I JOHN 1;1-2;2--Now I want you to get this truth; THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS ADVOCATE, NOT FOR SIN, BUT FOR ''SINNERS, SAVED BY GRACE.''[Technically, GOD CANNOT FORGIVE SINS].
John wrote I John, to assure believers, of their position in Christ, and God's Provision for them.The problems, John dealt with, were not only with Sin's Penalty, but with The Fellowship, in The Family of God. The Solution is in Him,Who was from The Beginning.
John declared The Eternity of Christ in His Gospel--JOHN 1;1--''In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.''
''in the beginning''--Here, John carries our thoughts beyond The Beginning of Creation, in Time to Eternity. There is no argument Here, to prove God's Existence any more than in Genesis. It is simply assumed.
''was''-John 3 times uses the imperfect tense of EIMI=TO BE, Which conveys no idea of origin for God, or, for The Word [Logos], but simply CONTINUOUS Existence.
In VERSE 14, DIFFERENT WORD FOR ''WAS''=BECAME, used for The Beginning of TheIncarnation of The Logos.
Distinction sharpely made in 8;58--''Before Abraham came, I Am''.
''The Word'' [ho logos]. Logos=To speak, to express an opinion. The word ''logos'' is used for Reason, as well as, for Speech.
Term logos is applied to Christ only in John 1;3, 14; Revelation 19;13, and I JOHN 1;1--''concerning The Word of Life''.
The Pre-existence of Christ was taught by Paul--2 Corinthians 8;9--''For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.''
Philippians 2;6--''Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God.''
COLOSSIANS 1;17--''And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.''
HEBREWS 1;2--''Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.''
Christ's Pre-existence is also taught in JOHN 17;5--[TURN].
The Pre-existent Christ [Logos] became flesh--John 1;14.
''WITH GOD''--Though existing eternally with God, The LOGOS was in perfect fellowship with God. It was on a plane of EQUALITY and INTIMACY, Face to face with each other.
''AND THE WORD WAS GOD''--Personal fellowship, on an Equality, each necessary to the other.
In I JOHN, he emphasized that Christ was FROM THE BEGINNING [1;1]. I JOHN asserts the manifestation of Christ, IN TIME. John heard, saw, looked upon,and HANDLED The Son of God. THAT WAS POSSIBLE ONLY IN TIME, NOT IN ETERNITY.
Hence, he proclaimed that, The Eternal Son of God was BEFORE The Beginning, and He was, then manifested in Time, for His Elect. In Time, He came, died, rose, and became Advocate.
The Word of Life is Eternal, Historical, Personal, and Social. Eternal Life existed BEFORE The Beginning of Time.
Jesus Christ was BEFORE The Heavens and Earth were created, and HE WAS MANIFESTED in Time. This Life was also Historical.
Christ was heard with physical ears, and seen with physical eyes. The Apostles ACTUALLY beheld Him.
Christians today, meditate upon Him; The Apostles handled Him. Christians enjoy intimate fellowship with Him.
WE SEE 3 MANIFESTATIONS, OR 3 APPEARANCES OF CHRIST IN HEBREWS 9;23-28;
HE WAS MANIFESTED IN THE ''PAST'' ON EARTH, FOR THE SALVATION OF THE ELECT.
HE IS MANIFESTED IN THE ''PRESENT'' IN HEAVEN, FOR THEIR SANCTIFICATION.
HE SHALL BE MANIFESTED IN THE ''FUTURE'' FOR THEIR GLORIFICATION.
The sin problem in I John is ''SANCTIFICATION'' rather than ''JUSTIFICATION.''
Christ's death dealt with The ''JUDICIAL'' aspect of Sin. His life deals with The ''PRACTICAL'' aspect of Sin--[Resurrection life--ROMANS 5;17--[TURN].
SANCTIFICATION INVOLVES The Advocacy of JESUS CHRIST. This life was manifested; consequently, The ELECT, who have been brought to The
Knowledge of Their Salvation, manifest that life, which flows through them.
A TRUE WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST, HAS BEEN ENABLED BY GOD-GIVEN FAITH, TO SEE CHRIST.He then shows that Jesus Christ is his life.
God is Light, for The Believer's Walk--I JOHN I;5--''This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto
you,that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.''
''MESSAGE'' = An Announcemebt, A DISCLOSURE-JOHN 4;25-[TURN].
''GOD IS LIGHT,'' precisely as The Logos is Light-JOHN 1;4-9--[TURN].
What Jesus claimed to be--JOHN 8;12-[TURN].
Jesus Christ offered Himself ONCE, to put away Sin. HE WILL NEVER OFFER HIMSELF AGAIN.
Christ lives as The Advocate for The Believer, NOT The Unbeliever. He is Intercessor for Believer.
Now, in an earthly court, the identity of a lawyer, is of no consequence. BUT, THAT IS NOT TRUE in Heaven's Court. The Lord Jesus Christ is THE SAINTS' LAWYER,PLEADING HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BEFORE THE HOLY, RIGHTEOUS FATHER. Christ has a vital interest in HIS OWN CLIENTS. He became their Surety, shedding His blood for their Redemption. After their reconciliation by His blood, HE REPRESENTS THEM BEFORE THE FATHER.
