Certain Eternity Part 13 – Jesus Our Righteous Advocate
1 John 2:1 December 8, 2024
Introduction
Litigious culture – people suing one another for almost anything. One of the more
famous Christmas movies is Miracle on 34 th Street. I am partial to the 1994
remake…which is now 30 years old…but the original was released in 1947.
o In the movie, a man by the name of Kris Kringle takes on the role of a
department store Santa Claus but insists that he is the real Santa. He is
eventually put on trial for his claims. In the movie, the prosecutor gets Kris
Kringle to admit that he believes he is the one and only Santa Claus and
seeks to have the court rule him mentally insane.
o When I think of this movie, it always makes me think of the spiritual
courtroom in which every one of us is going to stand trial one day and the
reality of how our enemy, Satan, is always accusing us and trying to get us
to believe that we are insane for believing God loves us and could forgive
us.
Today as we continue in 1 John we see that John also recognizes the
legal nature of our relationship with Jesus and he reassures us that
even though we face a deadly prosecutor of our sins, our defense
attorney is even better.
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.”
4 points today: Accused, Accuser, Advocate, Adjudication
The Accused
Has just finished speaking strongly about the reality of self-deception if not
acknowledging one’s personal sin….yet, John reminds his readers that they are
beloved by John, and even more so by Yahweh.
“little children” (Gk. teknion, also paidion) This is a tender term of endearment
most typically used to refer to one’s own family or closest friends and disciples
o John uses it (or “beloved”, Gk agapētos) throughout his letter as he gently
and lovingly points out various lies and behaviors that his readers may fall
into
2:1, 7, 12, 13, 18, 28; 3:7, 18, 21; 4:1, 4, 7, 11; 5:21 (closing verse)
o William Barclay “John is a very old man; he must be, in fact, the last
survivor of his generation, maybe the last man alive who had walked and
talked with Jesus in the days of his flesh. So often age gets out of
sympathy with youth and acquires even an impatient irritableness with the
new and laxer ways of the younger generation. But not John, in his old age
he has nothing but tenderness for those who are his little children in the
faith. He is writing to tell them that they must not sin but he does not scold.
There is no cutting edge in his voice; he seeks to love them into goodness.
In this opening address there is the yearning, affectionate tenderness of a
pastor for people whom he has known for long in all their wayward
foolishness and still loves.”
o John learned this address from Jesus – John 13:1, 33 “1 Now before the
Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart
out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end….33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you.
You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you,
‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”
Jesus loved them all, but it was only after Judas left to betray Him
that Jesus referred to them as tender members of His family.
Point of Application – If our tone is not loving as we speak truth, we are already
wrong. A father wants success for his children.
o Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who
are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
o Ephesians 4:15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ”
The Accuser
We have an accuser who constantly reminds us that we fall short.
Zechariah 3:1 “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.”
Though the accused are beloved, we are still guilty of sin. John knows this and
does not ignore that reality – in chapter 1 he has urged his readers to
acknowledge their sin.
o Yet, just because we sin does not mean we shouldn’t try to sin less – the
Lord desires and expects us to grow in holiness as we draw near to Him in
faith.
o Glenn Barker – Expositer’s Bible Commentary – “There is no question at
all in his mind that sin and obedience to God are irreconcilable. Sin is the
enemy. It removes the believer from the light. It prevents fellowship with
God and it destroys fellowship with the children of light. The principle of sin
as the power of darkness must be excluded from the believer’s life, and
individual acts of sin must be resisted. Where failure occurs, the sin must
be confessed before the body and the Lord and then abandoned. And
always the intent of the believer remains the same—not to commit sin!”
o Remember the flesh feasting of the gnostics? – John is calling this out
directly and saying that we should not indulge in sin – it is wrong and
antithetical to a growing faith in the Lord.
If we are seeking to justify and rationalize our sin we are squarely in
chapter 1 John 1:5-10 where John is talking about being deceived.
Instead, John is writing so that we do not fall into habitual ongoing
lifestyle sin but have hearts of repentance that seek to walk in the
light of holiness.
Point of Application – how do we view our sin?
o Are we growing in humility, obedience, and faithfulness or are we justifying
and rationalizing our words, actions, and emanations of the heart?
o On the other hand, how hard are we on ourselves when we do sin? Do we
continue to condemn and berate ourselves or do we allow the grace of God
to move us back into uncondemned fellowship with Him?
John reminds us here that our God is a holy and perfect God and His standard is
perfection. John doesn’t say, “I am writing these things to you so you only sin a
little bit.” No, the standard is perfection – so that you may not sin – and every one
of us falls short of that standard….thankfully John continues and reminds us of
our righteous advocate.
The Advocate
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.”
o While John expresses the ultimate goal and standard of sinlessness, he
immediately recognizes the reality of our struggle against our selfish,
prideful, fearful nature that we all struggle with and recognizes that we will
sin.
