This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of Tory Giddens’ exposition of 1 John 1:5-2:6 given on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
Those remaining in fellowship with one another find themselves standing in the dust of egregious heresy, a heresy so egregious that it has resulted in a group of secessionists who have gone out from them. Evidently, those remaining have suffered a loss of confidence that they are the ones who remain in the truth and have fellowship with God. This loss of confidence is apparent given the amount of energy John utilizes throughout the letter to convince them and encourage them that it is indeed they who remain in the truth, as opposed to the “antichrists”, the heretics (2:17-27; 4:16; 5:14, 19). It is in this context that some of John’s seemingly extreme statements are to be understood.
The series of if/then statements from verses 1:6-10 highlight the error of those who have left the fellowship. John’s contention is that they were never a part of the fellowship and that they have proved so because they walked in darkness (1:6) and claimed they were not guilty of sin (1:8). At the same time, he seeks to encourage those who remain that they are walking in the light (1:7) and are confessing their sins (1:9) and therefore are the beneficiaries of God’s righteousness and faithfulness in cleansing them from all unrighteousness (1:9). The purpose here seems twofold. One, they are to be encouraged that they are the ones who remain in fellowship with God as opposed to the secessionists. And two, they are to continue walking in the light, striving for greater obedience and strengthening their theology of God’s provision of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for their sin (2:2).
As a propitiation for their sin, God’s wrath has been satisfied on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice. This is apparent given that John employs the word “propitiation” within the context of speaking of Jesus’ presence before the father as an advocate for them. This is to be favored over and above rendering the original greek as “expiation,” the idea that Jesus is purging the sin from the individual and has thus is satisfying the wrath of God as their deeds have become righteous.
They are to have confidence because Jesus stands before the father as their advocate and is himself a propitiation for their sin. The proof of this reality, according to John, is that they walk in the light as God is in the light. As the original readers take all of this into account they are to be encouraged that their fellowship with God remains and should be spurred on to greater obedience and a greater understanding of the Father’s provision for them in Jesus Christ.