When speaking of "propitiation," we could not say that "Christ has propitiated for the sins of the whole world." as some have stated, because we do not find it in Scripture. It is blessedly true that "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the whole world." The words, "the sins or are in italics, because they are not in the text. (1 John 2:2.) If He had propitiated for the sins of the whole world, then all the world would be saved, which we know is not the truth. But His being a propitiation, or mercy-seat, available to all men, is a different idea from His having propitiated God for the sins of the whole world. Propitiation is the Godward side of Christ's sacrifice. With it God is satisfied. Its value is infinite.
No doubt Jesus is "the Savior of the world," both of Jew and Gentile, and that He "died for all," "gave Himself a ransom for all," tasted "death for every man," so that the gospel is preached to every creature, and His work is available to all, on the principle of faith, who avail themselves of it. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (See 1 John 4:14; 2 Cor. 5:15; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 22:17.)
When, however, the subject in Scripture is sin bearing, the language used is not all, but many. His blood was "shed for many for the remission of sins"; He bore "the sins of many." When writing to believers, the inspired statements are, He "bare our sins," He "died for our sins," and He was "made sin for us." This is something more than propitiation, it is substitution—the spotless Son of God in death under the judgment of God for sin—the death of the cross for—others. Substitution is the actual judgment of personal sins and iniquity on another, and thus, gone forever. The believer therefore can say, "I am crucified with Christ.... Who loved me and gave Himself for me," and washed me from my sins in His own blood. God too is so satisfied with the work of Jesus for us, that He says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (See Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:20; Rev. 1:5.) C.H. Mackintosh