"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 One."1
This word for sin, is different than transgression, it means missing the mark, hence missing the mark of His righteousness. The idea is thta of an arrow missing the mark of its target, falling short. Jesus is the Holy and Righteous One, the author of faith, thus by faith in Him we receive the gift of righteousness, that it be according to grace, not by works of the Law. He is the Righteous One so the righteous are those who believe in Him, thus the importance of the command to believe in Jesus. When we believe we receive redemption the forgiveness of sin, forgiveness of missing the mark of God's righteousness, and we receive the gift of righteousness, thus through Him we make the mark.
"I am writing these things to you so that you may not miss the mark."
So who are those who miss the mark? the unrighteous. "All unrighteousness is sin"3 This word unrighteousness "not justice" is derived from A "not" and díkē, "justice" – properly, the opposite of justice; unrighteousness. "One act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."4 By faith in the Righteous One we receive justification, or we are judicially approved, acquitted, made righteous by the propitiation, atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Who are the righteous? Who are those who make the mark? those who believe in Jesus.
"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."4
Propitiation means atoning sacrifice. We see the importance of the command to believe, if one doesn't believe they will not experience this atonement and will die in their sin. Some say Christ was an offering to appease the wrath of God, but Paul writes we receive redemption by grace, a blessing from the riches of His Grace. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"5 It is a salvation by Grace, a righteousness by faith, not by works, such was according to His good pleasure and by the counsel of His will. God sent His Son because He so loved the world, though undeserving. Such is grace.
"for all have missed the mark and fall short of the glory of God,"7
Now, do we not see the picture of sin, of the arrow falling short of the glory of God? This word for glory literally means "what evokes good opinion, i.e. that something has inherent, intrinsic worth." Who is the one who has fallen short? all. Who is the one who makes the mark? Those who believe in Jesus, who find Him of value, these by faith receive the gift of righteousness, becoming partakers of His Divine nature. If one wants to make the mark "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One" He is "the propitiation for our sins" and for the whole world, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Yes when we believe we make the mark. From the riches of His grace, redemption is offered to the whole world.
Clean
"I am writing these things to you so that you may not miss the mark."
So who are those who miss the mark? the unrighteous. "All unrighteousness is sin"3 This word unrighteousness "not justice" is derived from A "not" and díkē, "justice" – properly, the opposite of justice; unrighteousness. "One act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men."4 By faith in the Righteous One we receive justification, or we are judicially approved, acquitted, made righteous by the propitiation, atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Who are the righteous? Who are those who make the mark? those who believe in Jesus.
"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."4
Propitiation means atoning sacrifice. We see the importance of the command to believe, if one doesn't believe they will not experience this atonement and will die in their sin. Some say Christ was an offering to appease the wrath of God, but Paul writes we receive redemption by grace, a blessing from the riches of His Grace. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"5 It is a salvation by Grace, a righteousness by faith, not by works, such was according to His good pleasure and by the counsel of His will. God sent His Son because He so loved the world, though undeserving. Such is grace.
"for all have missed the mark and fall short of the glory of God,"7
Now, do we not see the picture of sin, of the arrow falling short of the glory of God? This word for glory literally means "what evokes good opinion, i.e. that something has inherent, intrinsic worth." Who is the one who has fallen short? all. Who is the one who makes the mark? Those who believe in Jesus, who find Him of value, these by faith receive the gift of righteousness, becoming partakers of His Divine nature. If one wants to make the mark "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One" He is "the propitiation for our sins" and for the whole world, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Yes when we believe we make the mark. From the riches of His grace, redemption is offered to the whole world.
Clean