1 JOHN 2:1-2 – ON OUR SIDE
My Aunt Dot was on my side growing, helping me and my siblings get presents for our Mom and Dad. She was also on my side when I changed denominations (after being born again) to become a Baptist.
- Pastor Wes was in the right place at the right time and on my side when I had surgery.
- Dottie has been on my side and at my side for over 50 years. Helping, encouraging, enduring, and loving.
In this room this morning there are two types of people. There are people who need to know the joy of having their sins forgiven through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And there are those who have had their sins forgiven but sometimes or often struggle with feelings of guilt and failure.
I have great news! There is somebody on your side who is superior to any mere human. 1 John 2:1-2
AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.
- John is addressing people who mostly respected him as a man of God and a Spiritual mentor. He calls them “My little children”, expressing care and compassion.
- God views us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as His children. He has wonderful care and compassion towards us. Psalm 103:13, Romans 8:15-17
- John is saying that the things that he wrote in the first chapter of his epistle were so believers would sin not. 1 John 1:5-10
- If a Christian is honest before God, admitting the specific sins he has committed, God is faithful and just or righteous to forgive and cleanse us.
- But now in 1 John 2:1 John tells us he’s writing so we won’t sin.
- Well, that’s impossible, and John has already told us that. 1 John 1:8, 10
- Christian if you are truly saved you will live a life with less sin, but you will not be sinless. This will frustrate and concern you at times.
- And there are those of you in this room with an even bigger problem. You also should not sin, but you have sinned. Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6
- You might say, “So I’ve sinned. I’ve done things that are wrong that have displeased God, so what?” Romans 6:23, Psalm 9:17, Isaiah 59:2
- My friend, without help from God, your sin is an impossible problem.
AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM
IMMEDIATE HELP
And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Back in 2004 both of my parents passed away. The Peters family acquired a new friend. His name was Dave. Our family needed to settle my mother’s estate. That meant we had to deal with the law and with the authorities.
It is Dave who told us what to do. He saw that we signed the right papers, went to the right places and did what we had to do, helping us in a time of need.
Dave took us to probate court and did the talking and speaking on our behalf. Because of Dave’s help, we got Mom’s estate settled. We called him for help, so he could come by us in a time of need. Dave served as our advocate. Dave was our lawyer.
- Just as the Peters family needed help, everyone in this room needs help because of our sin.
- So, God has provided for us immediate help for our impossible problem. What is humanly impossible for man is divinely possible through God the Son.
- The word advocate means “one called alongside to help.”
- When a Christian sins Satan accuses the Christian, as the “accuser of the brethren”. Jesus is there immediately to help. He is there to plead our case as one of his own.
- He is the one called alongside to help in Heaven, while we have another helper on earth, God, the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-18, 14:26, John 16:7
- Notice once again who my immediate help is in Heaven when I sin. It is “Jesus Christ the Righteous”. He can perfectly plead my case because He himself is righteous.
- So Christian when you sin, you have someone there to help, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Now if you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a problem. You have nobody to help you. You will answer for your own sins. Revelation 20:11-15
- As it stands now, if you are without Christ, you are destined for the Lake of Fire. The good news is, however, that you can turn to Christ, trust Him as your Savior and Jesus will become your advocate, the one called alongside to help you!
AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM
IMMEDIATE HELP
IMMEASURABLE FORGIVENESS
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.
- When a Christian sins, and the Lord Jesus comes alongside to help him or her, it is on the basis that the Lord Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins.
John MacArthur – “The term propitiation, in definition, and application is most notably a biblical and theological word. It is a translation of hilasmos, which means “appeasement” or “satisfaction”. Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross satisfied the demands of God’s justice, thus appeasing His holy wrath against believer’s sins.” John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1-3 John, (Chicago, Moody Publications, 2007), p. 46
- In other words, my friend, what Jesus did on the cross dying for your sins and paying for your sins in full is why He can be your advocate before the Heavenly Father. He can say to God the Judge, “Father, I died for that, forgive him.” Isaiah 53:4-6
- Christian, your sin is humanly impossible for you to deal with. Christian, Christ comes before God and pleads your case. He pleads his own blood as the satisfaction for your sins.
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me. Eliza E. Hewitt
http://nethymnal.org/htm/m/y/myfaithh.htm
- Christian every sin you ever committed was paid for on the cross is paid for. You have a Savior who died for you, and now pleads your case in Heaven as your advocate.
- When you sin, you are to confess that sin, so you can maintain fellowship with your Heavenly Father. 1 John 1:9
- My friend if you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior you have a problem. The Bibles says that you are “dead in trespasses and sins”. That means the “Lake of Fire” is your destiny.
- But I have good news for you. Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient to pay for your sins too. He died for you! That means that right now you can turn to Christ in faith and trust Him as your Savior. Immeasurable forgiveness is here for you! John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9
AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM
IMMEDIATE HELP
IMMEASURABLE FORGIVENESS
