Forgiven; purified, atoned for

Just as the symbol of the Cross is the sign of Christianity, so whenever we engage with a Bible book it is excellent practice to ask what particular view and perspective the book gives us on the death of Christ.

The letter of 1 John highlights several wonderful truths about our atonement …

that Christ is "our advocate with the Father … the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world", 2:2.

… and that because he is faithful and just "if we confess our sins … he will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness", 1:9.

… that through faith in Jesus … "now we are children of God" 3:2.

… that this is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins; 4:10.

The death of Jesus is at the very heart and centre of all Christianity because it is there that our sins were atoned for, it is from the cross that the forgiveness flows to all who believe in Christ, it is there that love of God is revealed, it is from the cross that the Spirit is given to empower us to love Christ and to turn from all sin. It is only in the death of the Son of God that we truly see that "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all", and that, "God is love".

Christ’s death is God’s supreme victory over sin, evil and death. It was there that evil was exposed for all that it truly is, and was in the same event defeated – exposed as powerless, unable to prevent the Son of God fulfilling the will of God.

It is when those who believe gather together and remember Jesus’ death through breaking the bread and the sharing the wine that the Holy Spirit comes and moves so powerfully among his people. Those times are powerful - a foretaste of the eternal life that we are already beginning to live now with the Saviour.

This is why it is essential for all believers to be part of a church - the community of believers – and to be committed to journeying further into the kingdom with others, "this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" 3:23.