What About Sin?
WHAT ABOUT SIN?
In 1 John 2:1-2 the Apostle tells us that he has written this letter so that we will not sin. It's clear that sinning is a bad idea. It's not good for us. It has temporal consequences.
But recognizing that believers can, and do, sin, the Apostle goes on immediately to reassure us about our security in Christ.
He writes that if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father. That advocate is Jesus Christ, and He is completely righteous.
It is interesting that John should point out that Jesus is righteous. One would think that is obvious. I think he says it so that we properly connect the dots between his statement that we have an advocate and the very next thing he's about to say.
Verse two reminds us that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, and indeed, the sins of the whole world.
So John's mention of the righteousness of Jesus reassures us that the advocacy of Christ is an act of righteousness. He is not trying to cut a deal with the Father to let us off. Rather, He is fully justified in advocating for us when we fail because He is the propitiation for our sins. Even more, His propitiatory sacrifice was so complete that even if every sin ever committed were imputed to our account, His work at the cross would still have abolished them.
I’ve overused the word propitiation here so that it would drive you crazy enough to find out what it means. Here are the “Cliff’s Notes” you can use to speed your study.
Propitiation is a very special English word. It has only one meaning. That meaning is "fully-satisfying sacrifice." That is a very big deal. What happened at the cross didn't simply forgive and cover sins. It actually took them away and allowed God to justly remember them no more. Jesus is our “mercy seat.” Jesus is the fully satisfying sacrifice that went beyond simply atoning for (covering) our sins and took them away completely. This made it possible for us to be given His righteousness just as if we had never sinned in our entire lives.
So, please do not sin. Sin is no longer natural to you. But if you do sin, remember that Jesus fully satisfied the law of sin and death and made you as righteous as He is.
