This is a sermon that was given on May 31, 2020. It is the third sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of First John. This message is based on 1 Jn. 2:1-11 and focuses on the implications of the fact that Jesus Christ is our Advocate.
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
Today is Pentecost Sunday on the church liturgical calendar. It represents the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the NT believers. The coming of the Spirit in this way was predicted by Jesus while teaching His disciples. Jesus used a term to describe the Spirit – “Another Comforter/ helper.” John 14:16 (NKJV) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
“comforter” – lit. one called alongside [to help]. The kind of help that the Spirit would provide included: guide into truth, bring to mind the things of Christ, convict of sin, righteousness and judgment, testify of Christ, glorify Christ, and enables believers to do greater works than Christ. Jesus also said that the Spirit is the one who enables anyone to approach the Father. “No one comes to the Father, except the Spirit draw him.” I thank God for the abiding presence of His Spirit and every aspect of His ministry to each believer yet today.
Today, as we move on into the second chapter of 1st John, we notice that John specifically tells us that Jesus is our “advocate.” All the translations I checked use the word “advocate” in this verse. However, the Greek word for “advocate” is παράκλητον (paraclete), which is the same Gk. word used by Jesus in John 14:16 that is translated "comforter" or "helper." The reason Jesus told his disciples that he would send “another” comforter is because Jesus is also a “helper/comforter” and the Spirit would be just like Him.
Now John explains to us the “helper” role that Jesus plays for us. This word only appears in John’s gospel in reference to the Holy Spirit and here in John’s epistle in reference to Jesus.
(A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament) The Holy Spirit is God's Advocate on earth
with men, while Christ is man's Advocate with the Father (the idea, [is also
expressed], in … Hebrews 7:25).
Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV)
Therefore He is also able to save
to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to
make intercession for them.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, who descended on the Day of
Pentecost, I want to talk to you today about
I. The
Ministry of the Advocate (vv. 1-2)
In the first two verses of this chapter John
highlights the specific role of Jesus Christ as our advocate.
A. His ministry is explained with
tenderness.
“My little children” – term of endearment. Perhaps used to emphasize the writer’s advanced age. Also used to emphasize the writer’s relationship with them and his care for them like a father to his children. (or a grandfather to grandchildren).
John has used and will use some pretty
strong language meant for the false teachers, but for the believing Christians,
he wants them to know his love and concern for them.
B. His ministry provides hope and
encouragement.
Victory over sin is expected. “I write unto you that you sin not…”
The false teaching that was gaining in popularity did not offer any hope for victory over sin. As we noted in last Sunday’s message, the Gnostics believed that the sins of the body did not corrupt the spirit in any way, so why even bother trying to live above sin? Just indulge your fleshly desires, it doesn’t really matter. But, most people understand that indulging our desires usually ends up making us slaves to them. We find we can’t help ourselves. John’s message is a different message. “I’m writing this letter to you so that you do not sin.”
John 5:14 (NKJV) Afterward
Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made
well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."
John believed in the hope of the gospel. He
believed in the remedy for sin, not just in a judicial sense, but in a
practical way as well.
(F.F. Bruce) Sin, indeed, is so thoroughly uncharacteristic of the Christian life
that a life which is marked by sin cannot be called Christian…
A relapse into sin is possible. “If any man sin…”
The tense of the verb here does not indicate
a habitual pattern or continuous condition, but a momentary lapse into sin.
Sinful relapse is not hopeless. “we have an advocate…”
“advocate” – paraclete; one called alongside
[to help].
(Vic Reasoner) … every true Christian has two helpers. Every true Christian is indwelt
by the Holy Spirit and he is present to regenerate us, empower us, and assure
us that God has forgiven us and that he accepts us. He keeps us from sin.
But we also have another helper who
intercedes for us at the right hand of God. Jesus Christ has finished his atoning
work on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins, but he continues his legal
work as our lawyer pleading our case.
I read in some sources that there are those who would understand this phrase to mean that the loving Christ of the NT is working hard to convince the angry God of the OT to offer forgiveness. But remember. The Bible is very clear – the God of the OT is the same one who sent His son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved. (John 3:17)
C. His ministry is sufficient.
He is morally qualified. “Jesus Christ the righteous.”
“the righteous” – the same basic Greek word
as John used in 1:9 concerning God – faithful and “just.”
Jesus Christ is morally qualified to be a
sacrifice for the sins of the world because He is without sin – He is perfectly
righteous.
His sacrifice is satisfactory. “He himself is the propitiation for our
sins…”
“propitiation” – a Gk. word that means to
satisfy the judgment and wrath of deity. It is sometimes translated “atoning
sacrifice.”
