"My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked" (I John 2:1-6).

As we have already seen, John in this Epistle is showing the believers their fellowship with God and with the Lord Jesus Christ. Since we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light, we should walk in close fellowship with Him day by day. The one who claims to be a child of God should walk in the light. His doing so is proof of his being a child of God.

My Little Children

The Apostle John was an old man when he wrote this epistle and looked upon the believers to whom he wrote as little children, as his little children. He, of course, was writing this letter to believers of a certain community with whom he was very well acquainted; hence he could say, "My little children." It is quite possible that John's use of the term "my little children" harks back to the object lesson which Jesus taught His disciples, and which is recorded in Matthew, chapter 18. His disciples had a controversy concerning who was the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. In order to teach the true attitude and outlook of the believer, the Lord Jesus called a little child and put him in the midst of the company and declared that except one becomes as a little child he can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. When believers are spoken of as "little children," we can see the connection between the lesson which Jesus taught the Apostles and John's views of this term. The Apostle Paul likewise thought of his converts as his children. "I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. 16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church" (I Cor. 4:14-17).

That Ye May Not Sin

"My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin." The Greek text shows that the word which is translated "sin" is in the aorist tense, which form indicates a single act. By the use of this tense John shows the Christians how they may live above and without sin. Note especially that he is not showing or implying that people can have their sinful nature purged out of their being and can reach a state where it is impossible for them to sin. Throughout the epistle John refutes that idea. Here he shows how believers can live in close touch and fellowship with the Lord day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment, so that they may not commit sin. Such a life is the normal one that is held up before the Christians of the New Testament period. Notwithstanding this fact we hear very little of the victorious life in Christ taught in these days of spiritual lethargy. The doctrine of the victory in Christ is such an important one that I wish to devote some time to it and to examine several Scriptures which present this glorious teaching.

The Apostle Paul told the church at Rome that they should not be fashioned according to the world, "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). Note the fact that this passage shows that it is possible for people to live so very close to God and be renewed in their minds that they can prove or demonstrate what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. What kind of life is this which is set forth and which is possible? It is one that shows the perfect will of God. Such is evidently a life of victory in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote the Roman letter and the one to the Galatians at the same time. In the latter book, he declares: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20). Paul claimed that Christ was living His life in him, but that he himself was not living this life in his own strength. On the contrary, the Son of God was living in him this perfect life. With this sober fact in mind I would have the reader turn to Ephesians 5:22-33 and carefully read the entire passage. Then I would urge him to study verses 25-27 of this passage: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word." In these verses, the Apostle declares Christ cleansed and washed the church, "that He might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:27). What kind of life is this that God has in view for those who constitute His church? There is but one answer, that is the victorious life in Christ. To the Philippian Church Paul wrote: "Do all things without murmurings and questionings; that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain" (Phil. 2:14-16). Here again the Apostle shows that it is possible for the born-again believer to live the victorious life in Christ. In this connection, one should turn to Colossians 3:1-11 and not only read, but meditate seriously upon each statement and each admonition. In this passage, the Christians are urged to put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man, which is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of God who created him. To the Chruch at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul showed that he and his co-laborers were living the victorious life in Christ. "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe: 11 as ye know how we dealt with each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, 12 to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory" (I Thess. 2:10-12). Now, read the following: "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Note especially the statement of verse 4. "And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." If the people of God would only follow the instructions given in all these verses, they would be "perfect and entire, lacking in nothing."

There is a final passage at which we should look on this point. "Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; in your virtue knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge self-control and in your self-control patience; and your patience godliness; 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:5-11). In this passage, the Apostle Peter urges Christians to supply in their faith the seven Christian graces. He concludes his exhortation by saying: "Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble …" (vs. 10). According to this passage, if one will supply the Christian graces mentioned in the passage, in his faith, he will be brought to the point that he will never stumble. Of course, the stumbling of which he is speaking is spiritual and moral. This passage most emphatically teaches that it is possible to live the victorious life in Christ.

Jesus Christ Our Advocate

"We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (I John 2:1). The late Dr. A. T. Robertson tersely declared: "The Holy Spirit is God's Advocate on earth with men, for Christ is man's Advocate with the Father (as seen in such passages as John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)." As Dr. Robertson has pointed out, Christ is our Advocate before God. Romans 8:31-39, here quoted in part, so declares: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; 34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:31-34). He is also presented in the same capacity in Hebrews 7:25, which reads as follows: "Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." He is our Helper, Advocate or Lawyer, pleading our cause with the Father. He has been touched with the feeling of our infirmities and is, therefore, a faithful and merciful high priest presenting our cases in the presence of God.

John called Jesus our high priest, the righteous One. He is righteous in that He was sinless and spotless. Though He was in the form of man, He did not partake of man's fallen nature, being pure, holy, and divine. He was altogether righteous. He is, therefore, the propitiation for our sins and for those of the entire world. By His blood atonement, He made satisfaction for all of our sin—past, present, and future. Not only did he make propitiation for the sins of believers, but He also made propitiation for the sins of all the world. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Jesus tasted death for every man. "But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man" (Heb. 2:9). Paul in 1 Timothy 2:5,6, declares that Christ gave Himself a ransom for all. Thus by the Atonement of Christ, satisfaction was made for the sins of all men.

Discipleship

"And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments: (I John 2:3). Throughout the epistle, John gives several tests whereby the believer can ascertain whether or not he is in real fellowship with God, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. According to this statement, a person may claim that he knows Jesus Christ in a personal manner; but, if he does not keep His commandments, that fact is proof that he does not know Christ in a real, spiritual sense. "He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him …" (I John 2:4). The general walk of a person is the telltale whether or not his profession of Christ is genuine. One who claims that he knows Christ and is ignoring and violating the commandments of Christ, such a one is a liar, and the truth of God is not in his heart. On the other hand, "Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected" (I John 2:5). Keeping the commandments of Christ does not make one a child of God or keep him in that relationship. But the keeping of the commandments is proof that the one who is claiming to know Christ is genuine and has been born again. His failing to keep the commandments of Christ, to walk as He did, is proof that there has been no regeneration, and that the one thus claiming to know Christ is false.

Abiding and Walking in Christ

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked" (I John 2:6). If one is genuinely saved and is abiding in Christ, his walk will correspond to his profession. By the power of Christ, one can walk as He walked. Without divine assistance one cannot abide in Him and walk as He walked.