Walking in the Light: Understanding Sin, Forgiveness, and Our Advocate

John's message in 1 John 2 presents a beautiful balance of love and truth. He writes with the heart of a father who wants to protect his children from the dangers of sin while offering tremendous hope when we fall short.

A Father's Heart for His Children

"I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin," John begins. Like a loving father, he doesn't want to go easy on sin. There's a sense of strength and fight in his words - he's battling for the spiritual wellbeing of those he loves.

Think about how a parent would react if their child was about to touch something dangerous, like a metal object that could conduct electricity. There would be urgency and passion in how they remove their child from danger. This is exactly how John approaches the church in Ephesus - with protective love that doesn't minimize the seriousness of sin.

What Happens When We Do Sin?

John follows his strong warning with compassion: "But if anyone does sin..." This phrase acknowledges our humanity. While we are new creations in Christ, our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Even as we try our best to walk out our salvation with fear and trembling and stay in step with the Spirit, there will be times when our flesh gets the best of us.

The good news? We have an overwhelmingly comforting solution.

Who Is Our Advocate When We Sin?

"We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The Greek word used here is "paracletos," which means comforter or advocate - someone called to one's side to aid them, particularly someone who pleads another's cause before a judge.

In this context, Jesus is our perfect attorney speaking to a perfect judge. He is completely pure, walks entirely in the light, and is the righteous one talking to the Father in your favor.

For those truly following Jesus, the most discouraging thing is sin - because we love Him so much, we don't want to break His heart. That's why this promise is so powerful: when we sin, we have a perfect, righteous attorney fighting on our behalf.

What Does It Mean That Jesus Is Our "Propitiation"?

John continues: "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

The Greek word for propitiation means "atonement" or "reparation for wrong or injury." It's a payment, making amends for wrong one has done. There is a legal consequence to injustice, and it is paid for - but not by us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 explains: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Imagine being in court for a wrong you've done, and the verdict is death. But the judge turns to you and says your penalty has already been paid - someone has already been executed in your place. When you ask who, the judge responds with tears that it was his own son, your defending attorney.

This is exactly what happened when Christ, who knew no sin, became sin so that we could be righteous. And remarkably, this sacrifice wasn't just for a select few - it was for the whole world.

How Do We Know If We're Really Saved?

In chapter 3, John addresses confusion about salvation: "By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments."

The readers of John's letter were trying to figure out if they were really saved, if they were on the right path. John reassures them that they could know they belonged to Jesus by the fruit in their lives.

We face similar questions today. How do we know if we're really saved? Here's a simplified answer: Do you feel conviction when you make a mistake? Do you struggle with decisions because you want to honor God? These are good signs that you're in a good place, because they show you love God and want to please Him.

Is It Possible to Know God But Not Obey Him?

John doesn't mince words: "Whoever says, 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

This echoes Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

If you are a disciple, you will obey the commands of Jesus. John isn't going light on sin - as a loving father, he wants what's best for his spiritual children.

What's the Connection Between Obedience and Love?

"But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

This isn't about doing things to be God's or to earn heaven. It's because we are His that we do what honors Him. Obedience is linked not merely with knowing God but with loving Him.

We know who actually loves God by those who obey God. Many people claim to love God, but the evidence is in obedience. As Charles Spurgeon said, "Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He or she who obeys God trusts God, and he or she that trusts God obeys God."

The Father Who Runs to Us

The parable of the prodigal son illustrates God's heart perfectly. In Jewish culture, when a son dishonored his family by leaving, there was a ceremony called "kezaza" where the community would cut him off from his family and people.

Why did the father in the parable run to his returning son? He wanted to reach him before the religious community could perform this ceremony of rejection. He was waiting, watching for his son, and when he saw him in the distance, he ran to him because he did not want his son cut off.

This is our perfect, loving, strong heavenly Father. He can't be where sin is, but He made a way for you. He ran to you from a distance so you could be with Him forever through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This was the fight of a Father - a fight against hell, sin, and death.

God doesn't send people to hell; in fact, He says, "over my dead body." He's a good Father who doesn't give up hope. He's strong, He loves you, and He wants to protect you.

Life Application

This week, consider how you view God. Do you see Him as a distant judge waiting to catch you in sin, or as a loving Father running toward you with open arms? This perspective changes everything about how we approach obedience.

Ask yourself:

1. When I sin, do I run away from God in shame, or do I run to Him as my advocate?

2. Is my obedience motivated by fear of punishment or by love for my heavenly Father?

3. How might my life look different if I truly believed that Jesus is actively advocating for me before the Father?

The challenge this week is to approach God as your loving Father when you fail. Instead of hiding in shame, remember that you have an advocate in Jesus Christ. Let this truth transform your relationship with God from one based on fear to one rooted in love and gratitude.