Jesus our advocate

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 (1 John 2:1-2)

My little children…

1. The author John considers his readers as little children
2. These little children of John the Apostle are taught
   1. About Jesus as the eternal life (1 John 1:1-2)
   2. About God as the light (1 John 1:5)
   3. About the confession of sins (1 John 1:9)
   4. About the forgiveness and cleansing of sins (1John 1:9)
3. These things are passed on to them so that they may not sin
   1. Sin as a power can be conquered (Rom.6:14)
   2. Sin as a habit can be stopped

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate…

1. Sin is no longer an alternative way of living this life on earth
2. But when a person ends up sinning against God unwillingly, he should be assured that Jesus the advocate will come to his rescue
3. Jesus is our “advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1)
   1. He is the one being called alongside to help (Cf. John 16:7)
   2. He is the one defending for us, acquitting us of our sins
4. Jesus our advocate is the Messiah (Christ) as well as the righteous.

It is in Jesus our Savior that we are not only declared but also made righteous.

He is the propitiation for our sins…

1. Not only Jesus is the advocate, but He also is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world
2. The word “propitiation”
   1. Connotes the idea of covering (mercy seat in the OT)
   2. Refers to that which makes fellowship between us and God possible
3. Jesus died on the cross both for Christians (and the would-be Christians) and the whole lot of people in the world
4. Jesus being the advocate and the propitiation for sins
   1. Satisfied the full demand of the justice of God
   2. Paid the full price of sin(s)
   3. Delivered the ultimate punch-line of the everlasting mercy of God
5. In Jesus is no separation between the Gift of eternal life and the Giver of that gift (the eternal life)

Shall we always stay confident that Jesus our advocate will walk alongside us as we struggle against sin and its consequences! Let us be challenged to appreciate Jesus as the one not only defending for us but also acquitting us of our sins! May we be challenged all the more to hold Jesus as the life and the life-giver!