1 John 2: If Anyone Does Sin

John writes that he is writing so they will not sin — and then, without pausing, adds: but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate.

Both halves in one breath. The standard is not lowered, and the failure is not fatal.

Much of the anxiety Christians carry comes from hearing only one of those. Hear only the first and you despair at the next failure; hear only the second and the standard quietly disappears.

The chapter refuses to drop either, and the advocate is named before you have failed.