When Believer’s Sin

Transcript

GR 1089
11/21/1982

1 John 2:1,2
Gil Rugh

We need to evaluate and measure whether a person is truly a child of God or not. Remember this book was written so that we might know that we have eternal life. How can I know that I have eternal life? Well there will be several indicators that John touches on.

He starts in verse 5 by saying, here is the character of God. Now everyone who manifests the character of God in their life is a child of God. Everyone who does not manifest the character of God in their life is not a child of God. He makes it a black and white issue. He doesn't say, well, what about so and so that seems to be but is not. He is drawing the line firm and fixed. That's his purpose. So that's the character of God.

Then verse 6. A person who claims fellowship with God. You note the word fellowship means to share in common. A person who claims to share in common in the life of God, in the light of God. We looked at some passages in the Gospel of John which indicate that light and life are inseparable.

John's Gospel begins "In Him was Life and that life was the light of men." The person who claims to share in the life and light of God yet lives in the darkness, the person is a liar. He claims a relationship with God but he doesn't have one because he lives his life in the realm of darkness and there is no darkness in God. So to claim to live in a personal relationship with God and at the same time live in darkness. John says that's just a liar. He's claiming something that's not true.

Now verse 7. If we are walking in the light. So here is one who is living his life in the realm of the light. His life reflects the character of God. Then this person has fellowship with God. We have fellowship with one another. I take it the issue here is fellowship with God. We walk in the light as He Himself is in the light so the two parties in view. We and God. So when he says we have fellowship with one another he is talking about we and God have fellowship with one another. So the person who is living his life in the light manifesting the character of God has a relationship with God. Now that person who lives in relationship with God is being cleansed (present tense) . The blood of Jesus His Son keeps on cleansing us from all sin. So to live in the light does not mean you don't sin. Living in the light means you are a person with a personal relationship with God and thus the character of God is manifest in and through you. Therefore you are being cleansed from any sin that comes into your life. We'll talk about the details of that in our study in a moment in the opening verses of chapter 2.

Verse 8. If we make a claim not to have sinned. Denial basically of sin, the principle of sin, then we deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us. Verse 10. If we claim, if we say vie have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us. Again, verses 8 and 10 are describing a person who does not have a relationship with God because he is standing against God, opposed to God, declaring God to be a liar. This person does not have the truth within him.

We noted in the Gospel of John again that these are terms that are descriptive of an unbeliever, of the children of the devil. John chapter 8 we are told that the devil has no truth in him. He has been a liar from the beginning and here you have the children of the devil manifesting the devil's character.

Verse 9 which is a key verse. You see as you back into this verse 9 fits into place. "If vie are confessing our sins." That word to confess means to agree with. If we are agreeing with God about our sins, in effect, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us and to cleanse us. So those who are agreeing with God about their sin are the same as those who walk in the light in verse 7. And they are those who experience cleansing.

Now he is not talking here about a Christian who sins. So as a Christian I committed an act of sin. Now I must confess it and God will forgive me. That's contrary to the context. Contrary to the context of the whole book. Because he already told me in verse 7 that I am being cleansed by virtue of a relationship with Him. He'll talk about the outworking of that. Rather as a result of being one who agrees with God about sin I am manifesting God's character. In contrast with verse 8 one who does not have the truth.

Verse 10. One who is making God a liar. Verse 9. I am one who is agreeing with God about sin. So you see I am partaking of God's character. I am seeing things from God's perspective. That's an indication of a person who is a child of God. We noted the other uses of this word "confess" in the Gospel of John have to do with a reflection of a believer's character. Basically agreeing God about His Son Jesus Christ. That's a reflection that a person is a believer. You must agree with God about sin. You must agree with God about His Son Jesus Christ. That's a manifestation of a person who is a child of God.

Let me say on this word "confess" too. Passages in the gospel. We'll look at them later on in this study. In Matthew and in Luke where Jesus said that if you will confess Me before men I will confess you before My Father who is in heaven. Has nothing to do with a public invitation. Has nothing to do with giving your public testimony I don't believe. So it has to do with if you will come to believe in Him in this life. If you will acknowledge Him in this life. What we're saying is you have to come to believe in Jesus Christ in this life and then in the presence of God Jesus Christ acknowledges you into agreement and a recognition and an acknowledgment characteristic of a believer.

