John takes up an obvious objection to walking in the light. What if a person says there is nothing left to cleanse? 8"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." Nobody else is fooled by the claim, since the deception runs inward. The second version is 10"we have not sinned," and John says we make God a liar. The first claim denies a condition and the second denies a history. Both sound like teachers who had left the church convinced that a deeper enlightenment lifted them above ordinary sin. The NIV Application Commentary notes that in such a scheme the trouble was ignorance, and sin belonged to a material world that no longer mattered. John answers that if sin does not matter, the cross does not either.
Between the two false claims John places the true one. 9"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us." The Greek verb for confess, *homologeo*, is built from the words for same and say. To confess is to say the same thing God says. God has already given his verdict on the sin, and confession agrees with it, without excuse and without a counterclaim.
The character behind the promise is named in two words, faithful and just. Faithful means he keeps what he has said. Just is the more surprising word. A judge might be merciful and set the penalty aside, but John says God is just to forgive. Forgiveness here is a right act, because the debt has been paid in the blood that cleanses. The law was satisfied on our behalf, so forgiving us does no injury to his justice.
The cleansing is a present-tense verb, the same one we met in verse 7. It continues as we walk and keep confessing, and it reaches 9"all unrighteousness," including what we failed to notice.
Then John shifts to a gentler voice. 1"My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." The aim of it all is holiness. He writes so that there will be less sin. Yet he knows his children, so he adds that 1"we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The Greek word, *paraklētos*, means one called alongside, with a courtroom sound. Jesus used it of the Holy Spirit when he promised "another Helper" (John 14:16), which makes Jesus the first. The verb is present tense. He pleads now, and his case rests on his own righteousness.
2"He is the propitiation for our sins." The word means the sacrifice that deals with sin and turns aside the wrath it deserves, and it is large enough for people far outside the circle John was writing to.
The passage takes away two temptations at once, to hide and to despair. John answers both with the same scene, an advocate standing beside us before a Father who is faithful and just. Ask what you have been saying about yourself that God has not said.
Prayer
Father, you are faithful and just. We confess our sins and say the same thing about them that you say. Forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you that when we sin we have an advocate with you, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins. Keep us from hiding and from despair. In his name, amen.