First John 2:1-2

Note: These posts appear from the most recent to the oldest. To follow the First John discussion in the order of the text, I encourage you to start with the older posts first. As in the previous post, I'm not writing this in a properly formatted manner. I'm simply sharing my notes from the class.

Intro: The 140th World Almanac and Book of Facts 2008 Edition says this about about the church..."some tendency towards perfectionism." Proof that we don't live the message of this book otherwise it would say, "some tendency toward love and forgiveness."

Verse 1: Keep in mind when this was written chapters and verses weren't used. This verse is a follow up to those that come before. This shows 1. the meaning of walking in the light (confession of sins) 2. conditions of walking in the light (forsaking those sins).

"Little children" from the Greek teknia also found in 2:12, 28, 3:18, 4:4 and 5:21. Term of affection and closeness. Only other New Testament use of this word is in John 13:33 used by Jesus. Implies the spiritual relation of children to a father in faith. The thought without the specific word is found in First Corinthians 4:15.

Other word used for children is "paidia" in 2:13 and 18. Denotes age and characteristics of childhood. Age to youth, authority to subordinates, wisdom to ignorance.

John's purpose is to warn them against participating in sinful acts but if you do sin, what to do? It's not hopeless as the following shows.

Verse 2: "Have an Advocate", here again is a present tense verb, literally keep on having. He's the ever present remedy. Word we use today for advocate is lawyer, someone to represent us. Tom Miller explains this best: Imagine we are on trial for our deeds. Our Advocate is the Son of the Judge. The Judge's Son is pleading our case.

Righteous: means Jesus, the righteous one pleads for the unrighteous. An advocate himself in need of intercession could not hope to influence the Judge. This is yet another example of John refuting Gnostics who claimed Jesus was sinful if He was man.

Propitiation: to appease, render favorable, conciliate. Occurs here and in 4:10. Other forms used in Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 2:17. He propitiates the Father (rendering Him favorable toward us), reconciling us to God. See also Romans 5:11 and Second Corinthians 5:18-19. Guy N. Woods quote about this: "Positive, undeniable evidence of the falseness of any theology which would limit the benefits of the atonement, or deny its blessing to anyone." (Example - Calvinism)

Martin Luther said, "It is a patent fact that thou too art a part of the whole world; so that thine heart cannot deceive itself and think the Lord died for Peter and Paul but not for me."

Summary: Avoid sin but if we fall into it, rely on the Advocate to plead our case.