“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
TEXT — 1 John 2:1-11
Message
Carey Theological College website published this story about a judge who lobbied for the release of a man he sentenced to life in prison. Judge Kevin Sharp carried an authoritative tone when he visited the White House to lobby for Christopher Young because of his years on the federal bench. He also had a specific opinion of the inmate in question, because he was the one that sentenced him to prison in 2013. Young was sentenced to life in prison under a federal “three strikes” law, even though his drug charges were nonviolent. Sharp said Young should never have received such a harsh sentence but that during the trial, his hands were tied because of the sentencing statutes.
John the aged apostle reveals Christ as our Advocate who argues and pleads our case with God. He encouraged believers to live free of sin. He emphasised the central teachings of the Scriptures that God’s people should walk in the light and not forsake those who are guilty, having fallen into sin by accident. This is one way not to give in to Satan’s accusations but depend on Jesus Christ, our Advocate. Christ’s propitiation, advocacy and intercession for believers should, however, not be taken as a license to continue living in sin. Those who make sin a habit have not known Christ and are still in darkness.
Christ is the One with the right to judge and condemn sinners. Yet, He is also portrayed here as our Advocate who argues and pleads our case with God. We should, however, understand that the condition here is “if any man sin” – not when he sins. Christ’s advocacy is not for practicing sinners. The excuse that the grace of God is more than sufficient to forgive all our sins does not hold for those who deliberately persist in evil conduct.
A new life is possible only after we have repented genuinely with a firm commitment to follow the Lord faithfully.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
