Chapter 2 Get the point?

I don't want you to sin, but we have an advocate if anyone does sin.

What is John trying to tell us about the reason for not sinning?

We don't stop sinning in order to make atonement for our sins.

First, list all the reasons he writes to his audience.

Sins have been forgiven

have known Him

have overcome the evil one

have known the Father

you are strong and the word of God lives in you and you have overcome the evil one.

What does he not give as reasons for writing them? So you can be forgiven, so you can know him, so you can overcome the evil one. There's only one thing in the whole chapter that he writes so they can do. What's that? Not sin. What does that tell you? You should be jumping up and down, now.

John says, "I am writing this to you because you get it. I am not trying to correct you, or scold you. You have been forgiven, or I wouldn't be writing. You know God, or I wouldn't be writing. You have already overcome the evil one, or I wouldn't be writing you. I'm not trying to get you to do something to deserve forgiveness, or to gain special knowledge of God, or become overcomers. You already are and have these things. You'd be dead meat if that wasn't so. You'd have no chance of quitting the sin game, but because these things are in place, I can write to you encouraging you not to sin.

So what reasoning does he give in chapter two for ceasing to sin and starting to obey the commandments of Jesus?

We are interested in stopping sinning because the world and everything in it is passing away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. So if He has promised us Eternal Life, what must He also be promising us, rebellious though we are. That He will make us into people who do His will. For those are the ones who abide forever.

John can write about obedience because our acceptance before God is not dependent upon it. It is the fruit of your relationship with Him through the indwelling Christ. Wow!

Is that good news, or what?

Thank You, Jesus! Help me put this into questions, please.