1 John 2:1-6 | My little children | The Branch

In this episode of The Tree Church Bible Study, host Pastor Stacey Crawford is joined by Pastor Matthew Johnson and Pastor Chris Reed. Together they open 1 John 2 and look at two big ideas. The first is Jesus as our advocate. The second is how a real relationship with God leads us to walk in obedience.

The conversation opens with a lighthearted question. If a sign next to a button said "do not press," what are the chances you would press it anyway? Pastor Chris guesses about 50 percent on a day he feels ornery. Pastor Matthew says he is not pressing it. He explains that people sometimes mistake him for a rule breaker because he challenges the status quo. In truth, he follows the rules. He adds that Pastor Chris and Stacey are the two people on staff most likely to follow the rules too.

Pastor Stacey then recaps the previous episode on 1 John 1 with Pastor Jonathan. That study focused on God as light and the importance of recognizing sin, repenting, and continuing to walk toward Jesus. She shares that she and Pastor Chris are working to unpack more context this season. It has even helped her in her own study of Scripture.

Pastor Stacey reads 1 John 2:1–2 from the NLT.

"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. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins, and not only our sins, but the sins of the world."

The first thing that stands out to Pastor Stacey is how John addresses his readers. He calls them dear children. She notes that this reflects the heart all three of them have as pastors for their church. John writes with deep love and care.

Pastor Chris adds that John has addressed different groups and problems in his church. Here he turns toward the people who are staying faithful. He wants to encourage them to keep going.

Pastor Stacey asks what it means that Jesus is our advocate. Pastor Matthew connects it to week seven of the Holy Spirit series. In that message he talked about Jesus promising to send the Paraclete. That word is translated counselor, comforter, advocate, or helper, depending on the Bible version.

Pastor Matthew says the best picture in our culture is a defense attorney. When someone is accused, a defense attorney comes alongside to plead their case and support them.
He points out that John begins with the goal. John writes so that his readers will not sin. Not sinning honors God and shows that we truly trust Him. Yet John also admits that we will sin. Pastor Matthew calls this one of the most dynamic ideas in God's instruction. God gives the standard, and He also gives grace. Even when God gave the law, He also gave the sacrificial system to atone for sin.

Pastor Matthew is clear that this is not permission to sin or a claim that sin is no big deal. It is simply the reality. And the most touching part is who the advocate is. The advocate is the one who died for us.

Pastor Chris adds that the one who can save is the one who did it right. He explains that the phrase "sacrifice that atones" is one word in the Greek. John uses it as a noun here. It also appears in Romans and Hebrews.

He explains that the word holds two technical ideas. Propitiation means Jesus removes God's wrath and soothes the tension in the relationship. Expiation means Jesus cancels the offense against God. Pastor Chris says this matters because we still struggle with sin even when we don't want to. We don't have to hide our sin. It is better to admit it and live knowing someone stands in our place and makes us right before God.

Pastor Matthew explains that when Jesus represents us, the Father does not see our righteousness or unrighteousness. He sees the righteousness of His Son. Jesus' blood covers our sins.

He points to Isaiah, who describes our righteousness as filthy rags before God. Even at our best, we fall short. But because we have an advocate and high priest, we are covered. Our focus can be on grace. We pursue obedience, and when we fall short, we run to Jesus.

Pastor Chris addresses a common tension. Some people hear this language and think Jesus is standing against the Father, as if God wants to strike us down. But it was the Father's idea. God's heart is that we would run to Him and surrender our sin so He can make us clean. Pastor Chris notes that some today want to remove the language of expiation and propitiation. He says it is clearly in Scripture and matters to our faith.

Pastor Matthew agrees. Some people think the God of the Old Testament was angry and the God of the New Testament is kind. He says a careful study of the Old Testament shows grace throughout. The Father started the plan of redemption. He also reminds listeners that the Holy Spirit is our advocate too. When we fail, the Spirit does not push us away in shame. He points us to Jesus.

