My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1Jo 2:1-2 NKJ)

Propitiation, here in 1 John Christ is called the “propitiation for our sins.” Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is “the propitiation,” because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured.

It doesn’t make God love us; it merely provides a way for him to love us.  One translation puts it this way, “He is God’s way of dealing with our sins, not only ours but the sins of the whole world. (1Jo 2:2 CEB)

Not only did Christ become our substitute and assume our obligation, he also became our advocate.  When we stand accused, he speaks on our behalf. We never stand guilty, accused or alone. Christ is always there to remind the accuser that we have been redeemed.