Our Advocate stands up to answer the charges: “He is completely guilty your honor. It is as if we stand as the accused in the heavenly court, before our righteous Judge, God the Father. He didn’t forgive us at one time to later say, “Look what they did now! If I would have known they would go and do that, I would have never forgiven them.” His forgiveness is available to us now. We have an Advocate: Jesus is our defender, even when we sin now. Lenski on the ancient word for Advocate: “Demosthenes uses it to designate the friends of the accused who voluntarily step in and personally urge the judge to decide in his favor.”ī. Yet if we do, there is provision made – an Advocate, a defense lawyer on our side. We have an Advocate: God’s desire is that you may not sin. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.Ī. (1b-2) Help for the sinner and the restoration of fellowship.Īnd if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. God promises that one day the flesh will be perfected through resurrection. The weakness comes in our flesh, which is not consistently willing to rely on Jesus for victory over sin. He wants to make it clear that God has not made a system where we must break fellowship with Him through sin. John addresses this because of the issue of relationship with God (1 John 1:3), and the fact that sin can break our fellowship with God (1 John 1:6). All the resources for spiritual victory are ours in Jesus Christ and that resource is never withdrawn. If sin is inevitable for us, it is not because God has decreed that we must sin. That you may not sin: This is God’s desire for the believer. At the same time, he wants to make it clear that we do not have to sin. John previously rebuked the idea that we can become sinlessly perfect (1 John 1:8). One reason in writing this letter was that you may not sin. Yet, John wants it also to be clear that the Christian should be concerned about sin. 1 John 1:9 makes it clear that there is always forgiveness for confessed sin. These things I write to you, that you may not sin: 1 John 1:8 made it clear that sin is a fact (at least an occasional fact) in the life of the Christian. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.Ī. (1a) A purpose of John in writing this letter: that you may not sin. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.1 John 2 – Hindrances to Fellowship with God A. Romans 10:9-10 says, "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Thank YOU for forgiving me and bringing me into YOUR family. I confess that YOU, Jesus, are the Lord of my life. I turn from my sin and receive YOU as my bridge to God. I believe that God raised YOU from the dead. If you haven't already asked Jesus to be your Savior do it right now. Instead, receive Him and allow Him to do the "cleansing." Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37). Don't try to "clean up your life" before you come to God. It is essential that you come to Jesus as you are. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). You must be willing to turn away from the things that displease God. The word "repent" means "to change your direction." The Bible tells us, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). The Apostle Paul said, ".the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18). Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).Ģ. We can't make excuses or blame others and our circumstances for our actions. For those who are at this crossroads, the Bible offers a new direction, one filled with purpose, fulfillment, and acceptance.įirst, you must admit your spiritual need: "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). By now you may have discovered that all roads do not lead to God, and life is not as simple as you once thought.
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