John Macarthur points out that the Greek of “but if anyone sins” is
written in such a way that it could more accurately be translated “if
anyone sins, and it will happen”
John is recognizing the reality of our struggle and immediately
provides the answer for a life of victory over sin – our righteous
advocate Jesus.
o And notice that John is including himself in the need for an advocate – “we
have an advocate” … there is no self-righteousness in John. He knows that
he too is a sinner who needs Jesus. He is blessed to know that in spite of
his sin, he is deeply loved by his Lord and advocate and wants to share
that eternal assurance with his readers
From a Florida prison cell in June 1962, Clarence Earl Gideon wrote a note
asking the United States Supreme Court to review his conviction for a crime he
said he didn’t commit. He added that he didn’t have the means to hire a lawyer.
One year later, in the historic case of Gideon v. Wainright, the Supreme Court
ruled that people who cannot afford the cost of their own defense must be given
a public defender—an advocate—provided by the state. With this decision, and
with the help of a court-appointed lawyer, Clarence Gideon was retried and
acquitted.
“advocate” (Gk parakletos) literally, one called alongside. Variously translated as
counselor, comforter, helper, assistant, and defender (a word also used to
describe the Holy Spirit, see John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7). In ancient Greece
parakletos was often used of a defense attorney called in to defend someone
under accusation and personally urge the judge to decide in favor of the
accused.
o And notice that our heavenly defender is “with the Father” which in the Gk
more literally means “facing”…our advocate is at the right hand of the
Father, facing Him, and declaring us not guilty even as the enemy accuses
us.
Revelation 12:10-11 “10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the
salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who
accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by
the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their
lives even unto death.”
o While our enemy accuses us day and night, our advocate defends us day
and night…and assures us that the accusations, though right they may be,
have no eternal consequence to us for Christ has already paid the price
(which we’ll talk about more next week).
Zechariah 3:2-5 “2 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?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy
garments. 4 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.” 5 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.”
o We who have put our trust in Jesus have been plucked from the fire by
God’s grace and mercy to us through faith.
Famous defense attorneys:
o Johnnie Cochran famously defended OJ Simpson, “If the glove does not fit
you must acquit.” He also represented Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson and
Rosa Parks.
o Ann Bremner – Speaking of Michael Jackson, Ms. Bremner is the attorney
who represented Michael Jackson. As of several years ago, she has won
most every case she has been the attorney of record on. In addition to
Michael Jackson, she famously represented Amanda Knox for her role in
the murder of her roommate in Italy.
o Shawn Holley Chapman – The attorney to the stars, she has represented
many troubled Hollywood debutantes: Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris
Hilton, and even the Kardashians.
Each one highly capable and well-respected in their jobs – and each
one also somehow flawed
Christ is worthy of being our advocate because He is righteous.
o Righteous (Gk dikaios) that which is in accordance with the applicable
standard of justice
Remember, Yahweh’s standard is perfection – praise God that our
Advocate was, is, and forever shall be righteously perfect!
Glen Barker – the Expositer’s Commentary – “If any of his children should fail
and commit sin, the author is anxious that they neither deceive themselves about
it nor lie about their action nor give up walking in the light. The answer to lapsing
into sin is not self-deceit but the forgiveness of God made available through
Jesus Christ. He has been designated the believer’s advocate, the counsel who
speaks in our defense. His worthiness to perform this function rests on the fact
that even as God is righteous (1:9), so Jesus Christ also merits the title “The
Righteous One”.”
o And what greater advocate could someone have for themselves than the
one who is also the judge? The one who defends us turns right around and
declares us not guilty.
o Hebrews 4:14-15 “14 Since then we have a great high priest who has
passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our
confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been
tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help in time of need.”
o Jesus knows what we have gone through – He lived it Himself – and He
took the penalty so that we may have eternal life, and live confidently
knowing that we belong to Him.
The Adjudication
Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus
from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by
the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and
for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement
of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for
us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him
up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who
shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to
condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was
raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … 37 No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to
come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Those we are accused and guilty, we are not condemned. Praise God!
John 10:27-30 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch
them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than
all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the
Father are one.”
Conclusion
Miracle on 34 th Street – original US post office recognized Santa Clause, in
remake US Dept. of Treasury recognizes that “In God we trust”. Judge ruled that
if the government acknowledges and trusts in God whom it cannot see, then
Santa Claus can also be acknowledged as real even without clear evidence that
can prove his existence.
Yay for Santa Claus – but our being declared not guilty is just like that. There is
no evidence that any of us deserve to be pardoned by God. Yet our righteous
advocate has made a way for us not to be condemned, and Lord willing we will
dive into that next week as we look at Jesus our propitiation.
But for today, it is enough to know that our righteous advocate has persuaded the
judge to declare us not guilty. Though we sin, we are not condemned even as the
accuser rails against us. Praise God for our righteous advocate.