Jesus Our Advocate: Gospel Today Devotional - 11th April, 2022

All glory be to God for his faithfulness and loving kindness for him alone deserves to be praised. Having gone through the first chapter of the book of 1 John, we are now going to be considering the second chapter today by the special grace of God. We just cannot deny the fact that it is God who has been our help and just like the first chapter was a blessing to us, I believe this chapter will be a blessing to us as well in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus Our Advocate: Gospel Today Devotional - 11th April, 2022

The word advocate can be defined as one who pleads on behalf of another. He is one who argues for a cause. This is so evidently seen in a court of law where we may like say that there are two advocates: the one who pleads or argues for the accused and the one who pleads or argues against the accused. The first tenders before the judge reasons the accused should not be punished while the other gives reasons the accused should be punished and the judge then makes his or her decision based on the arguments.

However, for the cause of this study, we are considering an advocate as one who pleads for the cause of a person such that such a person is not punished. He is one who stands between one who has perhaps committed an offence deserving punishment and the one who intends to punish the one who has committed the offence. In this study, we shall be seeing a very important truth; that which will comfort our hearts and at the same time cause us to do that which pleases the Lord. Let's see the passage of scripture below,

"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: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world". ( 1 John 2:1-2).

The second chapter of 1 John begins with the fact that what has been written has been written for our sakes, that is, to the end that we do not sin. The word of God is to the end that we know that which is the mind of God for us, not only have the knowledge of it but also do it. It says that the things written are to the end that we do not sin (err or deviate from the instructions of the the Lord). The reason some times our parents counsel us, warn us and gives us knowledge on certain things is because they do not want us to make wrong choices, go the wrong path and on, isn't it? Even with these, we sometimes err, right?

The difference however is that when we go against the instructions of our parents, they find a way to punish us without anyone pleading for us, isn't it? Can you remember those times your father decided to beat you that even your mother couldn't be your advocate? Such is the case of parents. However, the passage of scripture seeks to bring to our understanding the fact that although everything contained in the book of 1 John, and the scripture in general is to the end that we do not sin. It then goes further to say that if any man sin, meaning that it is still possible to err even if it happens that the sake for which we have been written to is to the end that we do not err.

This is not just the case though but the comfort that although we err, we have an advocate with the Father (Jesus Christ is the advocate we have, that is, the who stands between us and God) to plead on our behalf and the reason he is able to do so is because he is the propitiation (atonement, sacrifice) for our sins, not just for us, but also for the whole world. This is not a licence to live in sin but that when we err and the Spirit of God convicts us as believers, we can come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in such times of need (Hebrews 4:16). The Lord help us all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sometimes you may err or deviate from God's ways but you can always return knowing that there's one who pleads your case before the Father to be forgiven of that which you have done and that person is Jesus Christ. You can therefore on the basis of this come boldly before God and ask for mercy and grace in such times of needs.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].

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