My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- (1 John 5:18.)
My little children, х Teknia (G5040)] - the diminutive expresses the tender affection of an aged pastor and spiritual father. My own dear children, i:e., sons and daughters (note, 1 John 2:12).
These things - (1 John 1:6-10.) My purpose in writing so is, not that you should abuse them as a license to sin; on the contrary, 'in order that ye may not sin at all' (the aorist х hamarteete (G264)] implying the absence, not only of the habit, but of single acts of sin, Alford). To "walk in the light" (1 John 1:5-7), the first step is confession of sin (1 John 1:9), the next (1 John 2:1), that we should forsake all sin. The divine purpose aims either to prevent the commission of, or to destroy, sin (Bengel).
And - Furthermore, "if any man sin," let him, while loathing and condemning it, not fear to go at once to God, the Judge, confessing it; for "we have an Advocate with Him." He is speaking of a BELIEVER'S occasional sins of infirmity through Satan's fraud. The "we" immediately afar implies that we all are liable, though not necessarily constrained, to sin. We have an advocate - God's family blessing: other blessings He grants to good and bad alike; but justification, sanctification, continued intercession (contrast Luke 23:34, for enemies), and peace, He grants to His children alone.
Advocate, х parakleeton (G3875)] - the same term as is applied to the Holy Spirit, the 'other Comforter:' showing the unity of the Second and Third Persons. Christ is the Intercessor for us above; in His absence, here below, the Holy Spirit is the 'other' Intercessor in as (Romans 8:26). Christ's advocacy is inseparable from the Holy Spirit's working in us, as the spirit of intercessory prayer.
Righteous - as our "Advocate" is not a mere suppliant. He pleads for us on the ground of justice, as well as mercy. Though He can say nothing good of us, He can say much for us. On His righteousness, obedience to the law, and endurance of its full penury for us, He grounds His claim for our acquittal. The sense is, 'in that He is righteous:' in contrast to our sin ("if any man sin"). The Father, by raising Him from the dead, and setting Him at His own right hand, has once for all accepted Christ's claim for us. Therefore, the accuser's charges against God's children are vain (Psalms 109:6; Psalms 109:31; Revelation 12:10). 'The righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God's righteousness is, in Christ, ours,' (Luther) (Zechariah 3:1, etc.)