1st John 2:1-2

Christ Our Advocate
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. ESV

John is writing to Christians. He is trying to encourage us in our walk. Sin, I think sometimes we forget what an ugly thing it is. We try to soften it by calling it other things like "I made a mistake, or I blew it, or its just a white lie." Or we try to justify "everybody goes over the speed limit, or 'yeah, right, like the software police are going to break into our house and bust us' or its just some small supplies nobody will miss them."

God hates sin. We should be honest with ourselves about the sin in our own lives ( we do it every day) and hate it as well.

Sin can make us feel helpless or hopeless. "I've done it again, what a hopeless mess I am." But we must remember verse 2. We have an Advocate with the Father (whose wrath we all deserve), Jesus Christ the righteous, and He Himself is our propitiation (means appeasement or satisfaction) for our sins and mankind in general (don't mistake this for universalism, this verse isn't teaching that everybody in the world gets saved). What fantastic good news this is for us. Jesus paid it all He has made things right for us with the Father.

So next time the Devil comes around with his accusing finger wagging in your face remember we have been forgiven. With that being said still keep short accounts with God when you sin, admit it to Him. He already knows about it anyhow. But confess it to Him, apologize and ask for grace and help in your battle with sin. Ask for a daily indwelling (filling) of the Holy Spirit, read your Bible daily, and pray.