29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
“Sin” in the singular indicates the removal of all of the sins of the world, of human beings collectively.
of the world!
The Lamb removed not just the sin of Israel but of the entire world. Old Testament sacrifices were for Israel, but the sacrifice of Jesus was for the “world.” This does not mean that Jesus saves everyone in the world; it simply means that He paid for the penalty for their sins. It is up to us to believe or reject.
Jesus did not potentially take away the sin of the world. He actually and factually paid for all sins for all people for all time. People do not go to hell because they are sinners. They go to hell because they reject Christ who personally paid for those sins (Jn 3:18; 5:24). He removed the judicial barrier that separated us from God.
The magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice is that it is for everyone who ever existed.
Jesus completely removed the penalty of our sin because of His sacrifice. Jesus died for everyone who ever existed. His sacrifice for our sins is only effective if we trust His work for our salvation (Jn 3:18, 36; 5:24). Isaiah said the future sacrifice for sin was to be “led as a lamb to the slaughter” (Is 53:7). His blood cleanses from all sin (1 Jn 1:7).
The principal role of Christ was to be a sacrifice for sins. In doing this He satisfied God’s absolute standards of perfection (propitiation). God’s absolute perfection was fully appeased by Christ’s death for our sins. From this, God is free to fellowship with us and offer His grace for our every need.