1 John 2:1 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:

But if I sin, I have an advocate. Exactly what part of do not sin escapes us? Do we look forward to the forgiveness even before we sin? How faithful is our love for God in that? I suppose this may be why John begins this chapter with little children, for the expectation of reaction is not one of maturity.

Do our actions and attitudes reflect maturity or immaturity? Children can act like adults but that does not mean they are mature. Maturity isn’t a matter of age, it is a matter of change of heart. Those who are mature in Christ do the right thing because they love God more than the sin that besets them.

When Jesus said if you love me, He was asking for a love response to obedience, not one based on fear or wisdom. Even a child learns how to avoid a father’s wrath. To sin not because of love is much better than obedience of fear.

Obedience for reward is no better. Some look at obedience as the way to achieve a goal, something to be used to advance their position. Obedience of faith is rooted and grounded in love.

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.