The Beloved Disciple's First Letter - Pt 3

 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2 ESV).

 

As John continues to write the epistle in our reading today, we should remember that in the previous chapter, he was addressing the Gnostics, the unbelievers. Now he is addressing the believers, his spiritual children, “I am writing this so that you may not sin” (v. 1). One of the reasons that John wrote this here was because the Gnostics Antinomianism doctrine which made physical acts irrelevant to the spirit, or was not a sin. So, John, being concerned that they might get tempted by some false teachings and end up doing something sinful, and He introduces them to Jesus, Our Advocate.

 

John acknowledges that believers still sin, whether knowingly or unknowingly. As James reminds us, “If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin” (James 4:17). We fail in many ways—failing to love God fully, to love others as we should, and to live in complete obedience. These failures are sins. When Paul declares in Romans 6 that we are “dead to sin,” it doesn’t mean we are incapable of sinning. Instead, it signifies a break from sin’s dominion over us. John’s exhortation in 1 John 2:1, “so that you may not sin,” is a reminder of our call to holiness, even as we recognize that we could sin. The idea of being “dead to sin” in Romans 6:2 doesn’t imply an inability to sin but a new identity in Christ that empowers us to live above it.

 

John describes Jesus as our Advocate with the Father. This doesn’t mean Jesus is pleading with a reluctant or angry God who needs convincing to forgive. After all, God Himself initiated the plan of redemption (cf. John 3:16). The forgiveness of sins through Jesus is a completed, once-for-all act (cf. Hebrews 10:10-14). Jesus’s advocacy is not about repeatedly asking for forgiveness but as shown below:

 

§  Jesus is our High Priest and Intercessor. As our High Priest, Jesus “always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). This intercession isn’t a plea for renewed forgiveness but an ongoing representation of His finished work. We are represented by Jesus!

§  Jesus is our defense against accusations of our enemy, the devil. Jesus defends us against all accusations, from Satan, the “accuser of the brethren” (cf. Revelation 12:10). His advocacy ensures that no charge can stand against those who are in Him (cf. Romans 8:33-34).

 

§  Jesus is our ultimate assurance. While God’s forgiveness is complete, believers still experience sin and guilt in their daily lives. Jesus’s advocacy is a reminder that our relationship with God is secure, not based on our performance, but on His perfect work. This provides comfort and confidence, especially when we struggle with feelings of unworthiness.

 

This is the glory of Jesus as our Advocate! We will always be accepted and loved as His children!