One of the greatest truths in all of scripture is the fact that God is for us. He loves us, He cares about us, and He is on our side. He really is on your side! That is encouraging! Imagine the peace in our life that we would experience if we simply walked in this truth. That is the promise we have as believers.
This is so important! Knowing that Jesus is our advocate is vital to our belief. What you believe about God and what you believe about yourself is very important. Why? Because right belief leads to right living. Believing the right things leads to living the right way.
Not everyone sees you the way that God sees you. Not everyone talks about you the way that God talks about you. It is important that we are listening to the voice of our advocate and not the voice of the accuser.
But more on that later! For now, let’s jump into our text for today.
The apostle John, the same John who wrote the gospel of John, is writing to his readers about living rightly before God. The main idea is that true fellowship with God is found in the person of Jesus Christ and that the evidence of fellowship with Him is found in a transformed life.
In chapter one he establishes his authority as a true eyewitness of Jesus risen from the dead. He was adamant about God being perfect as light and that no one can be living in darkness and claim to be in God. He also is adamant that anyone claiming to be without sinning is lying and is not born again.
Then in chapter two John continues his thought. Let’s pick up in verse one:
1 John 2:1-2 — “1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Here the Bible says that we as believers have an “advocate” with the Father.
Our Advocate = Jesus Christ (the Righteous One)
What is an Advocate?
Advocate (Parakletos) = One who stands on your behalf; Defends your case
A “Parakletos” was someone who voluntarily stepped forward in a court of law to defend an accused person, represent them, and urge the judge for a favorable verdict. John is saying that Jesus is that person for us!
There are a few things that we have to understand in order for all of this to make sense.
1.
The
Law Reveals Our Guilt
The truth is that God is holy, just, and righteous. God is perfect! When God
created the world, it was perfect as well. But when Adam disobeyed God, sin
entered the world. Through Moses, God gave the Law to Israel and to us (Torah).
The whole point of the law was to reveal that we have all sinned and that we
have all fallen short. It’s purpose was to reveal our guilt.
When you break the law here in America, there are consequences. When you break
the law of God, there are consequences as well. When you break the law in
America, your penalty is a fine, jail time, prison time, potentially even life
in prison. However, when you break the law of God, the consequence is eternal
separation from God.
Every single one of us has fallen short, every single one of us has sinned.
Therefore we are all guilty of breaking the law. If you had to stand before God
based on your own righteousness, you would have no defense. The evidence
against you in overwhelming!
No amount of good works, church attendance, apologizing could erase our guilt.
We needed someone to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. That
someone is Jesus Christ!
2.
Jesus
Paid Our Debt
Jesus came to this earth born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, was falsely
accused, nailed to a wooden cross, and then died a sinner’s death. When Jesus
died, He took our punishment upon Himself for us. His blood was shed for us so
that we could be forgiven, set free, and could be in right standing before God.
(Oh precious is the flow…)
In the Old Testament, there was mediator between God and man; the high priest.
The role of the high priest was to represent man before God (Note: A prophet
represented God to the people).
Hebrews 5:1 — “For every
high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to
God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
His job was to represent the people by offering a consecrated sacrifice to God
on behalf of the people for their forgiveness.
Jesus Himself is the Ultimate High Priest! He was taken from us
(born of a virgin), and appointed for us, in order to represent
us to God. His death was the perfect sacrifice made unto God once
and for all for the forgiveness of our sins. His death paid the debt we owed
and took on our penalty for us.
3.
Jesus
is Defending Our Case
Jesus is no longer in the grave — He is in heaven right now making intercession
for you. What does that mean? He is defending your case. He is being an
advocate on your behalf. Why? Because while you do have an advocate that is on
your side, you also have an accuser; that is the devil himself.
The Bible says that the devil is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation
12:10). It says that he accuses us
before God day and night. All day long, he goes before God to make accusations
against you. He points out the wrong you have done, the sins you have
committed, and the mistakes you have made. He is constantly pointing our your
guilt.
