As we continue our study of 1 John, we pick up at verse 1 of Chapter 2. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John is writing to the Children of God about maintaining the joy of Fellowship with God the Father, and Jesus the Christ and those in Christ. He warns that we must deal with sin if we fall in to it. Although we cannot fall from grace, the Apostle wants us to realize our Fellowship and the power of love and righteousness can be interrupted by sin if it is not confessed, and given to Christ our advocate.
He writes: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 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: 1-2.
John is saying here that a child of God can sin against Him and those in our lives. Though we do not want to, and wish not to, it can happen. A word spoken in anger that injures someone deeply. Resentment or jealousy toward someone that got what we feel should have been ours. Thoughts of lust that are so subtle that our focus is taken off the Way our Lord would have us to live and act. Not doing what we know we should be doing. Or doing what we know we should not be doing. Sins of omission and commission – missing the moral mark because of apathy, and the list goes on. But the Good News is if and when we do sin, we have an advocate. If we have accepted Christ into our heart, Jesus Himself is our Advocate, our Defense Lawyer. He steps in and says to the Father, “That sin has been atoned for at the cross. I paid the price of it personally.” The Lord also defends us against the accuser, and shuts him up about it.
To ‘atone’ means to ‘to make amends for wrong doing’ according to Webster. And as John stated, Jesus the Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Every sin has been atoned for with His atoning blood. Since that is the case, why must we have to accept Christ as Savior for Him to be our advocate?
Though every sin committed by every person in the world – past, present, and future – has been atoned for by the blood of Christ; (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”), that truth must be accepted by each individual, and that person must be born again in spirit by the Holy Spirit to live in this truth. (John 3: 3-8 and John 3:16.) This is what brings us to Oneness in spirit with God. This is what makes us a new Creation that can Fellowship with God the Father, and with Christ Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit, and be One with every one who believes. This is what takes us from son of man, to son of man – son of God. This is when we see Father God as ‘Abba Father’. ( “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14) This is when life perspectives change. This is when we grow to see who we truly are. Let it be so.
The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with you, my Brothers and Sisters. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line