Now when you come into chapter 2 John picks up. He has touched on the fact in verse 7 that you can be living in the light and still sin. Because those who are living in the light are constantly being cleansed.

How does that work? Well, chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 tell you how that works. My little children and it was a term of endearment. Jesus Himself used this expression in John 13:33 speaking of His disciples. Now here is John who picks it up and he'll use it a couple of times in this particular epistle. Down in verse 12 of chapter 2. "I am writing to you little children. Over in chapter 3 verse 18. "Little children let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and in truth." It's a term of endearment and warmth. It may indicate also some advanced age on John's part.

I still sometimes meet older people who are much older than me and they'll talk to me as "son" or another warm expression to make me feel good the older I get because it makes me feel younger again. John may be older here. It's a term of warmth and endearment. "My little children" The purpose in writing this. "I am writing these things to you with a purpose. "In order that you may not sin." You may not begin to commit acts of sin. You recognize that sin is a characteristic of the old life. You recognize that sin is a characteristic of those who are apart from God.

So I am writing this to you so you understand and don't sin, don't begin to sin. Don't begin to contemplate indulging in acts of sin that I recognize. I am one who partakes of the character of God in contrast to those who live their life in the darkness. That's a purpose to remind us of who we are and thus how we are to live.

However, he goes on. There is a condition. "If anyone sins" and in aorist tense here. Now tenses are important of drawing them the attention. Aorist tense has to do primarily with an act of sin. Aorist tense is usually defined and those of you who took Greek will make me be even more specific all the time. Pune til iar action. Action done at a point in time. In contrast to the present tense where we are living a life of sin. Here is a person who commits an act of sin or commits acts of sin. You can commit more than one. But it's a contrast from living a life of sin. There is a difference.

If anyone sins, commits acts of sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. So there is a correction here lest anybody would have misunderstood. John is not teaching what we call the doctrine of practical perfection. We are perfected in Christ the moment we believe but there have been those who taught what we call perfectionism. That they have arrived or attained a state of perfection in their conduct and in their life. John sets that in proper perspective. He touched on it in verse 7 of chapter 1. Now he indicates if anyone does commit acts of sin, any believer, how are they dealt with?

Well, we have an Advocate with the Father. And that's the word we are familiar with from studies in the Gospel of John. The word paraclete. The word paraclete is a compound word to call alongside of, para—to be alongside or beside and caleto—to call. The paraclete is one called alongside of to give aid or assistance or help, to give support. It's only used by John in the New Testament writings.

Jump back to the Gospel of John. John chapter 14. Just note his use of it. John and the fourteenth chapter. Great section on the Holy Spirit who will be sent by Christ when He returns to the Father. And in John 14 and verse 16 Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper." That word "helper" is the word we have translated "advocate" in I John 2:1. He will send you another advocate, another paraclete and that word "another" means another of the same kind. So Jesus identifies
Himself as a paraclete and He says He will send another one just like Me to be your helper, your aide. Down in verse 26.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name. There again is the Holy Spirit identified as the paraclete, the advocate, the helper.

Over in chapter 15, verse 26. "When the Helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me." Over in chapter 16, verse 7. "But I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away the Helper shall not come to you but if I go, I will send Him to you." That occurs. Jesus departs the earth in Acts chapter 1 and Acts chapter 2 the Holy Spirit is sent to begin a ministry in a new way. The Holy Spirit was present on earth. Remember that John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit from his mother's womb. But the Spirit of God is being sent to embark on a particular ministry of a special kind—to indwell believers and provide all the aid and assistance and support they need to live the life that God wants them to live here on earth.

Now, over in John. I John again. Here we are told that Jesus Christ is our Advocate, the One who gives us aid. Now what is the balance here is we have an Advocate or a Helper who indwells us, the Holy Spirit who is sent by God to us and we also have an Advocate or a Helper in the presence of God, Jesus Christ, because the Advocate in I John 2:1. "If anyone sins we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." We also have the Advocate who was sent to us from the Father, the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit indwells us to be our Advocate and our Helper, Jesus Christ represents us in the presence of the Father to be our Advocate and our Helper. He is identified as Jesus Christ the Righteous. Thus He is the One fit to represent us. This ward would also be used in a legal sense as an attorney or a lawyer. Because an attorney or a lawyer is one who comes to your aid to give you the help necessary, to be your representative. So that's the word carries that idea in a legal context.

