1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 

Many people think that God’s grace is there to forgive us from our sins. This is partly true. God’s grace has two sides. The apostle John writes, ‘I write this to you so that you will not sin.’ That is the first side of grace: it empowers you to not sin.

It is said that praying people don’t sin, and that sinners don’t pray. Therefore, the best antidote to sin, is to pray and be in God’s presence. His grace will then empower you to not sin.

However, all of us will fail one way or another. Even after we pray, we are prone to the effects of sin. So if we do sin, there is the second side of grace: it is forgiveness. Because we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins.

The power of God’s grace is that it both empowers us to not sin, and is there to forgive us when we do! Let’s never only focus on one of these elements. They go together.