29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
In love, God abolished the payment for sin and its wretched control over man through the blood of Jesus the Lamb of God. Through Jesus, God provided the way for the sinner to be spared for those who would believe in His Son. He was sent by the Father that He might be the Savior of men. God made Jesus sin for us to save our scrawny necks and to once again restore our relationship with Him allowing us access into His presence through prayer and unshackling our chains from the bondage of sin and its deadly effects.
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:18-21 (NIV)
“Sin will yield to nothing less potent than the blood of Him whom God hath set forth as a propitiation.�� C. H. Spurgeon
John the Baptist calls us to behold Him, the precious Lamb who takes away the sin of this depraved world desiring for us to both increase our hatred of sin and our love for our Lord Jesus. Notice that the Baptist uses the word “takes” in lieu of taken as it is a continued action. He is always taking away sin as we turn to Him in repentance. The Baptist rightly saw Jesus as the sacrificial Victim that would take away the sin of the world by taking sin upon Him on the cross. Therefore, sin is no longer to be the habitual way of life for the believer in Christ. Continued sin is the product of ignorance and blindness towards God and all He has done for us. It clearly demonstrates our lack of love and appreciation for Him for even men do not think highly of a love that never shows itself in action.
5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:5-6 (NIV)
For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14 (NIV)
“He that washes himself continually in the blood of Christ does not make light of sin, but detests it above all things; for what can be more abominable than sin, since it cannot be taken away but by the blood of the Son of God! This humbles true believers, and makes them watch against sin; and if it has not the same effect on thee, reader, matters are not right with thy soul; for, talking of the blood of the Lamb, and yet trifling with sin, cannot agree together, but show a false or a deceived heart.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“Sin is the dare of God’s justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.” John Bunyan
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 (NIV)
“So adequate is Jesus Christ as God’s atoning Sacrifice that the efficacy of His work extends not merely to the sins of Christians themselves, but also to the sins of the whole world. In saying this, John was clearly affirming the view that Christ genuinely died for everyone (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14-15, 19; Heb. 2:9). Bible Knowledge Commentary
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 (NIV)
“The genius of Christianity takes the words of Paul ‘who gave himself for our sins’ as true and efficacious. We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as so terrible that we must despair. Learn to believe that Christ was given not for picayune (petty) and imaginary transgressions, but for mountainous sins; not for one or two, but for all; not for sins that can be discarded, but for sins that are stubbornly ingrained.” Martin Luther