PT-2 "Intro to 1 John 2:1b-2"

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/13/2024 10:54 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus: PT-2 Intro to 1 John 2:1b-2

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                      Reference:  1 John 2:1b-2

 

            Message of the verses:  “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

 

            I am going to continue to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary as he introduces this section of Scripture, a very important section of Scripture.  The introduction is turning from what we looked at in yesterday’s SD as you will see, and what we have today is the good news.

 

            “But all is not hopeless for the guilty, because there is one more character to consider in this divine courtroom scene:  the Lord Jesus Christ.  He acts as the Advocate, or Defense Attorney, for all those who believe savingly in Him.  He is a most unusual defense attorney, however, since He does not maintain His clients’ innocence, but rather acknowledges their guilt.  Nonetheless, He has never lost a case—and never will (John 6:39; cf. Rom. 8:29-30).  Using the language of the courtroom, Paul declared, ‘Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us’ (Rom. 8:33-34; Cf. Col. 2:13-14).   That last phrase is the key to how the Lord Jesus Christ infallibly wins acquittal for those who put their faith in Him.  He intercedes with the Father on the basis of His own substitution for sinners in sacrificial death, which fully paid sin’s penalty for all who trust Him for salvation, thus meeting the demands of God’s justice.  Because ‘He…did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for [them] all’ (Rom. 8:32) and ‘made Him who knew no sin to be sin on [their] behalf, so that [they] might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Cor.5:21), God ‘justified [them] freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. 3:24, NKJV).  The result of the divine verdict is that believers, ‘having been justified [declared righteous’ by faith…have peace with God through [their] Lord Jesus Christ’ (Rom. 5:1).

 

            “The Father’s predetermined design and acceptance of His Son’s sacrifice as payment in full for their sins answers the dilemma of how He can be both ‘just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus’ (Rom. 3:26).  God’s love and justice were equally satisfied when He accomplished redemption through Jesus Christ.

 

            “It is that divine courtroom drama that underlies the apostle John’s thought in this section.  Building on the glorious affirmation of 1:9 that God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,’ John explains that He can do so because His Son is both the believer’s Defense Attorney and the Perfect Propitiation for their sins.  That twofold truth is central to the gospel.”

 

            It is really great to understand the good news as was proclaimed in this introduction to these verses, and if you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as Savior and Lord, then by all means do that this very night (or day) whenever you read this.  This is the biggest decision that you will ever do in your life on this earth.

 

9/13/2024 11:17 PM