A Tour Through John, Lesson 39

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/tour-john-lesson-39/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>2:1 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; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.</p><ul><li>Forgiveness (v.1) -- this is great news! Not that we should abuse God’s kindness, but in case we do sin (and we all do—let’s be honest), Jesus is right there speaking in our defense.</li><li>Advocate, counselor, paraklete (v.1).</li><li>Christ does not rationalize our sin through slick argument, but neutralizing it through his atoning blood. Would that the whole world grasped this and experienced it (2:2)!</li><li>Some see in verse 2 a promise of ultimate redemption for <i>everybody</i>. This false doctrine is called <i>universalism</i>.<ul><li>And yet 1 John does not teach that everybody will be saved, only that God <i>wants</i> everyone to be saved. The Lord will never force anyone against his or her will.</li><li>Rather, we should see 2:2 as a reflection of God's heart, longing that all would accept the message of Christ and be saved.</li></ul></li></ul><p>3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.</p><ul><li>Verses 3-6 are a clear passage on the commitment the Lord demands.</li><li>It silences the opposition of those who insist that uncommitted people can be saved.</li><li>Walking as Jesus did is not walking in sandals or walking on water. As we have seen, the walking of 2:6 is equivalent t