The Righteous Sinner: How Jesus Gives Righteousness

Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:1-6

Opening Prayer

Introduction

A

Exposition 1

1 John 2:1–2 ESV

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

"My little children” -

An affectionate greeting to those who are still “under” his leadership and oversight

Why is he writing what he is writing?

The book - Ch. 1 Vs. 4, so that our joy may be complete

This passage - so that you may not sin

So, do you sin?

Yes

Then what?

next words, But if anyone does sin

Christ (God the Son) is our “advocate” with God the Father

Reminder, He is righteous

Propitiation - lit. the sacrifice for sin (word is only used twice in bible)

He is our substitute, therefore “covering” our sin and reconciling our relationship to God

He covers “our” sin

whose?

John’s and the original readers

But also for the sins of the whole world

This is going to be a little break as we explore the meaning of this.

There is a question as to the extent of what Jesus is paying for in His atoning death

If you read this without any other context of Scripture it seems to be saying that Jesus died to redeem every man woman and child that has ever lived or ever will be born.

Yet, it this is the case, why does John speak of people who are yet lost in sin?

Let us illustrate it this way

McDonalds illustration

Possible explantions

Jews/Gentiles

We = apostles or John still

We = John and the original readers

The whole world signifies the boundaries of the Gospel

Similar to Jews Gentiles but accounts for the mixed nature of the church in Ephesus

In other words, John means the Christ is the only hope for the world. He is making a point for exclusivity rather than universality.

I. Don’t sin, but when you do, know that Jesus keeps you in Him (1-2)

In other words, the same Gospel that saves you keeps you saved

We need Jesus to come to God and we need Jesus to stay with God and the Good News covers both

Please also realize that this exclusivity “excludes” other God’s....

Exposition 2

1 John 2:3–6 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

When we “know” God, we are in covenant with Him

This is a contractual relationship

God bought us and we will obey

What if you don’t?

v. 4 - you don’t really know him

This doesn’t mean that your works keep you saved but rather that one who belongs to God keeps His commandments, period.

v. 5, whoever keeps His Word, the Love of God is perfected in him”

what does this mean

Is this referring to God’s Love of us or our love of God? Both options are grammatically correct.

Either God’s Love for us has the goal of transforming us

or

Our Love for God results in our transformation

I think the later makes the most sense here but either way, it doesn’t really change the overall meaning of the text here.

5b-6. We follow Jesus example (walk as He walked) and this lets us know!

II. If you are kept by Jesus, you will obey Jesus, and this gives assurance (3-6)

Not legalism

Instead, goodness by grace

Conclusion

Know Jesus

Follow Jesus

Find your sin

Flee from sin