1 John 1:8-2:2 - The Heart of God

02/05/24 • 45 min

1 John 1:8-2:2 The Heart of God

(8) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

(1) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (2) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

I want to start with Chapter 2:2 and work backward.

Now bear with me a bit as this will be a little heady, then to the heart.

He, Jesus, is the atoning (the means of forgiveness). Some versions of the Bible use propitiation-which means to appease or offer conciliation which is to overcome hostility.

1 John 1:8-2:2 The Heart of God

I want to start with Chapter 2:2 and work backward.

Now bear with me a bit as this will be a little heady, then to the heart.

He, Jesus, is the atoning (the means of forgiveness). Some versions of the Bible use propitiation-which means to appease or offer conciliation which is to overcome hostility.

Previous Episode

1 John 1:5-7 God is Light

1 John 1:5-7

(5) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (6) If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Section 1 of First John is God is light.

Kids are learning. God is everything good.

Living in darkness is: living a life that is mean, selfish, and hurts other people.

Living in the light: living a life that is kind and loving and generous to other people.

Next Episode

Living like Jesus with Confidence and Assurance 1 John 2:1-6

1 John 2:1-6

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. (2) He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

(3) And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. (4) If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. (5) But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. (6) Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

God is serious about sin. That’s why He, being God, left heaven, became a human, (incarnate God you sing those words at Christmas b/c that is what we celebrate) was tempted in every way, never ever gave in (b/c he had the Holy Spirit), He was put to a gruesome death for claiming to be God, all because He wanted to save us from an eternity without Him and grant us access RIGHT NOW to the loving presence of God.