Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 John 2:1

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 .

He endeavours in this to steer them a middle Course, that they might neither presume to sin, nor despair, if they did, And bespeaks them with a Compellation, importing both Authority and Love; well-becoming him as then an aged Person, an Apostle, their Teacher, and who was their most affectionate spiritual Father. And lets them know the first Design of what he was now writing (had hirtherto written, and was further to write) was, That they might to their uttermost avoid sinning at all: But adds, if, through human frailty, they did sin, we have an Advocate, &c.

Implying our need of Christ for renewed, as well as first pardon; and not of his Death only, but continual Intercession; and represents the Advantages Christ hath for success in his interposing for us, in respect both of his Relation to God as his Father, (which is put indefinitely, the Father, that the Consideration might not be excluded of his being our Father also.

And his Righteteousness, by which he could not but be acceptable to him.

Marginal references: Rom. 8.34. 1 Tim. 2.5. Heb. 7.25. & 9.24.