At-One-Ment - 1 John 2:2-6

He is our Propitiation
v.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Propitiation for our sins: Another way to translate this is that the Lord is our atonement (at-one-ment). It means that he was the appeasement in that he settled our sin debt. Jesus did what we could not do; lived a sinless life. And He did not only do it for me and you, but the entire world (John 3:16-17).

Knowledge Produced Obedience
vv.3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

A true knowledge of God produces obedience. Our Lord said in John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. The prophet Hosea expressed the same thing when he said For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6). Jesus expressed these same words when he said But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13). The word mercy in both of these verses means “faithfulness or obedience”. Summation: God wants our obedience more than our sacrifice.

He is our Example
v.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We are called to walk like our Lord who said in For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.

Jesus said in John 15:4-8 that “abiding” or “living in him” is what produces fruit in our lives. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

As a matter of fact, the fruit that is produced from abiding in him is actually proof that we are truly children of God. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:16-20).