1 John 3:5³You know that that one appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

The two parts of this verse are linked together theologically. Because Jesus had no sin, he was able to resolve the problem of sin. Jesus, “the Savior” (Matthew 1:21), came to earth as a human for a purpose. Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan, which began in Genesis 2 when God created Adam and Eve. Love is a choice shown through obedience. Disobedience, however, cuts us off from love, which results in death. Adam and Eve had the simple choice of obeying God by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Following that one command represented love by obedience. The sacrificial system God later set up for Israel taught them the seriousness of sin and the meaning of love and forgiveness. The life of a spotless lamb replaced the death resulting from disobedience. This sacrifice served as a symbol of God’s grace. Hoses 6:6 suggests that Israel had a hard time seeing the mercy through the sacrifice but instead, got caught up in the ritual and emotion that feed selfish motives. The Book of Hebrews shows that Jesus was the sinless sacrifice who brought a new covenant that changes people’s hearts. He came at just the right time in history.

Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice to resolve the problem of sin and restore the power of love within human hearts. This verse is significant because it shows in a simple statement the solution to the problem of sin. Without Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, humanity would be stuck in sin and the brutal cycle of ritualism that plagued ancient Israel. The perfect Lamb of God came to take away sin (John 1:29). John has already stated early on in 1:9-2:2 how we can experience victory over sin, bringing eternal life. He also clearly indicates after that passage that the choice is ours to walk in the light and reject sin. The light of Christ will penetrate the darkness, transform our hearts, and light the path for us to follow to love and righteousness.