Does 1 John 2:2 Advocate Universalism?

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)

This is a beautiful passage along with verse one, saying that Jesus Christ is our advocate to the Father especially when we sin. We have faith in Christ knowing that he appeased the wrath of God on our behalf. At the end of verse 2, we see Jesus was not only the propitiation, one who bears the wrath of God, for our sins but the sins of the whole world. One would think this teach universalism, which is the belief that all will be saved regards if they trusted Christ or not.

What did John means when he said Jesus was the propitiation for the sins of the whole world? First, this does not mean everyone will be saved. We have seen this throughout the pages of the Bible that those who do not trust in Christ will be doomed to an eternity of divine wrath. John reminds us at the end of his letter that those who do "not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12). Even Jesus Himself said, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18).

We also see the implications of what John wrote in three ways, "(1) Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for all, though applicable only to those placing their faith in him; (2) Christ’s sacrifice is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise to bless all the nations of the earth through the Messiah; (3) Christ’s sacrifice is able to save believers from all the world, regardless of ethnicity or past loyalties" (Gospel Transformation Bible).

John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, never intended for us to think that everyone will be saved regardless of the Fruit of the Spirit being evident in their lives or not. If all were to be saved, then we can live however we want and not worry about what our sin does to God. What John is writing is, "Jesus’ sacrifice is offered and made available to everyone in “the whole world,” not just to John and his current readers" (ESV Study Bible). Matthew Henry wrote, "All men, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned."

1 John 2:2 does not teach universalism. It does teach that the gift of grace through faith is offered to all. Jesus paid the way for us to come to the Father.