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. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 1:8-9)

The glorious reality of forgiveness from sin must never be misconstrued as license to sin. Indeed, the forgiven soul longs for fellowship with the merciful God, wanting nothing to interfere with the sweet blessedness of walking daily with the Father.

And yet, for now we find ourselves caught between two worlds, longing for the resurrection and new body while still living on earth in bodies of sin. So John writes “so that you may not sin” yet immediately adds “and if anyone sins”. And so we live.

The encouragement John gives is not for the person who abuses God’s grace as an excuse for sinning. Rather it is an encouragement for that child of God who grieves and loathes a committal of sin. It is a word of hope for the heart frightened to approach the Father, like a child in terror of what dad will do when he gets home. It is a reminder that we have a Father and an Advocate.

God is our Father. Nothing can destroy that. The fellowship can be hurt, but the relationship endures. He loves us not just when we “make Him proud”, but even when we stumble.

Our Advocate is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the reason God is our Father. He died in our place for our sins, taking the wrath and shame that was due us that we might be made right with God. Having received by faith all that Jesus has done for us, we freely come in His name to our Father to confess our sins, our doubts, our struggles. And our Father listens, forgives, encourages and strengthens.

Child of God, are you grieving sin and struggling with confession? Tell your Father all. He will not refuse you because of your sin but will receive you because of Jesus’ righteousness.