embark on the following week, take heart. When times get hard, work gets stressful, or life throws a curve ball, it’s easy to fall into sin, distress, and woe. When we repent and seek after God, our advocate perfects our imperfect prayers, so we can rest assured, knowing that apart from God we would never repent. We would never seek after him. Rest assured, and be assured of your salvation today, Christian friend.
Prayer
“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent—create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain from you, the God of mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
— Book of Common Prayer (1552)