If We Sin...

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. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:1-2

Here's an "if" that is 1st class condition in the original greek. "If and it's true." It would be better if God's people didn't sin, but as long as we're in the flesh, it will happen. An important part of growing in grace is learning to recognize the personal sins we commit, sometimes deliberately but often in ignorance. Proverbs 6:16-19: "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers." Some Christians may not realize the sinfulness of a couple of these, such as the last one: agitating conflict in the community. Well, we have an advocate! Isn't that a beautiful word? He is on our side. He paid our price. He stands at the right hand of the Father to plead our righteousness, which is His Righteousness, because we belong to Him. I'm deeply grateful for His atonement, and I'm eager to learn more about how to honor Him in my daily life. The more we obey what we know of the Word, the more we will come to know of the Word. It's a rule. Self-examination and confession of the personal sins we recognize will keep us on the upward track toward maturity. It's an exhilarating journey, meant to be enjoyed and shared.