1 John 2:1–6 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Don’t sin. A simple instruction. We tell it to our children. We tell it to our family and friends. We say it to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t sin. We tell ourselves that same thing. It is good advice. We should follow it.

But we don’t. We can all go a while making a good effort to avoid sin, but eventually we give in to temptations. We fail to use the strength God provides for us to overcome temptation, and we do the very thing we are trying not to do.

God knows this about us. He is very familiar with mankind in its fallen state. That is why He sent Jesus to pay for the sins of all people. It is also why He gave and preserved His Word for us. That word reminds us “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” The same one who accomplished forgiveness for all people is still pleading our case to the Father! And just to be sure you understand who Jesus is and what He did, John shared this:

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

The sacrifice of Jesus was enough, more than enough, to pay for the sins of everyone. It was full and complete payment, giving us peace and confidence to live our lives here in reverent fear. I say that, because knowing what Jesus did leads to a response on our part. John described it this way:

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

We must walk as Jesus did, live as Jesus did, love as Jesus did, help as Jesus did. That is why we are called His followers. We want to follow His example. None of us will do it perfectly. We will mess up over and over again. But we keep trying, remembering what Jesus already did for us. Our lives should be a continual response of thanks to God for all the blessings He has given us in Christ.

“Don’t sin.”  And when you do, repent, ask to be forgiven, and receive what Jesus earned for you. Then you start over again, telling yourself “Don’t sin.”  This is the grace in which we live for Jesus’ sake.