Another reason why this letter was written.

John addresses his readers, as "my little children" An expression of love and care from the apostle for these dear christian people.
He then tells them why he was writing to them.
"That you may not sin"

Sin, is the greek word, hamartano, and it means, to trespass, to offend, to miss the mark, to err, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or to go wrong. To wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin.

So, one of the purposes of this letter, ( along with the two already mentioned in chapter 1:3-4, is that we might not miss what God intends for us, that we might not wander off the path that God has for us to walk on, that we might not sin.

Then, John goes on to say, "And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Right here, you have two names for Jesus Christ. Advocate, and The Righteous.

So, as Christians, when we do sin, we have Jesus the righteous, who is our advocate, or representative to God. Advocate or parakletos in the greek, meaning, comforter, one called alongside to help, especially to help, and render aid. It's the one who pleads your cause before a judge, he is your counsel defending you, He is the one who pleads your cause to the Father as it were. By the way, Jesus used this same word, comforter, in describing the Holy Spirit, and His ministry in our lives. He has been called alongside of us, to help us in our lives and walk with Jesus Christ. He leads us into a deeper knowledge of the truths of God's Word, and to give us God's strength, and enable us to undergo trials and persecutions because of Jesus Christ, and our living in Him.

Back to 1st John 2:2..........John says concerning Jesus, that He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. This word, propitiation, means, satisfaction. That is, Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for our sins, is the one offering and sacrifice that has satisfied God concerning sin. So, in Christ, we are accepted by God. God looks at Jesus, and is completely satisfied that He is righteous and has done all that is needed to deal with our sins, and thus we can be with God, and rest assured that our sins are completely forgiven. 

To recap again, the purposes or intentions of God through this letter.......So far, there are 3 of them given....

1. That we might have fellowship with God. 

2. That our joy would be full.

3. That we might not sin. 

And, as to this last purpose, "that we might not sin"........What John is saying is that it's God's intention for us that we might not miss what He has for us, that our lives would be on track with Him, and in His will, and on the course that He has for us etc, etc.......

Here's how the Amplified Version puts it..

MY LITTLE children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action]. 

2  And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 

May the blessings of God through Jesus Christ, be with you today in abundance.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia