AW Pink on 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 - I John 2.2

I just love how Arthur Pink has addressed this verse! I think he makes it so obvious. He has several solid points. Each of which validate the limited scope of the atonement in and of themselves, but this has got to be BY FAR the most convincing (I'd say compelling, but it's more than compelling) argument he raises. He does the unthinkable - he interprets Scripture with Scripture. And not only that, but he lets John interpret John. Have a look:

...

In the fourth place, when John added, "And not for ours only, but also for the whole world", he signified that Christ was the propitiation for the sins of Gentile believers too, for, as previously shown, "the world" is a term contrasted from Israel. This interpretation is unequivocally established by a careful comparison of 1 John 2:2 with John 11:51,52, which is a strictly parallel passage: "And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad". Here Caiaphas, under inspiration, made known for whom Jesus should "die". Notice now the correspondency of his prophecy with this declaration of John’s

1 John 2:2	John 11:51, 52
"He is the propitiation for our (believing Israelites) sins".	"He prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation".
"And not for ours only".	"And not for that nation only".
"But also for the whole world"— That is, Gentile believers scattered throughout the earth.	"He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad".

Is that beautiful or what! Side by side we've got the precise interpretation right there! It is not the "whole world of every single individual ever" as if Christ's blood is some sort of magic potion you just apply as needed. John himself tells us that Christ is the propitiation for not only the Jewish children of God, but for the children of God in EVERY nation!

I urge you to read the entire article. It's perfect and pithy.

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Sovereignty/appendix_04.htm

And if you like that, you'll LOVE the rest of that book -- The Sovereignty of God. It's a top read on my list.

This, for me, is the absolute end of the argument. What a comfort I take in the definite atonement our Lord has made for those who believe. It's such a surety that there is NOTHING that I can do to lose it, and on the flip side of that coin, there is nothing I can do to KEEP it. Think on that one for a second. It is solely because of the propitiation and advocation of Jesus Christ that I am accepted before a just and holy God.

Amen!