How do we know we are forgiven according to 1 John?

1 John 2:1-2 reveals that Jesus Christ the righteous acts as our advocate before the Father. He is the propitiation for our sins, meaning that He has satisfied God's wrath through His sacrificial death. This assurance of forgiveness is not conditional upon our moral performance but rather on Jesus's righteousness and His work on the cross. Believers can find confidence in their standing with God due to Christ’s effective atonement, not because of any diminishing of sin in their lives. As such, a believer's identity in Christ secures their place in God's family and assures them that they are forgiven, regardless of their failure.