1 John 2 English Standard Version

Christ Our Advocate

1 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. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Another word for advocate is lawyer. Imagine we stand before the Father to answer Him.

Every good lawyer will tell his client to allow him to talk for the client. But we are likely to start justifying ourselves as we do in life. Now our advocate speaks up, “I know what he said but this is what he meant.” Jesus knows what it feels like to be human. 

Since He dwells in our hearts by faith, He knows us better than we know ourselves. So my advice is this, let your lawyer do the talking.

In our court system we have a right to hear the charges against us and face our accuser. Well that court will not be an American court. The charges are too many and the reading of the charges will be waived. We will not be allowed to face our accuser, liars are not allowed to give testamony. His punishment has prevented him from appearing in that court. So what does our advocate have to say to the Father about our offenses?

“My client has been convicted, sentenced to death and executed once, double jeopardy applies. You sent me to die in his place and the defendant is mine to do with as I please. You gave him to me.”

To which the Father says; “Fine but what have you done with him since that day?”

“Now that is a different matter. The defendant may well be worthy of a few stripes, but not death.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Key in this verse is “done in the body”, Christ’s body, after we have been changed. This new creation still has to live up to what we have done “in His name” by obedience of faith.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 English Standard Version

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Snares are set to capture things that are free. Our opponents were born in sin just as we were and the devil does not set snares for them. Sin is a snare for those who have chosen to place their faith in Christ.

“I keep stepping in it!”

Does that sound familiar? Repetitive sin is a problem because if you see the trap and step in it anyway, then sin isn’t the problem. Our allegiance is the problem.

There is a vast difference between the sin of ignorance and wilful sin.

Hebrews 10:26-27 English Standard Version

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Keep it up and you’re gonna get burnt.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Zealous Christianity is an attitude of always being on the right side. The zealous do not wilfully sin. Yes we sin, but not for the sake of pleasure.

A bad proverb is the swimmer. 

The swimmer who wades in a pool is safe, but one who challenges the depths may drown.

I said it was bad, but you get the idea. Fear can be a good thing if it is godly fear.

Don’t test His love. Bathe in it.

And this; A spring needs no bucket, it just flows.