John continues to write the epistle in 1 John, in the previous chapter, he was addressing the Gnostics, the unbelievers, but now he is addressing the believers, his spiritual children, I am writing this so that you may not sin. 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 the caring person he is, is really worried that they might get tempted by some weird teachings and end up doing something sinful, and He introduces them to Jesus, Our Advocate.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
You Could Still Sin
John acknowledges that believers still sin, whether knowingly or unknowingly. As James 4:17 reminds us, “If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin.” 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.
Jesus, Our Defence Lawyer
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 (John 3:16). The forgiveness of sins through Jesus is a completed, once-for-all act (Hebrews 10:10-14). So why does Jesus need to advocate? Jesus’s advocacy is not about repeatedly asking for forgiveness but as shown below:
- 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!
- Defense Against Accusations: Jesus defends us against all accusations, from Satan, the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). His advocacy ensures that no charge can stand against those who are in Him (Romans 8:33-34).
- For our 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.
Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World
What is propitiation? Propitiation is the divine act of satisfying God’s wrath against sin (not against sinners) through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He not only was the propitiation for our sins, but for the whole world. Not only for the sins in the past and present, but in the future. Jesus’s atonement is a universal offer, demonstrating God’s love and desire for all people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). However, while the offer of salvation is available to everyone, it is only effective for those who accept it through faith.
This universal offer of propitiation reflects God’s love for the world and underscores the depth of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice. Yet, the gift must be received; rejection of Jesus leaves individuals outside the scope of this applied forgiveness.
Summary
John’s words in 1 John 2:1-2 reassure believers of their security in Christ. He warns against sin and heretical doctrines, reminding believers of Jesus’s role as their Advocate and the sufficiency of His propitiation. He is not vouching for believers’ making a list of their sins, and confessing them one by one. But rather he is saying, that if you slip up, you have the best advocate. Jesus, against ALL accusations. As Rom 8:1 says “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.
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