Jesus Christ is the One that we have with the Father to represent us. And that word "with", preposition that is based in word that means to be face to face with someone. So He is our Representative in the presence, face to face, with God the Father. And the very presence of God. Now, this idea is present elsewhere in Scripture even though the word "advocate" is not there.

Turn over to Romans chapter 8. Romans and the eighth chapter. Verse 26 Here you see the Spirit carrying on this particular ministry of helping us and in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness for we do not know how to pray as we should but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. So here you see the Spirit carrying on a ministry of intercession. As we pray, we pray with a finite, limited mind. But the Spirit of God who indwells us intercedes on our behalf.

Down in verses 31 and following. "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the One who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died yes, rather, who was raised who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes for us." So in verse 26 the Spirit of God intercedes for us and in verse 34 Jesus Christ intercedes for us. The Spirit of God intercedes for us from within us praying according to the will of God. Jesus Christ serving at the right hand of the Father intercedes on our behalf. So both carry on that aiding, advocating, sustaining ministry.

Over in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25. Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25. "Hence also He (Jesus Christ) is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them." He intercedes constantly in our presence in heaven.

Come back to I John. We're going to see how this works. In verse 2. "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, good theological word. The word "propitiation". And the word basically means "satisfaction."
He is the satisfaction for our sin. He has satisfied the righteous demands of a Holy God by paying the just penalty for sin. That's the point. He is the propitiation for our sin. He has been the satisfaction for our sin for I am sinful and God is holy and God in His holy righteousness says the penalty for sin is death. And the righteous Son of God died on a cross to pay that penalty. He has satisfied all the righteous demands of a holy God. He has propitiated, satisfied, paid the penalty for my sins. Now the connection. What happens? I sin as a believer. I have come to trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I recognize and believe that He alone died for me and by trusting Him alone I am cleansed and forgiven. But I sin. I get angry with my wife and I kick the dog. Better than the other way around. I sin. Whatever the sin. I lied. I lust. Whatever. What happens? I am back under the guilt of my sin. I am back under condemnation. No. Well, why? Because I have a representative in the presence of the Father,
One who satisfied God's justice regarding all my sin past, present and future so that when I sin Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father to be my representative and say, yes, and I died to pay the penalty for that sin. My debt satisfies the demands of righteousness in paying the penalty for that sin. So I am saved initially by the gracious work of Jesus Christ. I simply relied upon Him and I am constantly daily forgiven by virtue of the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ, that He intercedes. He represents me before the Father. So we have Satan who is the accuser of the brethren, you remember. The Book of Revelation. We see him functioning in this way in the Book of Job.

So I sin and Satan is there saying, There's that dirty, rotten sinner, Gil Rugh again. He did it again. You know that's the 37th time this week and it's only 9:00 Monday morning. Therefore that means that his penalty is death. He belongs to me. And Jesus Christ is there to intercede and say, I died. I paid the penalty for that sin. He is one who is cleansed and forgiven by virtue of my work. That's his high priestly ministry developed in the Book of Hebrews. That's what is referred to here. That's what is talked about up in chapter 1 verse 7 of I John. As we are walking in the light as He Himself is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son keeps on cleansing us. So, if you will, it is automatic and I am cleansed of the sins that I commit the moment I commit them. That's why I do not believe that I John 1:9 is talking about a program of forgiveness for a believer. I am automatically forgiven. Automatically from the standpoint it's based upon what Jesus Christ does as my representative in heaven—not what I do down here. When I trusted Him as personal Savior, that encompassed all His work for me for all eternity. That was the package of my salvation. It's like a lifetime warranty. That's the way my salvation is. It's an eternal warranty. It's a guarantee. You say, well, you have got a license to sin. I mean, you know, I can go out and sin all I want. Wine, women, and song. Wine and women! Even sinners have their limitations.

