1 John 2:1-2: Am I a Christian?
1 John 2:1-2: 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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. [1]
Sin affects believer and unbeliever alike. [2] But when sin manifests itself in the believer’s life, it can be distressing. Thoughts like, “If I were truly saved, would I be dealing with this right now?” creep in and torment us in doubt. [3]
What assurance is there for those tortured by doubt and scrupulosity? John helps us understand that Jesus Christ, the only perfect person on earth, defends us as the perfect lawyer before a just God. [4] 1 John 4:10 reminds us that the Father, in love, sent the Son to redeem His people. [5] Because Jesus has perfectly appeased God’s wrath, removed the “guilt of our sin” and “suppl[ied] satisfaction for sin” we need not doubt our standing as children before God. [6]
This good news is not license to sin, [7] but freedom for obedience. The Triune God’s grace is so good we should all be motivated to flee sin and live biblical principles through the power of the Holy Spirt. [8] And when we find ourselves wrestling with sin again, we look to Him Who represents us and faithfully forgives. May the Trinity be pleased to help you trust, confess, and rest in Christ today.
This blog was written by Seth Dunn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Logos Bible Software. Al Scripture references will be ESV unless noted otherwise.
[2] Romans 3:10-23; 6; 7.
[3] Simon J. Kistemaker. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James & the Epistles of John. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986), 241. For identity, see also John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion. Trans. Henry Beveridge. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2008), 253-254.
[4] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James & the Epistles of John, 254.
[5] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James & the Epistles of John, 253.
[6] Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle of James & the Epistles of John, 252-253.
[7] Romans 6:1; James 2.
[8] Ephesians 2:8-100