“CHRIST OUR ADVOCATE”
- As shared by Rev. Don Schink
- Sonlight Ministries of New Mexico, © 2010
BIBLE STUDY ON 1 JOHN 2 VERSES 1-8:
“1 My dear children,”
John is now an old man, having been faithful for many years through many trials and tribulations. He had remained faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and his people. His love and concern for those whom he taught is clearly evident. He loved them as though they were his kids… and they really were his kids in the faith.
“ I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
John emphasizes that in the purpose of following Christ, the true believer’s goal is not to sin. The definition of a Christian as a follower of Jesus Christ is to have left the sinning lifestyle behind! By the love and grace of God we have begun a new life.
It is Christ’s will that those who follow Him do not sin. He told the woman who was caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11 KJV). “Go now and leave your life of sin” (NIV). If there is no change of heart and lifestyle, there is no real conversion. There must be evidence. There must be a real desire and yielding to the Holy Spirit for living above the former filth and stench of one’s sinful lifestyle.
[ILLUS:] When we catch our kids doing things that they should not be doing, I want to see more than them simply saying that they are sorry. It has to be more than being sorry that they got caught. They need to be truly sorry enough to quit. I need to see a change in behavior. I want action! Don’t tell me. Show me! I do not expect them to be perfect but I do appreciate honest efforts. I am thankful when I see improvement. Do we truly care enough to allow the Spirit to enable and to empower us to overcome? Do we care enough to quit?
Christ’s blood was shed on Calvary’s Cross for each of us. He has made atonement for whoever will allow Him to reign and to rule in our hearts and lives! Jesus is the Christian’s Advocate before God. He is not here to excuse sin. However, in spite of our best intentions, none of us are absolutely perfect. Even at our best, the Bible states that our righteousness is as filthy rags in comparison to the holiness of God In Isaiah 64:6, we read, “All of us have become as one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (NIV).
There is another important point. That is simply that God will never ask anything of you or me that He is unwilling to empower and enable and equip us to do. If we will yield to Him, He will empower us by the Holy Spirit to do what is needed to accomplish that which will benefit us and enable us to share with other as well. So when He states that we are to live holy lives above the filth and stench of the world, He will also give us what it takes to do so.
In Leviticus 11:45, we read, “I am the Lord Who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God: therefore be holy, because I am holy.”
In 2 Corinthians 7:1, the Bible says, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Purify myself? I can do that? Actually, it is a decision. It involves commitment. In my heart and mind, I decide to yield so that He can do a work in my heart and life. It involves an attitude of gratitude. Why do I want to do what He asks me to do? I do so because I am grateful for Who He is in my heart and life and how He has provided salvation. He loves you and me so much that He literally laid down His life as a willing sacrifice in Calvary's Cross! So, I am thankful. I am deeply touched by His love for each of us. So I do what I do… not out of duty… but out of a sense of an attitude of gratitude!
In Hebrews 12:14, the Word of God admonishes, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
“3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God [a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
So if we are truly walking in an attitude of gratitude, it becomes easier to obey and to keep His commands! It shows an honesty and sincerity in our heart’s desire to obey Him. When we realize how much that He truly loves us, we want to please Him. We want to obey… out of an attitude of gratitude! As a kid, I may not have always understood why dad insisted that I do what I was supposed to do… but I knew that he and mom loved me. So when I messe3d up, I really felt bad that I had disappointed them. We don’t want to disappoint the Lord. He deeply loves us. Do we care enough to respond to that love. Also, do we care enough to share His Word and his will with those around us? Does it reflect in our obedience to His Word?
In Proverbs 26:23, we read, “Like a coating of glaze over earthen ware are fervent lips with an evil heart.”
In Matthew 7:21, we read Jesus’ warning, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.”
In Mark 7:6-7, Jesus said, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men””
As such, we need to give him more than mere lip service. We need to give Him our whole hearts. We need to obey out of an attitude of gratitude!
“7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.”
It’s nothing new. The principles are unchanging. God and His Word are the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow! He was, He is, and He always will be! But it takes on a new light when seen in line with His supreme sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross! It is love personified!
Darkness is dispelled as the light of His love and grace becomes reality in each of our hearts and lives. It compels us to do the right thing. So, why do we do what we do? We do so out of what I so often refer to as an attitude of gratitude.
So, even though we are not absolutely perfect… Jesus was the only one Who has ever walked the face of the earth Who was absolutely perfect… Yet we really can walk in His sanctifying fullness. We are to walk above the filth and the stench of sinful living.
Our lifestyles should and must reflect the fact that true Christianity does involve victorious Christian living. Our God and the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts and lives empowers us for life and for service… as living, loving examples to those around us!
(Scripture verses quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted)
Please email Pastor Don for comments or questions: PastorDonNM@gmail.com
“Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers” unless otherwise stated.
