An Inadequate Defendant

1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

As a father, my goal for my children is for them to make it through the day without doing anything wrong. Not just because I don't want to deal with it, but because I want them to be holy as Christ is holy. I want them to follow in His footsteps as He has commanded us. But alas, I'm still waiting on one of those days. But why should they do it when their own father can't get that one figured out?

But that's where John was coming from in this statement. He wrote this letter to the church in general, not to a specific body of believers like we saw Paul do. But John thought of these Christians as his spiritual children. He had helped them come to faith in Christ and since he was a friend and confidant, and fellow minister with Christ, he was indeed like a spiritual father. And just like my desire for my children, John felt the same way about all of these that he was writing to. He wanted holiness for them as well.

But John knew, just as I know with my children, that children don't always act the way that they ought to. Children are always going to disobey. Even the parents can't figure out a way to avoid that. We're all in the same boat. Romans 3:23 very plainly teaches us that. So in light of that very disappointing truth, we learn a very encouraging truth to counteract that. At the end of chapter 1 I learned about in the spiritual realm, we have unequal and very opposite reactions. Well, that's what we've got. Our sin is countered with the offering of an advocate for our cause.

But what does that mean? What is an advocate? Webster's defines it as "one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court." Wikipedia has a beautiful statement which says "Implicit in the concept is the notion that the represented lacks the knowledge, skill, ability, or standing to speak for themselves." These two statements work together to form a beautiful picture of what our Lord does for us. Since we all are accused of the same crime of sin, and we all face the same penalty of death and eternal separation from a sinless, holy, righteous God, our advocate stands tall before the judge (God). And that advocate is the only possible one - Jesus Christ the righteous One. He does this because I lack the standing that it takes to speak for myself. I am in no place to argue my case. I need that advocate. And He says that He has already taken the punishment that I deserve. I then am acquitted and liberated. Because of the blood of the Lamb of God that has covered me, I am then seen as free from the charges set against me.

Why does that simple statement absolve me of the sentence? Propitiation is one of those great church words that only the learned really understand isn't it? But really isn't it. The word means something that turns away the wrath of God. The work of Christ on the cross is sufficient to turn God's wrath away from those who would believe on Him and repent of their sin. It's mind boggling that He would do such a thing. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." He not only took my sin, but He became sin, in order to turn God's wrath from us.

So what then do I do with this great news? It's not very applicable to my life once I recognize it, accept Christ as my Savior and become a Christian is it? There I would be quite wrong again. God's Word is my detailed instruction manual for how to live. God has given it to us so that we might not sin. Just as John wrote to the early Christians. I've got to study it deeply and intently. I need to treat it as a treasure. But although the spirit is often willing, the flesh is weak. The result of fallen man is that while Christ gives me the power to resist and avoid sin, my flesh is too weak to fully believe that. It's not a lack of power, it's a lack of belief. So I constantly need that advocate. I must realize that I'm not qualified to argue my case. I don't have the knowledge or standing to do so. Only my holy Advocate can do so. And I must run to Him in the very moment of sin, broken and repenting.

Lord, I am rubbish compared to your righteousness. I have nothing to offer on my own. I have nothing of any worth to offer to a King. I am wholly inadequate. Yet you saw worth 17 years ago and because of the blood of the only perfect sinless Lamb you defended me as my Advocate. And you didn't stop there. Once my sentence was commuted, you entered another proceeding to adopt me as your son. You moved from advocate to Father. All the while, I had nothing to offer. But here I am, a forgiven child of I AM. Who am I? Lord, teach me to be your hands and obey your Word.