“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
(1 John 2:1).
“If any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, JESUS CHRIST the RIGHTEOUS. What is an ADVOCATE? Advocate is a legal term for “one who INTERCEDES for another”. The term “advocate” denotes a LAWYER who represents his client before a court of law. Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and repentance mean a change heart. Changing the behavior that originally produced sin. No Christian or church has been ever been or will ever be perfect until Christ and HIS church are united at His second coming.
There is a big difference between COMMITTING SIN and REMAINING IN SIN. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin and choose. A person who REMAINS IN SIN, by contrast, is not sorry for what he is doing. Thus he never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such person is against God, no matter what religious claims he makes. A believer who commits a sin REPENTS, CONFESSES, and is FORGIVEN.
The fact that the Lord Jesus is our eternal advocate suggests 3 things:
I – THE CONFLICT, COMPLAINT AND CLIENT - Why do we need an ADVOCATE in Jesus Christ?
First of all we still have a sin problem and sometimes FAIL. Because we do fail sometimes and sin, we have an accuser who points out our faults. It is SATAN himself. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10). We are the CLIENT needing an ADVOCATE. The conflict is the struggle we continue to have with our sin nature. The complaints are from Satan our accuser.
II – THE CASE - We have a problem and Christ is our solution for our sinfulness, and our lack of spiritual strength. When the client needed a lawyer, he would request one. The lawyer could accept or reject the assignment. Christ will not reject our need.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37). Note the words “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” A good lawyer is eloquent and able to catch the ear of the judge. It is the Lord Jesus Christ that intercedes for you and I now. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5).
III – THE CONCLUSION - When Christ intercedes for us, HE PREVAILS. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). Propitiation – one who took God’s wrath against our sins upon Himself. Jesus the best attorney in the universe pleading your case. He has already suffered your penalty in your place. You can’t be tried again for a case that is no longer on the docket. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24).
(From Rev. Pastor Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages).
There is a big difference between COMMITTING SIN and REMAINING IN SIN. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin and choose. A person who REMAINS IN SIN, by contrast, is not sorry for what he is doing. Thus he never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such person is against God, no matter what religious claims he makes. A believer who commits a sin REPENTS, CONFESSES, and is FORGIVEN.
The fact that the Lord Jesus is our eternal advocate suggests 3 things:
I – THE CONFLICT, COMPLAINT AND CLIENT - Why do we need an ADVOCATE in Jesus Christ?
First of all we still have a sin problem and sometimes FAIL. Because we do fail sometimes and sin, we have an accuser who points out our faults. It is SATAN himself. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10). We are the CLIENT needing an ADVOCATE. The conflict is the struggle we continue to have with our sin nature. The complaints are from Satan our accuser.
II – THE CASE - We have a problem and Christ is our solution for our sinfulness, and our lack of spiritual strength. When the client needed a lawyer, he would request one. The lawyer could accept or reject the assignment. Christ will not reject our need.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37). Note the words “and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” A good lawyer is eloquent and able to catch the ear of the judge. It is the Lord Jesus Christ that intercedes for you and I now. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5).
III – THE CONCLUSION - When Christ intercedes for us, HE PREVAILS. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). Propitiation – one who took God’s wrath against our sins upon Himself. Jesus the best attorney in the universe pleading your case. He has already suffered your penalty in your place. You can’t be tried again for a case that is no longer on the docket. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24).
(From Rev. Pastor Teofilito A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages).
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