Have you ever played the game “Simon Says?” If the leader says “Simon Says”, you are to do exactly what he does. However, if he gives a command without saying “Simon Says” you must not do it. If he is quick, it takes great concentration not to slip.

The Christian life is somewhat like that game. God tells us to do exactly what He says, but the world, the flesh, or the devil will tell us to do otherwise and if we are not careful, we will slip and sin.

Transition

John touched on the problem of sin in chapter one, but here he gives us more details to answer the question “What if I sin?” He identifies the plan, the problem, the Pleader, and the payment.

The Plan (v.1)

  1. Christians do not have to sin.
    1. Notice the phrase, “that ye sin not”. Literally, it says, “in order that you might not sin.”
    2. God did not say that Christians will never ever sin, but they do not have to sin. God’s plan is that we yield to Him and not to sin.
      ☆ (Romans 6:12-13) “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
  2. God wants us to obey His Word and keep from sin.
    1. The word “that” (literally, in order that) shows us John’s goal in writing was to warn Christians in order that we sin not. Sin is potential, but all sin is harmful.
    2. If Jesus Christ has forgiven your sins and given you eternal life, you can walk in the light with God by putting off the old man, confessing your sin and being renewed by the Spirit, and putting on the new man (Compare 1John 1:5-10 with Ephesians 4:22-24). This is God’s plan for your life. God wants you to be close to Him.

The Problem (v.1)

  1. Christians sometimes do sin.
    1. The phrase “if any man sin” tells us that God knows sin is a possibility for true Christians. It is not God’s plan that we sin, but He knows we have weak flesh. Christians still have a sin nature. For this very reason, Jesus warned His disciples of temptation the night He prayed in the garden.
      ☆ (Matthew 26:41) “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
    2. Many of God’s children in the Bible sinned.
      1. Moses in anger struck the rock.
      2. David committed adultery and murder.
      3. Jonah ran from God.
      4. Peter cursed and denied the Lord.
      5. Ananias lied to God.
  2. Sin blocks fellowship with God.
    1. John wrote “these things” (the warnings in the previous verses 1Jn 1:5-10) to keep believers from sin by warning us that if we sin we cannot have fellowship with God.
    2. A Christian who sows sin and does not immediately confess and forsake it, will reap the loss of fellowship with God.
      ☆ (Galatians 6:7-8) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

The Pleader (v.1)

  1. We have an Advocate.
    1. An advocate is a legal adviser, a pleader, a helper, or a comforter. The Lord Jesus acts as the believer’s pleader. He pleads our case to the Father.
    2. We must appeal to Him by confessing our sin (cf. 1Jn 1:9). He then steps in and pleads for us.
    3. We need an Advocate because the devil continually accuses us.
      ☆ (Revelation 12:10) “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
  2. Our Advocate is with the Father and is righteous
    1. Jesus is “with the Father”. That is, He is beside or near or able to approach the Father. Remember, God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1Jn 1:5). Sin prevents the sinner from approaching God to plead his own case. We could have no better Advocate than Christ. He is right now seated next to the Father.
      ☆ (Hebrews 12:2) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
    2. Jesus is also “righteous”. He is sinless and perfect in every way. He knows exactly what to say. He will plead perfectly for his children. He is also the perfect righteous pattern for us to follow.

The Payment (v.2)

  1. Christ himself is the propitiation for our sin.
    1. Propitiation is a big word that means Christ satisfied God’s wrath toward sin when He died on the cross. We see it again in chapter four (1 John 4:10). When Christ came to this earth and died on the cross for the sins of the human race, He satisfied the wrath of God toward sin.
    2. Christ is able to be our Advocate because He is the propitiation for our sins. He took my punishment for me. Now He can rightly argue that I am free from punishment if I confess my sin.
  2. His propitiation is sufficient for all people.
    1. Christ is the propitiation “for our sins”.
      1. He paid the debt for all our sins, past and future.
      2. This does not mean we are free to sin. God’s plan is clearly that we sin not (v.1). The Apostle Paul addressed this in the book of Romans.
        ☆ (Romans 6:1-2) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
    2. Christ is the propitiation “for the whole world”. In the Pulpit Commentary we read, “No man – Christian, Jew, or Gentile – is outside the mercy of God, unless he places himself there deliberately.” Thomas Constable adds an excellent comment. “This verse provides strong support for the fact that Jesus Christ died for all people (unlimited atonement). In His death the Lord Jesus provided salvation that is sufficient for all, though it is efficient only for those who trust in Him (2 Cor. 5:14-15, 19; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 22:17). In other words, Christ’s death made eternal life available for all, but not automatic for all.”
      1. The Scriptures say that God, “… will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
      2. Christ paid the debt for all people, including you. If you have never admitted your guilt and asked Christ to apply his payment to your life, you need to. He cannot be your Advocate until you first receive Him as your Saviour.

Conclusion

God’s plan is that we sin not. The problem is that we still sometimes sin. Our Pleader is the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid our payment when in love He became the propitiation for our sins. If we confess our sins, He will plead our case and keep us from punishment.

Let’s do our best to walk with Christ and not sin. However, if we do sin, let’s be quick to agree with God and allow Christ to plead our case based on His propitiation. Have you thanked Him for this priceless gift recently?

If you have not yet received Christ’s payment for your sin, his propitiation was for your sins too. If you will believe Him, admit your guilt, and ask, He will cleanse your sin and give you eternal life. Tust Him before you go home.

Song: Yield Not to Temptation – 364
—
What If I Sin?
1 March 2015 pm – 1John 2:1-2 – 1John 15 – Scott Childs