My Little Children

Introduction

1 John 2:1–6 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

How many of you like law TV shows? Whether it is true crime or a lawyer show, we like to watch justice take place.

The only justice that we do not like is our own.

Even so, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. Our advocate, Jesus, testifies not with our good works but with his grace and righteousness that He gives to us.

Explanation

1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

We have an advocate (parakletos) who is Jesus.

Paraklete (Helper) refers to the Holy Spirit.

Our advocate (parakletos) refers to Christ who literally advocates for us.

What does he advocate with? His blood.

Zechariah 3:1-5 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.”

When I think of our advocate, I think of this passage of Scripture.

While Satan accuses, Christ acquits by His blood.

1 John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Propitiation literally means satisfaction. The debt has been paid, and he is the satisfier of the debt.

Christ has satisfied our sin.

QUESTION: If Jesus is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, does this mean that everyone is saved whether or not they believe in Jesus?

Christ’s ability to save is unlimited in scope but limited in application.

While Christ’s sacrifice CAN save the whole world, it ONLY saves those who believe in Him for eternal life.

1 John 2:3-4 “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”

We know that we know God if we keep His commandments.

Not perfectly, but with a growing desire and outcome.

We cannot perfectly obey his commandments, but God does give a victory over sin.

If we say, “I know Him,” but we do not keep his commandments, we are

Liars

The truth isn’t in us

I would take that description to mean that we are not saved.

1 John 2:5-6 “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

When we keep God’s word, His love for us is perfected in us.

What does this phrase mean?

Abide in Christ // The Vine and the Branches

John 15:1-5 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Without abiding in Christ, we do not know Him.

Invitation

See Jesus as the propitiation for your sins.

See Jesus advocating for you.

Abide in Him so that you might produce fruit.