Some scholars believed the word needed to be translated as “atoning sacrifice” because they believed the emphasis needed to be directed away from the aspect of satisfying the wrath of God to the aspect of covering of our sins. However, both aspects need to remain in focus. The Bible makes it clear that God’s “wrath abides on all sin as a holy antagonism to all evil.” (Stott, TNTC)
I am reminded of the hymn: Arise, My Soul, Arise. The words of this hymn vividly describe the effectiveness of Christ's sacrifice for us.
His sacrifice is universally sufficient. “… and not for ours only but also for the
whole world.”
There are Christian theologians who argue that the atoning work of Jesus Christ is only for the elect (i.e. the ones God chose to be saved). But John makes it pretty clear here that the work of Christ is for the sins of the whole world. Every single person can be assured of salvation if they come in humble confession and put their full trust in the atonement of Jesus Christ.
(Stott, TNTC) – Thus, the Father’s provision for the sinning Christian is in his Son,
who possesses a threefold qualification: his righteous character, his
propitiatory death and his heavenly advocacy. Each depends on the others. He
could not be our advocate in heaven today if he had not died to be the
propitiation for our sins; and his propitiation would not have been effective
if in his life and character he had not been Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
II. Our
Relationship with the Advocate (vv. 3-11)
After describing our Advocate’s ministry of atonement
and interceding with the Father, John continues to explain how that relates to
us and our behavior or conduct.
(Stott, TNTC) In the [first chapter John] has recorded three false claims of the
heretics, each introduced by the phrase ‘if we claim’. He now expresses two
right and positive assurances which the true Christian may have, introduced by
the formula … ‘by this we know that’ They occur in verse 3 … and verse 5b ….
Each of these statements … is followed by an application in the third person
singular, ho legōn, literally
‘he who says’ (4, 6). [and] in verse
9….
A. Our relationship is described as knowing
Him.
v. 3 “by this” – probably referring to what
follows next.
“Know that we know Him” – Greek ginosko, means to “come to know” or “to perceive.” Distinct from another Gk. word that means to know as a “self-evident fact.” Implies knowledge by experience. (There’s a difference between knowing about him vs. knowing him.)
True knowledge inspires obedience to Him.
B. Our relationship is described as abiding
in Him.
1 John 2:5b (NKJV) … By this we know that we are in Him. These two words again, probably are referring to what comes next.
(Tom Thatcher, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) While v.3 focused on the need to obey Jesus’ teaching, v.6 emphasizes the need to live by his example….The Father abides in Jesus, empowering his work (Jn. 14:10), and will also abide in those who love Jesus and obey his teaching (14:23). The disciples, in turn, must abide in Jesus, apparently meaning that they must live by his word in order to maintain their relationship with him. It is through this process of mutual indwelling that Jesus gives believers life and power to accomplish his work (15:4-9).
Abiding in Him inspires imitation of Him.
1 John 2:6 (NKJV) He
who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
It is not enough to merely make sure we are
obeying His commands, but we need to live as He live; imitate His conduct and
attitudes.
C. Our relationship is described as abiding
in the light.
Old/New Commandment: Old in the sense that
they have heard it and known it from the time they heard and believed the
gospel. But it is new in the sense that now, since they are abiding in Christ
and He is in them, darkness is becoming light. Error is dying and truth is
living. Evil is changing to the good. (Lenski)
This will have an effect – love for brothers
and sisters.
Abiding in the light inspires love for
others.
1 John 2:9-11 (NKJV) 9 He who says he is in the
light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He
who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling
in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in
darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded
his eyes.
Various commentaries have mentioned the fact that John frequently repeats themes that he has already mentioned. John talked about being in light or in darkness in the first chapter. Now, he is emphasizing that theme again.
Light = truth, right, good Darkness = error, wrong, evil
Conclusion:
Today we have been reminded of the
expectation for victorious Christian living over sin because of the
intercessory and atoning ministry of Jesus Christ.
We have also been reminded that what Jesus
has accomplished for us makes a difference in
us.
The result shows up in our striving to
follow Jesus’ example and “walk as He walked.” And, it shows up in our love for
and treatment of others around us.
I challenge each of us today to make a
renewed commitment and effort to live our lives each day as Jesus would have us
live.
WWJD – based on the book, In His Steps, by
Charles Sheldon, and based on v. 6 “ought to walk just as He walked.”
Not always easy to determine, but we must
strive to do so.
Let us close the service by singing the hymn: I’ll Live for Him
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