April 30, 2023
Morning Service

As I read these three short letters from the Apostle John, I feel like I am sitting at the kitchen table with my grandfather.  John takes a very “grandfatherly” tone throughout these letters as he shares with us all that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him about the things he has seen and done.  In chapter 1, he explained just that as to how he had walked with Jesus, talked with Him and knew Him.  He had a close fellowship with Him.  He then revealed to us that we too can have that same fellowship which is what we were created to experience.  That fellowship with our Creator and Savior will make our “joy to be full.”  He is what we are searching for.  He then shared with us a key process that keeps our fellowship with Him in tact despite our failures.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

            It sounds almost too simple, but yet this is what God has set into place for us to receive our forgiveness when (not if) we fall short of our goal of perfection and yield to sin.  The trouble many of us have is that though we may have enough faith to believe God has forgiven us, we don’t forgive ourselves.  Our enemy places thoughts in our minds to create some doubt.  Our song this morning, “Why me Lord?” is an example of that.  “What have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures He gives?”  The answer is nothing other than that I have believed upon His Name and chosen to follow Him.  I don’t deserve it, I will never earn it, but He offers it to me despite all of that.  His love for me far exceeds my understanding.  As we begin chapter 2, John drill deeper into this in the first two verses.  Just as it is important that we know and trust the process for our sins to be forgiven, we need to understand what truly makes that process work.  

 

1Jn 2:1-2 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.

            An advocate is one who stands up for another.  There are many examples of that around us.  Debbie did that with a local organization called “Casa” where she was the advocate (voice) for a young child who had no one else to speak on their behalf.  She stood up and spoke out for what she felt was best for the child’s wellbeing.  That is exactly what Jesus does for us.  In essence we could explain this to you like an episode of Perry Mason in the courtroom.   You have been brought to trial by your enemy, called the accuser in Revelations, demanding the death penalty for your sins (of which you are guilty as charged).  But you have an Advocate on your side who would be like your attorney (Perry Mason) speaking in your defense.  He clearly explains that though you are guilty, the price for your sins has already been paid in full, by Jesus Himself.  You cannot be tried twice for a crime where the penalty has already been paid in full; thus you are acquitted and set free.

 That is what verse 2 is explaining, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world.”  Propitiation is a big word that simply means substitute.  We are found guilty of sinning for “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) The just verdict is death as Romans 6:23 tells us the “wages of sin is death.”  It is in that moment that Jesus, our Advocate, steps forward and says; “I will take his/her punishment upon Myself.”  He substitutes His life for ours as the propitiation for our sins.  He died to pay the price for our sins.  Justice has been fulfilled.  God in His Holiness could not simply turn a blind eye to the fact that we are sinners and not demand justice, so through Jesus’ substitutionary atonement we are forgiven and God’s character is retained. Only Jesus, the sinless Son of God, could fulfill this atonement for us.  He truly is our Savior and our Advocate.  The Roman writer sums this up for us as he asks who now can condemn us?

 

Rom 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

            If God is for us, who can be condemn or accuse us?  Jesus completed His work by dying for our sins, proved He was Lord and Savior by rising from that grave and now sits at the right hand of God always making intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).  He continues to be our Advocate, standing up for us and defending us as His own.  This changes everything!  My identity in Christ does not depend on my perfect performance, but it hinges on Jesus completing His calling by His DBR.  All things are made new in Him.  Paul explains this reconciliation that occurs.

 

2Co 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  (18)  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  (20)  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.  (21)  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

            God’s plan for our forgiveness was to take on the human body of Jesus to pay the price for our sin so that through that gift we might become righteous in God’s eyes.  He took our sin upon Himself and paid the price for it and then turned around and gave His righteousness to us.  That exchange completes the process of our confession, forgiveness, and cleansing removing the stain of sin and presenting us with a robe of righteousness (not our but His).  Paul explains how we are able to put on His robe of righteousness in Galatians.

 

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

            Through our act of faith of entering into the waters of baptism to die to ourselves and live to Christ, we “have put on Christ.”  Baptism is an act of faith by performing and outward action through obedience to demonstrate an inward decision.  That allows us to “put on Christ’s” righteousness enabling us to come boldly into the presence of God and be called His children.  We die to ourselves to live for Christ.  All of this hinges on the fact that Jesus is our Advocate.  He became sin for us and gives to us His righteousness making all things new.  As we continue John now tells us what that “new” looks like.

 

1Jn 2:3-6 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  (4)  He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  (6)  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

            If we have “put on Christ” then we should “walk just as He walked.”  By keeping His word, the “love of God is perfected” in us.  John is hitting this point the second time as remember last week he encouraged us to “walk in the light.”  Notice how this works in the process.  First we recognize we are a sinner and confess our sin seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.  He hears us and forgives and cleanses us from that sin allowing us to then “put on” His righteousness by receiving the Holy Spirit at our baptism. We then, not to earn or pay for our forgiveness but simply because of it, walk a new path one that He points us to.  It is by living this way “we know that we know Him, by keeping His commandments.”  Our faithfulness to Him does not earn our salvation, but proves that we have attained it.  We die to ourselves to live for Christ.  Paul summarized that step well to the Galatians.

 

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

            I have died to my sinful self and now abide in Christ allowing Him to live through me.  This is a part of the process that we live in day to day as a Jesus follower.  We seek to put God first in all things, but there are times when we fall short and find sin in our life.  The process of forgiveness begins with our recognition that we have sinned and desire to do better.  It is then that we confess it, receive forgiveness and then move on to the next day.  Sin is a part of our journey, but is never to be taken lightly.  It must be dealt with not ignored.  Our sinful nature is a reminder of just how much room we have to grow as we strive to follow Jesus faithfully.  It constantly keeps us mindful that we need Him as our Savior, Friend, Intercessor, and Advocate.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this perfect plan of salvation that is offered freely to us who do not deserve it.  Thank You for loving us enough to be our Advocate.