If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2)
The trouble with sin is that it can never be totally eradicated until we’re finally in paradise. It’s just like after you’ve had the exterminator treat your house but in a few days you see a roach alive and well.
What we need to concentrate on is our posture towards sin. Do we kick ourself after we transgress and figuratively throw our bat or helmet? If so, if we now hate sin, we are his. If we continue to skip merrily down the road to perdition, perhaps not.
The only way to have a clear conscience before God is to always be acknowledging and confessing our sins. It’s like breathing. But the mark of a mature Christian is to have reduced the frequency of sin based on obedience to God’s word. You first need to know it, which is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, and then abide by it. There’s a point when saying, “We’re all human,” won’t cut it. This is what John is alluding to.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3–6)
Seasoned Christians who sin quickly dial up their lawyer, our “Advocate,” to let him know what has happened (full disclosure, although he knows full well what has happened), that we will need him to take on our case before Almighty God yet again. We know that the penalty for even the most trivial of sins is death. We make our appeal based on our trust in Jesus’ benevolent sacrifice on the cross when we approach the bench.
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