“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense– Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.” 1 John 2:1-3 (NIV)
What an encouraging Scripture passage! The beloved Apostle is writing to us – the “little children” of God – so that we will not commit sin. It is his intent to inform us so that we will be fortified against every trick of the adversary. And his language is clear . . . children of God do not continue in the practice of sinning or the lifestyle of sin.
Yet, it is possible for the child of God to fail. If that happens, our adversary would tell us: “No use you trying. You can’t be his disciple. You can’t be holy like him. You might as well give up and quit.”
But John says, “if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father.” John’s “if . . . then” proposition clearly indicates possibility rather than probability. Such excuses as “I can’t help it” or “Everyone sins a little bit everyday” fail when applied to John’s litmus test. It is possible for a disciple of Christ to sin, but not probable in the normal course of following Christ. Note the encouragement in John’s words: We have an advocate . . . Jesus Christ. Just to know that our Lord and Savior is also our defender at God’s court makes his promise to never leave us nor forsake us even more dear than ever. And our defender doesn’t need to make a appointment with the Judge. He is sitting at the right hand of God ready at a every instant to defend us against the adversary’s tricks.
And that is the key issue: the adversary’s tricks. We are neither forced nor destined to fall from his tricks, but if we fall, then we have the conquering power of God’s grace, through our advocate’s sacrifice, defending us against the adversary’s trick.
Dear Father, thank you for our advocate, Jesus Christ. Empower us with preserving grace that will keep us from sinning. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in our advocate,