Streamed on: May 22, 8:03 pm EDT

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us
-----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

My little children – This phrase gives us what John’s relation- ship was with those to whom he was ministering; he considered them to be his little children. It is a term of endearment that a parent would use for a young child. Children Gr. “teknia” little children.
That tells us that John is addressing them as believers. This is important because there are those who will say that in this epistle, John is contrasting the life of the genuine believer with the life of the unbeliever. That is false for a number of reasons, but this indicates that He is writing to them as believers. The issue isn’t believer versus unbeliever; it is the believer in fellowship versus the believer who is not in fellowship.
Galatians 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him…
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you;
John presents us with a very clear and emphatic testimony to the doctrine of full and free forgiveness of sin. He declares that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
that you may not sin – This phrase is found sixteen times in the NASB Bible. sin – “harmartano” (v.aas2p)
And if 3rd anyone sins - “harmartano” (v.aas3s)
we have an Advocate with the Father, - It is most evident that John is not afraid by stating this truth too broadly; on the contrary, he makes this statement with the view of promoting the sanctity of his “little children.”
Advocate – parakletos, παράκλητος, one who appears in another’s behalf, mediator, intercessor, helper. Gr. Parakletos, one called alongside to help or Intercedes for another.
The thought here of an advocate is of a defense attorney who takes up the case of his client before a tribunal. Satan goes periodically to heaven to charge believers of sins & wrong doing & our advocate, God the Father dismisses them all by reminding Satan that Jesus Christ took on Himself the sins of the entire world.
The doctrine of advocacy
1. Every believer continues to sin after salvation, 1 John 1:8,10.
2. Satan accumulates a sin file on every believer and periodically accuses every believer in heaven. Job 1:9ff; Revelation 12:9,10.
3. Jesus Christ, then, is retained as the believer’s defense attorney in the court of heaven, and He defends every case.
4. The basis for our Lord’s defense is the fact that all of our sins were judged at the cross in Him by God the Father.
2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 22:1-6; 1 Peter 3:18.
5. Under the law of double jeopardy those sins can’t be judged again. Romans 6:10.
6. Every case is thrown out of court by God the Father. Zechariah 3:1, 2. Nevertheless, the believer doesn’t get off scott-free from his sins, there is still divine discipline. But the sins of the believer are not a court matter anymore but a family matter for the imputation of divine discipline.
Hebrews 12:6.
7. The believer who has acknowledged his sins to (Jesus Christ) will be able to take the discipline because he is filled with the Holy Spirit and knows that he deserves whatever discipline he receives, and he learns from it.
The Holy Spirit is also a Helper (paraklete) which God sent after Jesus Christ ascended to heaven to sit at the right side of God the Father on His throne.