1 John 2

Advocate with the Father

Advocate — one who pleads another's case

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 2:1

When we sin, Jesus Christ, who never sinned, pleads our case before the Father. He is our defender, not our accuser.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in D&C 45:3 — 'Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him'
• the same title in D&C 29:5 — 'I am in your midst, and I am your advocate with the Father'
• the same title in Moroni 7:28 — Christ 'advocateth the cause of the children of men'

Propitiation

Propitiation — the atoning offering that satisfies justice and reconciles us to God

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

Jesus Himself is the atoning sacrifice that satisfies justice for our sins, and His Atonement reaches every person in the whole world.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Romans 3:25 — God set forth Christ 'to be a propitiation through faith in his blood'
• the same title in 1 John 4:10 — God 'sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins'

Walking as He Walked

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:3–6

The proof that we truly know Jesus is that we keep His commandments and live the way He lived.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 14:15 — 'If ye love me, keep my commandments'

True Light

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1 John 2:8

Since Jesus came, the darkness is passing away, because He is the true Light shining in the world.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in John 1:9 — 'That was the true Light, which lighteth every man'
• the same title in John 8:12 — 'I am the light of the world'

Forgiveness in His Name

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 1 John 2:12

Sins are forgiven because of Jesus Christ's name, meaning His authority and Atonement, not our own merit.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Acts 10:43 — 'through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins'

Him That Is From the Beginning

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 1 John 2:13–14

The mature believers know Christ, who existed from the beginning with the Father, the same Word of life John testified of in 1:1.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in 1 John 1:1 — 'That which was from the beginning ... of the Word of life'
• alludes to John 1:1-2 — 'The same was in the beginning with God'

The Holy One

Unction — anointing; Christ means Anointed One

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:20

Believers have been anointed with the Holy Ghost by the Holy One, Christ, whose own title means the Anointed One. That anointing helps them recognize truth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Mark 1:24 — 'I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God'
• the same title in Acts 3:14 — 'ye denied the Holy One and the Just'

Jesus Is the Christ

Christ — the Anointed One, the Messiah

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22–23

The central test of truth is whether a person confesses that Jesus is the Christ. Denying the Son is denying the Father, and receiving the Son brings us to the Father.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Matthew 16:16 — Peter: 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God'

The Son

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 1 John 2:24–25

If the gospel we first received stays in us, we remain in the Son and the Father and receive His promise of eternal life.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

Abide in Him

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:27

The anointing from Christ stays in believers and teaches them, so they remain in Him, as Jesus taught with the vine and branches.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 15:4 — 'Abide in me, and I in you'

Second Coming

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28

Christ will appear again; those who stay close to Him will meet Him with confidence instead of shame.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in 1 John 3:2 — 'when he shall appear, we shall be like him'

Born of Him

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:29

Because Jesus Christ is righteous (v. 1), all who live righteously show they have been spiritually born of Him and become His children.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Mosiah 5:7 — 'ye shall be called the children of Christ ... he hath spiritually begotten you'