John says, "I write unto you that you sin not" He does not hold out the possibility that any of us can be totally free from sin. This would be contrary to his own words in I John 1:8-10. But he is saying, "I write this epistle to you that you might not indulge the flesh, walk in disobedience, and behave like unregenerate men." The will of God is our sanctification and holiness in spirit, word, and deed. The true grace of God in a man's heart does not condone nor excuse sin, but condemns it and gives him a continuous desire to be like Christ and glorify His Lord. "And if any man sin..., " as every man does, even those who believe and love Christ will. As much as a believer hates sin and seeks to avoid it, he is still in the flesh and in the world. When a believer sins, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, Who makes intercession for him. HE is the mercy-seat, the substitute, the sin-offering, and the mediator for all His people. Because of Him, the Father forgives all our sins past, present, and future. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.