Propitiation, John 1:29

Did the Lord Jesus Christ in dying bear the sins of everybody? Would not that follow from the fact that He takes away the sin of the world, according to John 1: 29? 

Scripture puts things thus: 

"He died for all" (2 Cor. 5: 15). 

"Who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Tim. 2: 6). 

"He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2: 2). 

These verses indicate what we may call the Godward aspect of His work. It includes ALL within the wide sweep of its benevolent intention; and propitiation has been made on behalf, not only of believers, but everybody; the whole world. 

When we come, not to the intention or bearing of His work, but its actual results, we find things put differently. When we view things on the largest possible scale, and "think imperially,'' in the best sense of the word, John 1: 29 does indeed apply, but that is quite in keeping with the fact that sin and all that are eternally identified with it find their part in the lake of fire. 

If we think of things in detail, we cannot say He bore the sins of everybody, for Scripture says: 

"Who His own self bare our [i.e., believers'] sins in His own body on the tree " (1 Peter 2: 27). 

Hence it is that again we read: 

"Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Heb. 9: 28). Thanks be to God that we find ourselves amongst them! 
H.B. Hole