Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that you are all having a very good week. I would like to begin by asking for your prayers in a couple of matters. First, as I write this message, the forecast is for bad storms in my area. Please pray that the storms will not be bad. Second, please pray that my health will improve. I am pleased to report that I am doing a little better.
For several weeks now, we have been in a series of messages studying the names and titles of the Lord Jesus found in the Old and New Testaments. Today, I want to focus on the fact that the Scripture refers to Jesus as our Advocate. What does this term mean, and what is the significance of it for us?
We find Jesus referred to as our Advocate in I John 2:1-2 that reads, "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. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
Most of us are familiar with the term advocate. It is a legal term. An advocate speaks for and stands up for someone. The way that we are most familiar with the term is in the courtroom setting. An attorney speaks on behalf of the client to the judge. The advocate pleads the case on behalf of the client.
Let's look at this in the spiritual context. All of us have sinned. The Bible is very clear about this. There is none righteous. All we like sheep have gone astray.
God is a righteous and just God. He has to punish sin. The wages of sin is death. Those who sin are destined for eternal separation from God.
However, God is also a loving and merciful God. He was determined to provide us with a way of forgiveness and reconciliation. God sent His Son the Lord Jesus into this world. Jesus lived a holy and sinless life so that He could be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. On the cross, the Bible tells us that Jesus bore our sins in His body. He rose bodily from the grave in order to once and for all deal with the consequences of sin namely sin, death and hell.
Those who put their faith and trust in the work of Christ on the cross and believe in His resurrection are declared righteous by God based on the redeeming work of Jesus. When we come to Jesus, He takes away our sin. In place of our sin, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. So, God does not see us as sinners. He sees us clothed in the righteousness of His dearly beloved Son.
As believers, Jesus stands up for us when we do fall into sin. When Satan accuses us before the Father, Jesus as our Advocate stands in the court of Heaven and declares that no judgment can pass upon us because we are in Him. Those who are in the Son will find that the judgment of God has passed over them. Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sin.
This does not mean that we have a license to go around sinning. Those who are truly in Christ have a desire to live a life of holiness that is pleasing to God. The desire to live a life without sin is a mark of someone that has a true possession of faith and not merely an empty profession of faith. That is why James tells us that faith without works in dead. We are not saved by our good works, but they do serve as a demonstration of true faith in Jesus Christ.
I find it very comforting to know that Jesus is always on my side. He is always standing up for me, and He will never leave me nor will He ever forsake me. No matter what I go through, and no matter what hard times I might be facing, Jesus is always by my side. He will be with me for all of eternity. And He will be with you to if you turn to Him in repentance and faith accepting Him as your Savior and Lord. You can trust in Him and receive forgiveness of sins and a new life in Christ today. I hope you will do so. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that the storms will not be bad.
Pray for those in Vermont recovering from the flooding.
Continue to pray that the fires in Canada will be extinguished.
Let us pray for peace. Ukraine and Sudan really need our prayers at this time.
Pray that the elections in Guatemala will be fair.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for those living in the nations of Madagascar and Mongolia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current sermon series. On Monday, I will post the verses, and I will post the chapter on Jonah midweek. May God bless you all.
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