Today, Tuesday July 06
“We Have an Advocate”
1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
As believers we must deal with the reality of sin. Paul told us in the book of Romans that there is the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8). Like gravity, it is always there and always at work to deceive and destroy us. When John was writing his epistle he was aware that false teachers were telling believers that they could not sin since they were now saved. That’s why twice in chapter one he says, “If we say we have no sin…if we say we have not sinned” (vs. 8, 10).
The believer can commit sin and if we say we have not sinned we are under a deception and God’s truth is not in us and we also make Him a liar. We can commit sins of commission. We do things that we shouldn’t do. We can also commit sins of omission. We don’t do what we know we should do and we act in disobedience to the known will of God.
Chapter two begins with John calling us “little children”. He is addressing believers who are in the family of God. He tells us that he is writing this letter to help us with the sin issue. We should not practice sin but if we do sin we have an advocate. This means that we have a lawyer who is pleading our case on our behalf! John gives us His name: “Jesus Christ the righteous.”
This should be awesome news for you! You have the best attorney who ever existed. He has never lost a case. He has direct access to the Judge of the universe! He is actually seated at His right hand. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is our “Great High Priest.” He is our mediator, the One who stands between us and God’s judgment on our sin.
As our High Priest, Jesus ever lives “to make intercession for us.” (Hebrews 7:25-28) That’s why in Hebrews 4:15-16 we are encouraged with these words: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
His throne is a throne of grace where we can receive mercy and find grace! It is your privilege to come to Him with confidence that He will forgive you for all your sins today! (1 John 1:9)
God bless!