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Jesus Our Advocate
John writes with both warning and comfort. He wants his readers not to sin, yet he also points them to Jesus Christ when sin does occur. He then shows that real knowledge of him is seen in obedient living.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In these verses, John explains why he is writing, names Jesus Christ as righteous and the atoning sacrifice for sins, and gives clear tests for claims about knowing him or remaining in him. His focus is on commandments, God’s word, and walking as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:1–6Main takeaway
Jesus Christ helps sinners before the Father, and this passage says that truly knowing him is shown by obedient living.
Follow the letter’s teaching
01John warns against sin and points to JesusJohn warmly calls his readers “my little children” and says he writes so that they may not sin.
Explanation
John warmly calls his readers “my little children” and says he writes so that they may not sin. That is his clear aim. Yet he also gives hope: if anyone sins, “we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous”. Jesus’ help is tied to his righteous character.
02Jesus is the atoning sacrificeJohn says Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins”, then adds, “not for ours only, but also for the whole world”.
Explanation
John says Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins”, then adds, “not for ours only, but also for the whole world”. The verse explains why sinners can have help through Jesus. John does not soften his warning about sin, but he does show where hope is found.
03Knowing him is shown in obedienceJohn gives a test for knowing him: “if we keep his commandments”. He then warns that a person who says, “I know him,” while not keeping his commandments is “a liar”.
Explanation
John gives a test for knowing him: “if we keep his commandments”. He then warns that a person who says, “I know him,” while not keeping his commandments is “a liar”. In this passage, words alone do not prove the claim. Obedience is the evidence John points to.
04Keeping his word means walking as Jesus walkedJohn turns to the positive picture. In the person who keeps his word, “God’s love has most certainly been perfected”.
Explanation
John turns to the positive picture. In the person who keeps his word, “God’s love has most certainly been perfected”. This helps show that “we are in him”. So anyone who says he remains in him ought to “walk just like he walked”. John joins assurance with a pattern for daily life.
Questions to explore
01What are the two parts of John’s message in verse 1?
Look for both the purpose of writing, “so that you may not sin”, and the comfort given if anyone sins.
02How does John describe Jesus in relation to sin?
Gather John’s words from verses 1 and 2: Jesus is “the righteous” and “the atoning sacrifice for our sins”.
03What does John say should match a person’s claim to know or remain in him?
Trace the repeated ideas of keeping his commandments, keeping his word, and walking as Jesus walked.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 John 2:1–6
1My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
2And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
3This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
4One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.
5But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him:
6he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.