“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.” (1 John 2:1-6, NIV)
At least one of you has to be saying, “I thought you said a couple days ago that a believer can’t sin, but this passage says they can.” I remind you that I did not say they cannot sin. I said a true believer cannot consistently and knowingly continue in sin. Someone who is in fellowship with God cannot habitually walk in darkness. A Spirit-filled person will hate sin and seek to eliminate it from their lives. Their desire will be toward God-pleasing obedience rather than self-pleasing decadence.
That said, let me emphasize the really good news. If a believer sins, she has a defender before God’s throne. Jesus, the one we put our faith in, is our defender. He speaks to the Father on our behalf. And the Father, remembering the blood of his Son shed for sin and crediting his Son’s righteousness to the believer, has mercy.
Isn’t that amazing?! You believe on Jesus. You move from darkness to light. You confess your sin. You walk in the light and have fellowship with God. And because of what Jesus did on the cross, God has mercy on you. He forgives your sin. He cleanses you from all unrighteousness.
My friends, do you know this God who is rich in mercy? If you know him, you will obey his commands. You won’t do it out of a sense of duty. It won’t be a burden. You will joyfully do what’s right and avoid what’s wrong because of your great love for the one who bought you out of slavery. If you live in God and he lives in you, you will walk as Jesus did – in complete dependence upon God for power and in willing submission to God.
The man who says, “I know God,” but does not do what God commands, resists submission. His actions belie his claim. God is not Lord of his life. The truth is not in him. Those who know God obey him.
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