John the apostle has been sharing with us how to have fellowship with God. He writes that we can have fellowship with God as long as our sin problem that separates us from God is removed. God has made provision for that removal by His Son Jesus Christ, and everyone who confesses his or her sins can now establish a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Beginning in chapter two verse one John now writes:
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
John assumes the role of a father in this wonderful verse, and in a way, he is a father in the faith to all who read and love his words. John, who was close to Jesus, walked with the disciples, saw the miracles, experienced the transfiguration, wanted to call down fire on Samaria, saw the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, witnessed Jesus' raising from the dead and ascension, raised a lame man to walk again, was boiled in oil and exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith, now calls those who read his words, “My little children.” And, he has a reason to write to his children:
that you sin not
Many who follow after Jesus Christ, especially in the beginning, find themselves engaging in sin even after they accept Christ as their savior. There is the human element still inside, and as long as we live in these bodies, there will be a tendency toward sin. John knows this, and therefore writes his words so that people will not sin. Whenever the idea of breaking fellowship with God is mentioned because of sin, a person who is attentive will have a desire to never break that fellowship. In fact, there will be such a desire to continue in relationship with God that whenever there is sin in a person's life, there will also be conviction. Those who have fellowship with God do not want to break that fellowship ever again.
However, John, who speaks as a spiritual father, says, that he writes his word that we not sin, but adds, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Perhaps we shall leave this part for tomorrow's sharing. For now, just realize that John wrote the words in this wonderful little book of his that we not sin, and that shall be enough to meditate upon today.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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