Three Little Letters

Here is a link from last week’s series, Three Little Letters.

One of the reasons that I love these letters from John is because they help believers know how to have assurance of faith with God. They are so clear about the basics of believing.

God’s Word, guided by the Holy Spirit, is a valuable source of knowledge and support. Our faith is meant to be clearly shown to us through the Spirit. It should not be a puzzle or a mystery that we cannot comprehend.

And the believers also have the Mighty Paraclete-Jesus. Our advocate before God, who stands as a counselor for us at the right hand of God. He pleads for you and me. (Romans 8:26-27)

My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor^[a] with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 

1 John 2:1

Jesus is described in this verse as our Counselor. In the Greek translations of the Bible, the word used was Paraclete or Advocate. He is beside and indwells us as God, the Holy Spirit. We are not going to make this a complicated discussion about the roles of the Trinity. But simply, “we have a Counselor^[a] with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.“

Our good Advocate not only came to plead on our behalf, but also to pay our debt. What Jesus did on our behalf is sufficient for anyone who comes to Him in faith.

And he is the atoning sacrifice^[b] for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 

1 John 2:2

So, what is the proof that we have the Spirit living in us?

This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 

1 John 2:3

Does that mean that believers will keep every one of the commandments of God perfectly?

Of course not. But it means that we will treasure God’s commands (Exodus 20) and the new commands that Christ gave. (John 13:34&35) It means that when we do sin that we will have remorse for that failure, and we will be quick to admit that to our Helper and ask forgiveness. And we can be assured that those sins are already paid for by the Savior. (Romans 8 & Psalm 103: 10-13)

The next verse is very bold. But it is not cruel, as some have accused. God is truth. He cannot lie. He will not abide liars.

 One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.

1 John 2:4

So, simply, do you realize that even as a believer you have a sin problem?

Or, if you were asked if you were a believer, would you say something like this: “I am a Christian because I am a good person. I am not a sinner.”

If your answer was the second response, then according to the verse above, you have a serious problem.

Satan, our enemy, is the father of lies. It follows that people who profess to be Christians, but do not want to keep God’s moral law cannot be His own. It is a very obvious distinction.

Living in known, habitual sin without remorse is open rebellion against God.

Now, we must be very careful to not apply judgmental eyes to others who have fallen in their faith. There are weak Christians all around us. There are many reasons for their frailty.

Our concern should be to protect the Church from them if their sin could harm it, (there is a Biblical explanation for how to do that, and you should consult your pastor for specific help in this), but also, we are to pray for fallen believers, encourage them and where appropriate, help them.

Judgement is God’s domain alone.

Look how John reassures believers with the next two verses.

But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:  he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

1 John 2:5 & 6

Do you love Jesus?

Then walk in His steps.

Share His Good News in your world.

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.