1 John 2:1-6- "Jesus Our Righteousness"
Chapter 1 of First John is basically a preface to the letter, and now we have John giving his first introduction and reason for his letter. We will also see in the last chapter that this reason falls into the bigger purpose for his letter, to assure believers of their salvation in Christ and their eternity with Him. What is the reason he is writing? So that we will not sin. Well, that seems kind of harsh after he just told us in the passage before that if we claim to be without sin we are liars. No pressure right? Well, this is where we can really tend to complicate things that don't have to be complicated. And we will see as we go on in 1 John, things will begin to clear up.
So what is John saying? If he told us we are sinners, but then claims he's writing so we will not sin, how does that work? Well, in the same verse he reminds us that if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father through Jesus. John is not claiming that it is possible for us to live without sin. He clearly stated this in our last passage, "if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves." But he also told us how to be forgiven, "if you confess your sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." John isn't switching things up in this chapter just because he tells us not to sin. Right after he tells us not to sin, he reminds us that IF WE DO SIN, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE AND A WAY TO BE FORGIVEN IN JESUS. Are believers supposed to do their best not sin? Yes, of course. But if and when we do, we confess those sins again to our advocate, Jesus.
There is some language here that would be hard to understand without some Old Testament understanding. In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple procedures, the Israelites had to offer sacrifices for their sins on a regular basis. They would come to the Priest, who was their advocate between them and God, they would give the Priest their atoning sacrifice which was their best lamb or other animal which was without blemish, and the Priest would offer this atoning sacrifice to God on their behalf.
Well now in the New Testament, we have Jesus who is God's only Son. He took on flesh and lived perfectly on earth, without a blemish of sin in his life. He was and is the perfect Righteous One. Jesus offered Himself on the Cross. By doing this He took on the role of our Priest and Advocate because He offered the sacrifice on our behalf; but He also took on the role of our Atoning Sacrifice because He was The Sacrifice Himself. Therefore, if we confess our sins and trust in Jesus to forgive us our sins he will not only do that, but also give to us His perfect Righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).
So what are we to do if we receive Jesus as our Savior? Keep sinning, because we'll be forgiven? No! That's crazy talk! Instead, we should attempt to live without sin in our lives, but when we sin, we should just admit it, so that we can remember we are forgiven. The evidence of Jesus's presence in our lives and our change of heart is good works. This is what verses 3-6 are all about. If we truly love and know God, we will obey His commandments. Not perfectly, but we will have a change of heart that wants to serve and follow Jesus. We will struggle with it, but it's what we will want to do if we have been changed by Jesus. Look at Paul's struggle with this in Romans 7. When Paul wants to do good he sins. He does what he doesn't want to do, and doesn't do what he wants to do. And what's his answer to the problem? "Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!" He can save us from our sins, and give us His righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness.
Kent Suits,
Youth Director
Next Week: 1 John 2:7-11 "Make up your mind John"
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