Love Defined: Jesus Our Propitiation

Then John defines love:

"10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

John makes it very clear -- love is not define by what we do, but what Jesus has done and is doing for us.

God sent His Son:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

Notice also that love is what Jesus is doing. A proper translation of 1 John 4: 10 would read:

"And sent His Son, the propitiation (or mercy seat) of our sins."

Jesus does not stop being our mercy seat, for He is our high priest forever:

"15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7: 15-17)

 

Jesus is this High Priest, one who justifies us and intercedes for us at the right hand of God the Father (Romans 8: 31-34)

 

John also writes about Jesus our propitiation, or rather our mercy seat:

 

"1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2: 1-2)

 

Notice even here that John writes "He is" not "He was".