1 John 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father… The word "advocate" is applied elsewhere to the Spirit of God. The word does not simply represent one who pleads in a court of justice, but a friendly pleader; also a patron and a sponsor. The idea here seems to be not so much that of an intercessor as that of a representative, including an intercessor, but compassing much more than an intercessor. The idea is brought out by the prophet Isaiah, when he says, speaking of a sort of middleman, a sort of mediator, "He is near that justifieth me." Job brings out the idea when he says, "if there be a messenger with them" — a representative, an interpreter — "one among a thousand." The same thought runs all through the 72nd Psalm, where the king's son is represented as defending and as pleading the cause of the poor and the needy. Now the righteousness of an advocate is introduced in contrast with the sinfulness of those whom He represents. The Advocate represents sinners, but He is not a sinner. He is the sponsor of sinners, but He is not a sinner. He is an ambassador for a race of sinners, but He is not a sinner. I. THE GRACIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION DO NOT ENCOURAGE, BUT DISCOURAGE SINNING. The simple fact that God seeks to save us from sin shows us that in His sight sinning is a terrible evil. The mediation which God provides reveals the extreme peril to which sin exposes the transgressor. What must that peril be when God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up to be a Saviour? We often sin through ignorance. We sin through carelessness — the Christian dispensation makes us serious concerning sin. We sin through moral deadness — the Christian dispensation is a ministration by which the living God seeks to restore life to us. We sin sometimes through despair — the Christian dispensation fills us with hope. We sin often through feverishness and through restlessness of spirit — the Christian dispensation imparts peace, restores quiet to our disturbed nature. We sin through weakness — the Christian dispensation imparts power. We sin by force of evil motives — the Christian dispensation changes our motives; so that if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. II. THE SINS OF THE CHRISTIANS SHALL NOT LEAD THEM INTO DESPONDENCY AND DESPAIR. "These things write I unto you," not that ye sin, but "that ye sin not." If any man sin, there is cause for sorrow, and cause for fear, but none for despair; none even for despondency. For, mark, we are not left to plead our own cause. Nor are we left to seek an Advocate or a Representative. A Representative is provided for us, and revealed to us; and the Advocate that we have is God's Christ — Jesus — devoted to salvation — and Himself without sin. "Jesus Christ the righteous." The advocacy of such a sponsor must prevail. Where, therefore, is there room for despair, or even for despondency? (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
    |