1 John 2

Part 1 Sin and the remedy

John knew the problem of sin was a real problem. This is why he spent so much time addressing the issue. Some think that once you are saved, you never sin again. They think you never do wrong. 1 John 1 teaches of different. Please understand, this does not give us a license to sin. However, it gives us the way to deal with sin and it’s consequences. We still have the flesh to deal with and will have to for the rest of our lives.

Romans 7:14–25 “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

DISCLAIMER: IT IS NEVER OKAY TO SIN.

Definition of Sin:

Sin is the disobedience to God’s will.

Sin is the reason Christ had to come and shed his blood for you and I to have salvation. But what about once I am saved. How is sin dealt with. Is it ignored. Is it just thought of as “oh well, I am human”. How does it affect my christian life or does it affect me in any way.

1 John 2:1–2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Advocate - pleading someone else’s case. Interceding for them

Christ is our advocate

Propitiation - the act of appeasing or satisfying the righteous wrath of God against sin

This is what Christ came to do for us

Hebrews 9:25–28 “Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”

There is a difference with willful sinning. You purposely and intentionally commit the sin, knowing that it is wrong and not caring about what you are doing.

1 John 2:3–11 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

refer back to chapter 1 of 1 John comparing and contrasting people who say they are Christians but are far from it.

1 John 2:12–14 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”

These verses we see 3 different age groups:

Little Children

Young Men

Fathers

When thinking of this, use the analogy of a family. The elder doesn’t start out being that way. He is born and then grows from there. As he grows, he is gaining knowledge and maturing along the way. The young man watches he dad interact with others and learns from that on how to conduct himself.

Then whenever he becomes a husband and later a dad, the reason he knows how to conduct himself is because he has watched his dad do this and he knows nothing else other than to act the same way. However, he is still looking to his dad for assistance, for advice but he is also in the prime of his life. He is able to do things as a child he couldn’t and knows when he gets older, he won’t be able to do as he is now.