The name Jacob is of biblical origin and means “Supplanter”: “one who seeks to overtake or to gain advantage” [by dubious means]. But after Jacob’s before-dawn “wrestle” with an angel (Genesis 32:28; Hosea 12:2-4:), God renamed him “Israel” which means “A prince with God.”
There were times, however, when Israel did not live up to his God-given name, and at such times the LORD referred to him as Jacob. One of the best-known texts is: “I am the LORD, I change not; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus is “a new creation”, yet at times we act in ways we did before coming to Christ and seeing ourselves as “crucified with Christ” and as “buried with him in baptism”. At such times we have reverted to our old Jacob-like identity. Knowing that God our Heavenly Father sees us in the Person of his resurrected, risen, and glorified Son is better by far than Jacob trying to live again like Israel. How much harder must it have been for the descendants of Israel — those who as a people bore his name but had to live under the Law of Moses?
The first chapter of I John lists five conditional “ifs”: IF we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and don’t do the truth.” (Verse 6); “But IF we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (Verse 7) “IF we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (Verse 8) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (Verse 9); “IF we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (Verse 10).
There are two more! Chapter 2, verse 1, begins with another “IF”. “IF any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…” And the seventh is in verse 3: “And hereby we do know that we know him, IF we keep his commandments.”
What a blessing it is that John then introduces us to the first of many “knows” in his uplifting epistle. But I’ll leave them for later.