This week we are going to be looking deeper at  1 John 2: 1-17.  This chapter is very personal, very encouraging, and very challenging.  When you read this, you are going to be reminded of our call to love others as Christ has loved us, but also reminded of that call from God to avoid sin at all costs.  Today we’ll look at the World of the Text of verses 1-6 and the rest of the chapter tomorrow.

John tells us right off the bat in this passage that he is writing these things to us that we may not sin.  When you look at the word “sin” in Greek, he is not talking about habitual sin, but he is talking about a singular action.  John is telling us not sin, in much the same language that Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more.  Yes, we were just told in chapter 1 that when we sin, we can confess and be forgiven.  But John implores to not to treat that forgiveness too lightly.  Remember what Jesus went through for that forgiveness, and just as Jesus chose to do the hard thing, we too should choose to do what is hard.  Avoid sin.

He tells us that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice not just for our sins, but for the sins fo the world.  That word atonement implies forgiveness, but it also speaks to satisfying the divine wrath.  Sin should and must be paid for.  That is what Jesus did. When we consider and realize that, then we know what we must do. Jesus suffered so that we would not have to.  Our forgiveness has come at a great price.  Do not take that lightly.  Do not sin.

To abide her means to find our life from.  To be nourished by, deeply graphed in.  When you abide with, you are at one with.  So, when you are at one with Jesus, you will walk with Him and by the same token, you will not walk with sin.  Your love for Jesus will be greater than your desire for sin.  That’s where we want to be. That’s sanctification. That’s what we all desire.  Today, may we abide deeply in the love of Jesus.

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