Pastor Chris highlights the last part of verse 2. John makes a point to say Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not just the church. He connects this to John's reminder that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son. Jesus' death is big enough to cover every sin for anyone who puts their faith in Him.

Pastor Stacey reads verses 3–6.

"And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 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. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. This is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

She laughs that John could not be any clearer. Pastor Matthew says this passage answers an important question. How do we know if we are following Jesus?

He speaks bluntly. Many people think a fondness for God makes them a Christian. He notes that at nearly every funeral, people say the person is in a better place, no matter how they lived. John cuts through that.

"Obedience proves the relationship. Obedience proves your faith. Obedience proves your love because if you love him, you're going to do what he said." – Pastor Matthew Johnson

Pastor Matthew points to the Great Commission, where Jesus told His disciples to teach others to obey everything He commanded. He shares that while preparing a January series, he almost used the phrase "total obedience." Then he realized it was redundant. There is no partial obedience or limited obedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. He adds that this is not legalism. It simply means any area where we are not following Jesus is an area of disobedience.

Pastor Chris adds a word of grace. Some people wonder about the things they don't know yet or are still learning. He says the evidence John wants his church to see is a constant pursuit of obedience. That includes doing the work to hear from God, confessing what still stands against Him, and seeking help and accountability. It starts with affection for God and grows into practice.

Pastor Matthew often uses marriage to describe our relationship with God. Early in marriage, some things are obvious. Over time, spouses must be intentional to discover each other's hearts by asking, observing, and listening. Our relationship with God works the same way.

He believes there is grace for honest ignorance. But he points to James, who says that anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it is sinning. A person who refuses to learn God's heart is not in a true relationship. A person who loves God follows what they know and keeps going deeper. God's word becomes the authority in their life, not just an influence.

Stacey shares that the deeper she goes with God, the more she sees that He knows better than she does. He has never failed her. She has seen His grace, blessing, and faithfulness in every step of obedience.

Pastor Matthew notes that verse 5 speaks of God's love being perfected in us. Scholars are not sure if it means our love for God or God's love for us. He believes either way, obedience transforms us. God's commands are based on His design so we can experience life at its fullest.

Pastor Chris shares that he and his wife, Cass, were recently talking about their 23 years together. Cass has always loved him. Yet through years of struggle, learning, and growing, he understands her love more fully. He says the same is true with God, and that understanding fuels our love for Him.

Stacey shares something personal. She used to have a very legalistic view of faith. As a checkbox person, she often felt she wasn't doing everything God wanted. She sensed God reminding her that He has atoned for her sins and shown her grace. She doesn't have to be perfect. She just needs to keep listening, keep building her relationship with Him, and keep walking with Him.

Pastor Matthew explains how the passage builds. Verse 1 gives the goal of not sinning. Verse 2 admits we will sin and offers atonement. Verses 3–4 call us to be honest with ourselves. Verse 5 shows that as we walk this out, God's love is perfected in us.

He notes that John writes in a way that is both affectionate and demanding. John calls his readers dear children and then says plainly that anyone who claims to know God but doesn't obey is a liar. Pastor Matthew says this is relevant today. Our culture often says love means celebrating any behavior. John would say that is not love. His challenge is not legalism. It is an invitation to be honest about whether we love, trust, and follow God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us walk that out.

Pastor Chris sums up the main theme of 1 John. Right theology always equals right living. Knowing that Jesus is fully God and fully man and that He is our advocate should transform how we live. He says John will never be content with anything less than his church becoming like Jesus.

Pastor Chris closes in prayer. He thanks God for giving His Son so we can be reconciled and stand righteous before Him. He thanks God that Jesus still advocates for us as we struggle to become more like Him. He asks that God's forgiveness would fill hearts and minds and give encouragement, motivation, and direction to keep saying yes to God and taking steps of obedience.

Pastor Stacey thanks Pastor Matthew and Pastor Chris and invites listeners to like, subscribe, share the episode, and check out the show notes.

This Bible study is part of The Tree Church Bible Study podcast (TCBS), created to help the Tree grow deeper in understanding the Scriptures. New episodes are released regularly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.