No man has a place in God's court. He is already guilty before God--
ECCLESIASTES 7;20-''For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.'' His case is lost.
Christ's Advocacy manifests the believer's failure, and His security. All believers
sin. To do so is to walk in spiritual darkness.
The word ''darkness'' is used in 7 different ways in The Bible.
In JOHN 1;6, it doesn't refer to a NATURAL Darkness, but a
failure, to walk according to THE TRUTH.
A BELIEVER DOES NOT HABITUALLY PURSUE A COURSE OF DARKNESS.
However, he does walk in darkness when he backslides.
Sinless perfection in this life IS IMPOSSIBLE, for the old sin
nature has not yet been eradicated. [Jesus=my sinless perfection
at the Father's Right Hand].
Next, we see that an essential characteristic of An
Advocate is, that he MUST BE The Uncompromising Friend of The
Government. Jesus Christ is such a friend to God's Holy Law
[Government].
Human lawyers may yield to pressure, money, or some other human
persuasion. Contrarily, The Christian's Advocate yields not one
iota. He never falters, fails, or changes.
Another fundamental property of an advocate is that, HE MUST BE THE UNDEVIATING FRIEND OF THE DISHONORED LAW. Jesus Christ
fulfilled EVERY LETTER OF THE LAW. He, Alone, is qualified for Advocacy for Christians.
Human lawyers seek ways of ignoring broken law, or, of misreprepresenting the contents
of the law.
Christ honors The Law. To dishonor it, would be to dishonor Himself, because it is
HIS LAW.
Then, A Qualifier for Advocacy must be inherently Righteous. Jesus Christ, The
Son of God, is clear of complicity in ANY of the crimes of the sinner.
Next, One who is equipped for Advocacy, must be The Compassionate Friend of the
sinner. Jesus Christ proves that, HE POSSESSES that Attribute. He died for The
Believer, became his Surety, and intercedes on his behalf, all of which manifests His
Compassion for the sinner.
Next we see that, A Suitable Advocate willingly volunteers gratuitous service.
Jesus Christ HAS ALREADY PAID The Price on Calvary,and He charges the believer
NOTHING for His service.
Then, We see that A GOOD PLEA IS VITAL FOR ADVOCACY. The believer's Advocate
pleads HIS OWN CHARACTER, WHICH IS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jesus Christ loved The Elect, and voluntarily took an interest in them. The Just One
proved His interest, by becoming The Substitute for unjust ones.
Christ, The Anointed One,has the authority, to plead the believer's case. Jesus
Christ,The Righteous, demonstrates His plea.
Now, CHRIST'S ADVOCACY SUPPOSES FOUR THINGS;
[1] There is an offender. Christians offend everyday.
[2] There is An Accuser. SATAN SEEKS TO PREVENT CHRISTIANS from performing The Will of
God; and when they fail, he accuses them before God.
[3] There is A Judge. God is The Righteous Judge.
[4] There is A Defense. Jesus Christ is The Defender, Christ's Advocacy delares that
believers are sorry creatures. ONLY GOD'S GRACE, WITHIN THEM, IS WORTHY.
Christ's Advocacy is required to keep believers CLEAN. God has well provided
for them; blood to wash, priest to intercede, and advocate to plead.
Now, We see that, NO NEW SACRIFICE is made by The Advocate--Jesus Christ does
not offer Himself for sin. He does not die for sin, and the salvation of no one is
obtained. Saved ones are kept safe through advocacy. He sanctifies them in that office.
As Saviour, He obtained eternal redemption for the elect. As Advocate, He maintains
their right thereto.
Now, Christ's Priesthood differs from His Advocacy--
PRIEST ADVOCATE
He sits. He stands pleading.
He is Merciful and Faithful He is Faithful and Just.
Represents infirm saints before He is there, to help.
The Father.
Gives frace to restrain saints represents sinning believers
Saints approach Him boldly Approach with humility, confessing
sins.
Ever lives to intercede Pleads His death on cross
Goes before saints. comes after saints.
Advocates, among men, frequently deny allegations, brought against clients;
Christ admits those brought against His clients.
Then,advocates before men, if they admit the charge, seek to justify it.
CHRIST PLEADS NO EXCUSE FOR BELIEVERS. They are guilty, but HE PLEADS HIS OWN MERIT.
NEXT, Lawyers among men, undertake their work NOT FROM love or justice, or Humanity, but for personal consideration.
But Christ has in mind The Glory of God. He is concerned for glorifying God's Justice.
Then we see that, many lawyers are concerned with personal achievement.
Advovates among men seek to influence minds of Adjudicators. Christ DOES NOT influence
The Father-He knows all. . . Christ influences His clients.
Then, lawyers among men at times relinquish their briefs to protect self-respect and reputation. Christ is NEVER TAKEN BY SURPRISE. He knows all about His clients. Therefore His Briefs are NEVER RELINQUISHED.
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