The Role of our Advocate

Good day

We continue with the first Epistle of John.

“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. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world,” (1 John 2:1-2).

We have heard last time that no one is without sin and that there are many sins that we refuse to acknowledge, and therefore do not confess as we are instructed to do. We even sin wilfully for we know we are able to simply confess our sins and then reckon it is easy – live as you like as long as you just confess your sin. But what is the reality? Why do we not have the power the apostles had. We read in Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” and in Philippians 2:12, 13: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure”.

According to 1 John 2:2 above Jesus is our propitiation, our atoning sacrifice, as well as our Advocate when we sin. Our sins are forgiven by Jesus’ death on the cross as far as Father God is concerned. Jesus therefore covers for us when the wrath of God should be poured out on sin as it has happened so many times in the Old Testament. Should we therefore do as Paul stated in Romans 6:1: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” He answers as follows: “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Father God gave Jesus the highest authority (Philippians 2:9-11), and although we are made right with the Father, we should continually work with the Holy Spirit to align with Jesus’ commands throughout the New Testament (John 14:21, 23). If it were not so, the Bible should have ended at the end of the Gospels and Jesus would have wasted His breath teaching us.

Apart from being our Advocate, Jesus has another role. When we break the laws of the country, we are disciplined, are we not? If we do not feel the consequences when we do not listen, how will we know to comply? Therefore we are told in Hebrews 12:3-6: “Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’”

 The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12 above) as well as discipline through our circumstances (Hebrews 12:3-6 above), to work in us (Philippians 2:12, 13 above) and form us to align with Jesus’ expectations.

How would you have felt (or maybe you know what I am talking about) when you have suffered much and have given everything to develop your children. Maybe you have built up an interest in which you hoped your children will share, preparing the way for them to succeed in this interest. But some of them are aloof and uninterested and the others ruin your interest by their selfish behaviour. How would you react? Would you not take disciplinary steps to save both your interest and your children’s future?

To Jesus the road towards bringing us salvation was not an easy one. Apart from the physical sacrifice on the cross He put a lot of energy and time into serving the needs of people and teaching, as well as suffering much persecution and ridicule for what He was doing. Our salvation cost Him a HUGE price and He was not going to just let us take it lightly. He has to bring us in line with His will through discipline.

If we continually refuse to acknowledge sin, repent of it and do something about it, He has to create consequences for our behaviour because He loves us. Then we ask why life is so hard – we bring it on ourselves.

I have attended many different church services in my life and have listened to many radio and television messages, and very seldom do I hear messages about sin and discipline. Lately the trend tends to be the love of God and sensations of His manifestation. Are we not deceiving one another?

We read in Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’”

Note that the Lord does not only practice love, but also justice and righteousness.

Lord, please make me aware of sin that would prevent an abundant life for me with you, for you do not go along with sin and must deal with it.

I sincerely hope you are ready for what is coming next.