1 John 2

1 John 2:1

2:1. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father. Those have the Advocate, the intercessor, pleader, (lawyer in human courts) who have employed him. Those who have obeyed Christ and walk with him have secured him as their Advocate with the Father. If any of these sin, not by a wilful course of sin, but by being overtaken in a fault, he pleads their case with the Father. And he gains it, for he points to their penitent confession and to his own blood that has cleansed them. He has atoned for their sin.

1 John 2:2

2. He is the propitiation for our sins. The mercy seat in the Jewish tabernacle was called the propitiation. There the blood of the atonement was sprinkled for the sins of the whole people. Christ is our mercy seat, the sprinkling of the blood of the atonement, the cleanser from sin, and not only ours, but for the whole world. Hence, when he pleads for those who have employed him as their Advocate, he points to the mercy seat, where God has Promised mercy, even to himself, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. In this Epistle, chapter 4:10 it is said God “sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 2:3-4

3, 4. Hereby we know that we know him. What we need is knowledge. It is very, unsatisfactory to only think that Christ is the Son of God and our Savior. We want to know upon whom we have believed. To know God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent is eternal life. We know those men with whom we are personally acquainted. We do not know those of whom we have only heard. To know Christ we must get acquainted with him. We can. The way is to keep his commandments. He has said, “If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him.” Again he says, “If a man will do my will he shall know the doctrine whether it be of God.” The person who makes God’s will the rule of his life will have the presence of the Son and the Father, will discern their presence, will know them, and have life eternal. Bat whoso claims to know God, and lives in disobedience, is hypocritical and untruthful.

1 John 2:5

5. In him is the love of God perfected. In whom is it made perfect? In the one who keeps his word. James says that faith is made perfect by obedience. So is love. Not obedience to one commandment, faith, or repentance, or baptism, but a life of obedience, a life in which God’s will is made the supreme law of life; a life of which Christ is king. He who loves God in Christ keeps his words; then the Father and Son dwell with him, and love is thus made perfect by obedience. Hereby we know that we are in him. We must be in Christ to escape condemnation. Romans 8:1. We know that we are in him by a life of obedience, or, as Paul expresses, “By doing the things of the Spirit.” Observe how John emphasizes obedience: 1. We know that we know him if we keep his commandments. 2. The love of God is perfected in us if we keep his commandments. 3. We know that we are in Christ it we keep his commandments.

The demonstration is a spirit within us, and that always says, “Thy will be done,” and always seeks to do the Father’s will. If we have this spirit, and we abide in him, we will walk even as he walked. AND . 1. Christ is the San of Righteousness, the light of the world. All who are his will walk in his light and shine with it upon the world. We cannot shine by our own light.

We are like the moon. When it turns the face towards us on which the sun shines it is beautiful and full of light. When it turns the face on which the sun does not shine it is darkness. When it gets the earth between it and the sun it is eclipsed. So, too, if we walk in the light of Christ by keeping his words and dwelling near him, we will shine with beautiful lives, like his. If Christ does not shine on our lives they will be darkness.

If we put the world between us and him they will be eclipsed. 2. We must be in fellowship with Christ if we are the children of God. That is, partnership with him. All the children of a family are equally interested in its welfare. They are partners. They are joint heirs. They must all work together for its its interests. Now we are joint heirs with Christ if we are in fellowship with him. But we cannot be partners unless we work with him, walk with him in the light, keep from sin, and cling to him. 3. If we have not Christ, where shall we find an Advocate to plead our cause in the great trial of Judgment? Satan will accuse us and claim us as his own; who shall defend us? Christ offers to take your case; he demands as his retainer the love of your heart. Shall he have it? 4. Loyalty to the King is the final test of our hold on eternal life. Loyalty makes the King’s will the rule of life. Do we ask if we know Christ? Yes, if we obey him. Do you ask if you love him with all your heart? Yes, if you always seek to do his will. Do you ask if you are in him? Yes, if you have made his love perfect by obedience, He who follows his own will is his own king. He who follows Christ’s will has put him on the throne as King.