Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 2:1-3

"My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." — 1 John 2:1-3 (ASV)

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Holiness of life is the best proof that we know God. It does not matter how readily we can speak about God, nor how much we suppose that we love him; the great test is, do we keep his commandments?

What a heart-searching test this is! How it should humble us before the mercy-seat!