1 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. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
John’s intention in writing was to encourage us to walk in the light as God is in the light and not to sin. But if we do sin, and we will sin, then we have Jesus Christ who intercedes on our behalf as our advocate before the Father. What a wonderful truth, that when we sin and then confess our sins, Jesus stands in that gap and argues our case, not on our merits but on His righteousness as the propitiation for our sins (Jesus satisfied God’s wrath through His death on the cross by making a perfect and complete payment for our sins). Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross is sufficient to pay not only for our sins but the sins of the whole world. Christ died for all so that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life (John 3:16). If Christ’s death is sufficient to pay for the sins of the whole world, then we can be confident that He is more than able to advocate on our behalf.
How can we know that we are in fellowship with God? (“come to know him?”) When we keep his commandments and sin less (rather than are sinless) then we know we are in fellowship with Him. If someone says that he is in fellowship with God (says, “I know him”) but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar and the truth is not in him—that person is out of touch with spiritual reality. Jesus said this quite plainly, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15, cf. John 15:14). When we keep God’s word and obey what it says, then God’s love is perfected. When we obey God then we have a deeper experience of His love through greater intimacy. If we say we abide in (have fellowship with) Christ, then we should live in obedience to the Father as He did. This passage has strong parallels with the Parable of the Vine and Branches from John’s gospel (John 15:1-8).
A deep and intimate relationship with Jesus and the Father is founded on obedience. We cannot continue to sin and hope for intimate fellowship with God. But when we do sin, all is not lost, Jesus not only paid for our sins at the cross, He also intercedes on our behalf before the Father as our advocate.
Regular repentance restores relationship.
How does knowing that Christ stands as your advocate before the Father encourage you today?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Abraham and Lot: Genesis 13-14
It is truly amazing that we have Jesus Christ who is an advocate for us. Even when we fall into sin, we can trust that Jesus intercedes on our behalf. We are called to live for God and to be obedient towards Him. To know Him and His word and to resist sinful temptations.
I think often as Christians we don’t listen to verse 4. Sometimes we go astray and fail to listen to God’s commands and His Holy Spirit telling us to do right. This is said to be a lie and is hypocritical and can also give Christianity a bad name. I am going to make sure, with God’s help, that I act less like a hypocritical Christian who tells others to do right but does not do right myself.
I liked verse 6, it just reminded me that if we say that we are Christians we have to be showing that we are a Christian and acting like it.