By the way. That's a great religion you got Gil. You just know God's going to forgive you so you can go out and sin all you want. You know the problem? When I trusted Jesus Christ I was born anew from above. He transformed my character and I don't want to like I once did. That doesn't mean the old me doesn't at times want to. But the new me doesn't want to. And when I do sin, I'm miserable because it's not really what my life is all about any more. So it's not a license to sin as someone might look at it and say. Because that's part of the transformation of character. I have partaken of God's character now which is light. Deep down as a believer do you really, really want to sin? When that old man is tugging and drawing you to it you know that the end of it is misery. You hate it and you despise it. It doesn't bring you happiness and joy even in the temporal way. That's what the unbeliever can do. He can indulge in his sin and there's pleasure in sin for a season.

You know we lost even that edge of pleasure in sin when we became believers and now I sin and I'm miserable. The unbeliever can say, Isn't this fun and there is pleasure for a time. But for a believer it's different and that's because I partake of God's character. So even though I know I could go out and sin. But this sin or that sin, I don't really want to.

Herman Hoyt, former president of Grace Seminary, used to tell us in theology class and not a great sound theological statement. But when God saved you He saved your "wanter." And that happened. He saved me through and through. My wanter, the things I want to do. I have been changed and I think, Oh, phooey. Here now I can last sin all I want. Oh, happy condition— sin all you want because there is remission? But now I find out that's not the way it is because I don't want to. Where is our desire now? To be more like Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean we don't go through a time but the general character of our life is changed and transformed.

He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for those of the whole world. Go through the first epistle of John sometime in the next couple of weeks and write down every place the word "world" is used in the first epistle of John. See how it is used by John in this epistle. I think you'll think you'll see a pattern. I say that because I John chapter 2 verse 2 indicates that the doctrine of limited atonement is a scriptural impossibility. The word "world" here has to mean war Id. It's the same world that John closes with in the last chapter of I John 5. Verse 19. "We know that we are of God and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." This world system and all that are in it. So you trace through the use of the word world, but I say that because some who hold to the doctrine of limited atonement which is, perhaps you are not familiar with that, that Christ only died for the elect. Those that He had chosen for salvation. And thus they say that the world here is limited in scope, either to the world of the elect or else word world here means nations in contrast to Jews. Now you study the use of the word "world." We'll do it at a later time if we have time in our study of I John to see if there is any other use of this word in I John that will stand that kind of meaning. We don't want to read our theology into Scripture. We want to get our theology out of Scripture. He says He is the satisfaction for our sins and not for ours only but for those of the whole world. I take it world means world. It's the same satisfaction for everyone everyplace.

Now the Scripture makes clear that that satisfaction and that payment is applied only to those who come to believe in Jesus Christ as personal Savior. But the provision is the same. And that satisfaction. There's not a different payment for the Buddhists or a different payment for the Jew or a different payment for the Gentile or a different payment for anyone. The satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. And for those who believe they reap and receive the benefits of His death.

So these opening verses very clear. What has He done? He has expanded on the matter of being cleansed while you live in the light. For believers who manifest God's character, they do and will sin. Undesirable as it is, we don't have to sin. I believe that the power of God indwelling us is adequate.
That if we would draw upon that power, rely upon that power, every moment of every day, we would never sin. So it's never necessary for me to sin. I never have to sin. Any time I sin, since I became a believer some 29 years ago I did it by choice. Says, oh, boy, there were some strong tuggings there but the power of God indwelling you is adequate and sufficient. The helper there would provide every aid and every enablement for me to function as God wanted me to. And sometimes I resist His help and I do sin. What is God's plan? God's plan is that His Son function as my representative in glory to be my advocate. Thus I am constantly cleansed. I have eternal security. Why? He ever lives to make intercession for me. So any time I sin from now until the time I stand in the presence of God, Jesus Christ is in the presence of God as the One who satisfied God's righteous demand in paying the penalty for my sin.

What a privileged position we have as believers. Isn't it amazing that we are those cleansed and forgiven. Trust that the motivation and drive that we want to be more like Jesus Christ. I want more of His character to characterize me. Praise God for the forgiveness. Praise God for the transformed life as well.

Let's pray together