1 John 2:1-11

1 John 2:1-11

Someone once said, “I enjoy sinning, God enjoys forgiving so the universe is equitably arranged.” That is not entirely unlike the attitude of the Gnostics and some current nominal Christians concerning sin. Some would see 1 John 1:9 as a sort of free pass to sin. They might say, “I know this is wrong, but later I'll ask forgiveness.” John is not introducing a new subject at the beginning of chapter 2; John is beginning to bring to the conversation a third element. In the first chapter, John talked about forgiveness and holiness; now he adds to the conversation love.

Sin is not to be the pattern or habit of our lives, but if it happens, we have Jesus, who is both the Advocate who pleads our case and the propitiation for our sins. Because Jesus was the propitiation of our sin, He most effectively pleads our case before God. Propitiation means “a blood sacrifice that turns away and satisfies the wrath of God for sin.” There is much to be said about this word, but little space. Suffice it to say all the fury for all the evil of all mankind for all eternity was directed to Jesus on the cross. What motivated Jesus to endure this punishment is the same motive for our personal holiness. Namely love.

Personal holiness is not our effort to be good enough or earn forgiveness. Personal holiness is our love for the One who saves us working itself out in daily life. Proof of our salvation is not in having the right doctrines, good as that may be. Nor is it in our saying or professing the truth, again a good thing. The evidence of our salvation is when, because of love for Christ, we do that which is holy and righteous. Holy living is a life motivated by love for God. A wicked, self-righteous legalist may do the same thing as a Christian, but the different motivation means an entirely different spiritual condition exists. This reality, holiness motivated by love of Christ, is both an old and a new thing. Old in that it goes back to the teachings of Jesus Himself and is even hinted at in the Old Testament prophecy. But it is new because every moment it is lived out fresh in that moment. Like a sunrise, it is old but new every morning. When we live in love that is induced by holiness, we will neither stumble nor cause others to stumble because love gives a light and clarity in life.

“Lord, help my love for You be expressed in holy living. AMEN”