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.
The Apostle John wrote his letter so that his readers "may not sin." That is, he wrote his letter to the readers of his day, and to us by extension, in order to encourage us not to sin. Although God sent Jesus Christ to earth in order to provide a remedy for sin, John still wants us to avoid sin. The remedy was not given by God as a license or an excuse to sin.

Consequently, we should strive, with the help of God, to avoid it. As children of God, we should seek to be like our Father in heaven who is "light" and in whom "is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).

Nevertheless, John is fully aware of the fact that this high ideal will not be fully achieved by us in this age. That's why he says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). And that's why he also tells us how to make use of the remedy for sin: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). When we confess our sins, "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

In our verse for today, John also tells us that when we sin we have an advocate with the Father: "Jesus Christ the righteous." What does Jesus advocate on our behalf? Although His advocacy is similar to that which a lawyer provides for clients in a court, in that He seeks our good before a judge, there is a difference. Unlike a defense attorney, He does not try to prove that we are innocent of the charges brought against us; He acknowledges that our confessions of guilt are necessary. Instead, He advocates that because our confessions are sincere, we should be pardoned and treated as innocent, not because of any virtue on our part, but because He paid the penalty for sin by suffering and dying on the cross.

Praise be to God that Jesus Christ, the righteous one, is advocating on our behalf in heaven!Old Testament Reading
Proverbs 23, 24

Proverbs 23 -- When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

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Proverbs 24 -- Don't be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:

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New Testament Reading
2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5 -- Walk by Faith, and Not Sight; Christ's Love Compels us to Ministry

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Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.