Our Heavenly Advocate 1 John 2:1-2

It is no surprise that man fails more often than we succeed. As believers, this is also the case. Our very nature is defined by sinful action and imperfection. You might not want to hear this, but you are no different now than you were before you were saved. Believers in Christ are as guilty as a nonbeliever. The difference is we have an advocate and someone who we have allowed to pay the fine of our actions for us. This might sound hypocritical, and you would be right. However, it was God’s design set forth for us. The Apostle John helps us see this powerful reality, 1 John 2:1-2 “1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

  John recognizes that there is danger of sin entering our life and distracting us from what God has planned thus, John goes to warn the reader “so that you may not sin.” This warning is to remind us that we need to abstain from sin. But we will eventually fail, miss the mark, and sin. When this happens, the Christian has an advocate in Jesus Christ, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Dr. Jerry Falwell stated once regarding this passage, “but if any man sin, that is if any believer who has already acknowledged that he was a sinner, and has already been cleansed from his sin by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, if this person should be led off into sin, would he be eternally lost? He could sin, but he would not be hopelessly lost, because we have an advocate.” This is reiterated by Jesus Himself in the Gospel of John, John 10:28-29 “28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father’s hand.” Dr. Jerry Falwell would continue to identify this reality of Jesus’s role in a Christian’s life with reflecting on 1 John 2:1-3, “Advocate (Greek word parakletos) is the word John used four times in his gospel for the Holy Spirit as ‘Comforter.’ It is not so much ‘comfort’ as ‘encouragement’ or ‘help’ which is usually meant by this word, and the help sought is pictured as an advocate (which word comes from the Latin equivalent of our Greek word here) or ‘attorney.’” Jesus is our advocate and helper. He stands watch for us so that when we sin, He can “advocate with the Father” on our behalf. I can only imagine messing up and God sitting on His righteous throne saying, “JL has failed to be perfect” and Jesus steps up, “Father, I can vouch for my child, he is righteous through me.” When Jesus advocates with the Father, this means he is standing before the throne and is literally advocating on your behalf.

  But Jesus isn’t done there, and John is wanting to make sure the reader understands such a declaration of Jesus’s actions of love for us that He died for us. “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,” What does this word “propitiation” mean? Comes from the Greek word ‘hilasmos’ which means a price or a fine that must be paid. Jesus was the fine and the price for yours and my sin. But God grants free will, He grants the ability for people to choose, and John is wanting to make this evidently clear, “and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” This does not mean that there is universal application of this pardon and payment of our sin, for the sinner must be willing to recognize someone who is willing to make the payment. This is what makes a relationship with Jesus so amazing, there is nothing you can do to earn this payment, this advocate for your sin. All you can do is accept the person who is willing to pay and allow Him to be your advocate. John wants the reader to understand something that is surreal, our God is actively watching, comforting, and being there for us each and every step. It is why it is ridiculous for a person to state they can lose their salvation. How can you lose something you could never earn or hold onto yourself? How can you be capable of such a responsibility? Frankly you and I cannot, and John is wanting to make this truth known before he continues in the book.

  For us today, this means simply we try to not sin, not because of salvation’s sake, but for love’s sake. We follow the Lord’s commandments for the sake of following our blessed Savior and with the faith that He knows what is best for us in our own life. There is nothing to do with salvation in this picture, and rather keeping us growing in our faith. For those who are not saved, Jesus has died for you and rose again for you. He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father and wants to advocate for you, but you need to be willing to let him. Ask Him to be your advocate and ask for forgiveness and know that God made the way and is willing to give you this once in a lifetime opportunity. If you ever have questions, please reach out to Mill House Ministries and we would be happy to help you understand who Jesus is and how you can know Him as well.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL