ADVOCATE

THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Affection

Too often we make the mistake of thinking that we need to seek faithfulness and obedience to the message of God’s word because it is what keeps us in God’s love. We make the mistake of thinking that our actions will determine God’s affections.

In the passage that follows we hear how obedience to God’s command and example is not what leads us to God, but comes from learning to embrace and rest in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

“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. 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 keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”

1 John 1:8-2:6 NIV11

Verses 1:8-10

· Are you able to openly and honestly evaluate your walk with God and admit your areas of need and failure with the Lord?

· Do you see the depth of your failure before the Lord and your deep need for God’s grace and forgiveness?

Verses 2:1-2

When we hear that Jesus Christ is our atoning sacrifice, we need to know that this is a special term used to describe the way Jesus Christ has done more than simply declare us to be free of sin and free to join in his eternal life and future.

Jesus has taken our place as he died on the cross. Because we rebelled against God, and sought our ways over what we knew of God’s ways, we were guilty of sin and heading for judgement and punishment.

Instead of allowing us to suffer in this way as rebels and enemies of God, he bore our sin upon his own body as he was killed for our sake and for the sake of all who seek his gifts of grace and forgiveness of sin.

· What does it mean to you to hear that Jesus is our advocate, working on our behalf?

· How does the work of the cross help you see that you have been completely forgiven?

Verses 2:3-6

While this sounds insanely difficult, living like Jesus, we need to step back and think about what this means. The point of this teaching is to challenge you and I to examine ourselves before the Lord. To take a look at our actions, words and attitudes, and to seek them through the message of God’s word.

If we are aware of the depth of God’s love for us, then we should see some of this love spilling over into the way we treat others. In the same way, if we are aware of the grace of God that is poured out over our sin and failure thanks to the work of Jesus Christ, then we should see some of this grace impacting our hearts and changing the way we treat others.

If we examine ourselves and find that we are not seeking to follow in the footsteps of Jesus or to emulate his treatment of others, then we should really take a hard look at what we really know about the mercy of Christ or the forgiveness shown to us on the cross.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
thank you for being my eternal advocate.
Thank you for taking upon yourself
the pain that my sin deserved.
Thank you for being the sacrifice that atoned for,
and paid the penalty for, my sin.
Help me to live today
as one who has been set free by grace.

In Christ,

Ryan Laden

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH

“TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP EACH OTHER IN LOVE TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”

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