1 John 2:2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Jesus Christ appeased the wrath of God in regards to our sin. He brought peace between God and man. No longer is sin an obstacle – being removed once and for all by the love sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for all sin.
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Never again will anyone be punished for sin – however, though the penalty has been paid for all – only believers have their sins blotted out by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them by faith.
John 8:24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Unless you believe that Jesus is of God, one with God, that He is the one true God - you will die in your sins.
John 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
John 16:27
for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
John 16:30
Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
A common theme in the Book of John – man must believe in Jesus Christ, that He has come forth from God, that He is God.
Those who never believe in Jesus Christ will die without their name being written in the Book of Life. Those who never believe in Jesus Christ will be left unrighteous – left only with their sins as they stand at the Great White Throne, before the one true God as the Book of Life is opened up and they are not to be found. Is their sin being judged at the throne?
Revelation 20:15
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
No – sin has been judged at the Cross of the one and only begotten Son of God. Not having been written in the Book of Life – unbelievers are cast into the only suitable environment for the unrighteous – the
I see it this way (with a little help from an analogy by Zane Hodges):
A thief may have his sentence paid but he remains a thief until his offense is wiped away – as if it never happened. Having every offense you ever committed wiped away – that’s forgiveness. Only believers are forgiven – their sins are completely washed away.
Unbelievers have their penalty paid in full – yet they remain in their sins. Lacking life, they suffer the second death - eternal separation from God and His perfection.
God has shown all men mercy, not giving them what they deserve - not punishing them for their sin but more, placing their punishment on the spotless lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
God has shown Saving Grace only to those who believe in Jesus Christ - giving them what they do not deserve, eternity with Him in the place He has prepared. Eternal life in His presence, in His perfection!