But this is where Jesus as our advocate really comes into play. While the devil
continues to hurl accusations against you, Jesus stands before God as our
lawyer/defender and points to His righteousness that has been applied to us
through His blood that was shed for us. He points to His sacrificial death on
the cross that completely paid for our sin. Jesus stands before God on your
behalf and says “he is mine, she is mine, I paid for him/her!”
Jesus is making intercession for you right now!!
So 1 John 2:1 portrays a heavenly courtroom:
•
God
is the judge
•
You
as the defendant
•
The
devil as the accuser (prosecutor) pointing out what you did
wrong
• Jesus as the defense attorney on your behalf
Jesus is interceding on your behalf before God RIGHT NOW!!
Notice what it says at the end of 1 John 2:1
“But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
Jesus is qualified to be an advocate on our behalf because He is the perfect and righteous one!
This is the truth! This is so
important for us to know and understand. Why you may ask? Because the accuser
is not only making accusations about you before God, he is also making
accusations to you as well. He tells you all the bad things you’ve done. He
points out all your failures. He tries to condemn you by whispering lies to
you:
•
You are a failure
•
You’re not a good
parent
•
It’s your fault
•
You are never
going to change
•
God is
disappointed in you
•
You ruined your
calling
•
You’re not worthy
• God can’t use you, look at your mistakes
If we are not careful, we will begin to agree with accusations that God never spoke over us. We can find ourselves imprisoned by and accusations and condemnation (lies) when the truth is actually quite the opposite.
The devil wants you to focus on yourself and your own shortcomings. Why? Because he knows that if you begin to lift your eyes to Jesus, then you will see the truth, that you are forgiven, that you have been covered, and that you have had an advocate on your side the entire time.
The devil knows the truth, he just wants to keep you from seeing it. Why? Because he wants to keep you on the sideline. He wants to keep you from being effective for the kingdom of God. His weapon of choice are accusations and condemnation. But we must remember that our advocate has paid the price for us and is defending us before God the Father day and night!
So let us take our eyes off ourselves and our own failures and shortcomings and let us put them on Jesus! Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is because of Him that we are considered the righteousness of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 — “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
You are no longer identified by your sin. You are now identified by His righteousness.
TAKEAWAYS
I.
Stop
agreeing with accusations that God never spoke over you
We have to be careful not to agree
with the attacks on our heart from the enemy when he accuses us. We must
recognize that as the voice of the enemy.
We have to recognize the difference between conviction and condemnation.
Condemnation is from the enemy. He constantly accuses, condemns, and reminds
you of your shortcomings.
However, conviction comes from the Holy Spirit inspired to lead us to
repentance and restoration. Conviction leads you back to God, condemnation
leads you away from God.
Do not build your identity around what the accuser says about you. Instead,
build your identity around what your advocate says about you.
II.
Keep
your eyes on Jesus instead of your failures
The devil wants you to focus on
yourself and all of your mistakes because as long as you stare at yourself, you
will keep staying defeated. He wants to keep you from lifting your eyes to
Jesus at all costs. Why? Because freedom comes when you lift your eyes and see
the truth that Jesus has been defending the entire time.
Your salvation was never based on your perfection, it was based on His.
And you are not being defended by your righteousness, but by His.
III.
Remember
that Jesus is still interceding for you right now
Although Jesus paid for your
salvation 2000 years ago, He is actively advocating for you in heaven right
now! The devil is hurling accusations about you before God, but Jesus your
advocate is standing in the gap interceding on your behalf. You don’t have to
fight for God’s love or acceptance, you already have it in Christ!
And since Jesus is advocating on your behalf day and night, let us…
IV.
Live
confidently knowing that God is for you
Because Jesus is your advocate, you
do not have to live defeated, ashamed, or condemned. If you sin, repent (not
apologize) and ask for God’s help to redeem you from your struggles.
The enemy wants to keep you on the sideline through guilt and shame. However,
Jesus paid for your sin so that you could walk in freedom and purpose.
Romans 8:31 — “If God is
for us, who can be against us?”
GOD IS FOR YOU!!
God is on your side and He will never give up on you.
