1 Jn 2:1

The False Doctrine of Perfectionism, part 2
1 John 2:1

Introductory Thoughts

· The problem of balance in this doctrinal area
· Extremes
· “Holiness, what is that?” Many in the churches believe that a consistent Christian lifestyle is optional. They believe in conduct-neutral Christianity è examples.
· Perfection (much rarer today)
· The True Doctrine—God is Light è 1:5
· The First False Doctrine—Antinomianism è1:6-7. Antinomianism is against all law, is against any ethical requirement for the Christian. It teaches that the evidence of a person’s life is irrelevant.
· First Form of Perfectionism—claiming to have no tendency to sin è John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
· The Second form of perfectionism—claiming to be sinless in practice è 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
· The Remedy for both heresies in chapter 1—the balanced Christian life—
Ø Continual Cleansing—1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin...”—all verbs present tense
Ø The root of continual cleansing—Initial Cleansing—One time event, long term effects—1 John 1:9 If we confess [present] our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive [aorist]... our sins and to cleanse [aorist] us from all unrighteousness.

· This verse: The balanced approach to the Christian life—1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.


1. Language

a. “..., so that you may not sin...”—Aorist
b. “...if anyone sins ...”

(1) Subjunctive—“if, then”
(2) Aorist

c. “...we have ...” present active—same sense as è 2 Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

è John 5:24 ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

è John 6:47 ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."

d. advocate—paraclete

2. The basic ideas of this passage:

a. John is writing this so that God’s people will live holy

(1) è2:1a “John has no patience with professional perfectionists, but still less with loose-livers like some of the gnostics...” AT Robertson

(2) John does not want us to sin—not even once, and he is writing this letter to help toward that purpose

b. If we sin, we have an advocate è 2:1b

(1) There are three different ways to say “if” in Greek

(a) Sometimes, “if” means “since”, in other words, in this form of “if”, it really means “since this is going to happen...”

(b) Sometimes, “if” means “no way it’s going to happen..”

(c) Sometimes “if” means “if”! It is part of an an “if then” statement, in the Greek, this is called a 3rd class condition.

(2) John is not saying it is going to happen, he is not saying there is no way it’s going to happen, he is saying, if it happens....

c. Our advocate does not excuse our sin, mitigate our sin, or ignore our sin. Our advocate has paid for our sins, and speaks on our behalf.

3. The need for an advocate, or mediator

a. The court sessions in heaven—

(1) We don’t know all of the details, but we know a lot
(2) But, apparently at the present time, the Enemy has access, at least from time to time, in the courts of heaven, and in the courts of Heaven, the Enemy is our accuser

1 Chr 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."

2 Chr 18:18-22 "Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner. 20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? 21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so. 22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee."

Job 1:6-9 "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?"

Job 1:12 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

Job 2:1 "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD."

Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"

Rev 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

b. Spiritual Warfare

(1) Remember, this is what is really going on “in the heavenlies,” and though the Bible does not give us all the details, it says what it says so that we will understand the war in which we fight, and the place of the courts of Heaven.

(2) See 2 Cor 10:4-6, Eph 6:10-18

In this warfare, in the courts of heaven, Christ as our paraclete, our mediator—Zec 3:1-2 "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"


(1) Gal 3:19-20 "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one."

(2) 1 Tim 2:5 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”

(3) Heb 8:6 "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises."

(4) Heb 9:15 "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."

Heb 12:24 "to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

John 14:16 ""And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;"

John 14:26 ""But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

John 15:26 ""But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."

John 16:7 ""Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."