Advocates, Liars, and Sons - 1 John 2:1-6 | A.C. Caswell | Week 3

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, Our Advocate and Propitiation

Jesus stands as our advocate, interceding for us before the Father, not only forgiving our sins but also making us righteous in God’s sight. In the heavenly courtroom, God is both the righteous judge and the loving Father, and Jesus, fully God and fully man, pleads on our behalf—not to minimize our sin, but to take its penalty upon Himself. Because of His sacrifice, we are not merely brought back to “zero” but are seen as holy and beloved children, welcomed into God’s presence. This is not a distant or abstract truth; it is the foundation of our hope and the assurance that God’s love is greater than our failures. [10:59]

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

Reflection: When you think about your past mistakes, do you see Jesus as your advocate—standing with you and for you before God? How might this change the way you approach God today?

Day 2: The Transforming Power of God’s Love

God’s love is not just a feeling or a distant promise; it is a transforming power that changes our hearts and lives from the inside out. When we truly know Him, our obedience flows not from obligation or fear, but from experiencing His love. The more we keep His word and walk as Jesus walked, the more His love is perfected in us, shaping our desires and actions. This transformation is not about earning God’s favor, but about living in the reality of His love, which draws us closer and makes us more like Christ each day. [22:27]

1 John 2:3-6 (ESV)
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God inviting you to deeper obedience—not out of duty, but as a response to His love for you?

Day 3: Created for Relationship with God

At the core of every human longing is the desire to be in right relationship with God, a relationship that sin has broken but Jesus has restored through His sacrifice. No achievement, possession, or earthly relationship can satisfy the deep hunger in our souls for communion with our Creator. God’s work of redemption is not just about avoiding punishment or gaining heaven, but about being brought back into conscious, daily fellowship with Him—a relationship that fulfills our deepest needs and brings true satisfaction. [14:48]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: Where have you been seeking satisfaction apart from God? What would it look like to intentionally pursue deeper relationship with Him this week?

Day 4: The Danger of Legalism and the Invitation to Experience God’s Love

It is easy to fall into the trap of legalism—doing the right things for the wrong reasons, trying to earn God’s approval or prove our worth. But God’s desire is not for us to simply follow rules; He wants us to experience His love as sons and daughters. Like the older brother in Jesus’ parable, we can miss the joy of relationship by focusing on performance. God invites us to lay down striving and receive His love, letting it transform our motives and actions so that obedience becomes a joyful response to being loved. [24:49]

Luke 15:28-31 (ESV)
"But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.'"

Reflection: Are there ways you’ve been serving or obeying God out of obligation rather than love? How can you open your heart to experience His delight in you today?

Day 5: The Father’s Heart for You

God’s love for you is personal, deep, and unwavering—He sees every flaw and still treasures you as His beloved child. Like a father cherishing a simple, imperfect gift from his child, God delights in you, not because of your perfection, but because you are His. This love is not just a theological concept; it is meant to be experienced, to bring healing, hope, and transformation. As you rest in the truth that you are fully known and fully loved, let that reality shape your identity and your response to Him. [27:19]

Romans 8:15-16 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

Reflection: What would it mean for you to truly believe that God delights in you as His child? How might this change the way you see yourself and approach Him in prayer?

Sermon Summary

We all have moments in life where we try to hide our mistakes, hoping no one will notice—just like when I tried to cover up the scratch on my mom’s car as a teenager. This instinct to hide our flaws and failures is deeply human, but it stands in stark contrast to the invitation of the gospel. God calls us not to conceal our brokenness, but to walk in the light, to live openly and honestly, trusting that His grace is greater than our shame. The world around us is obsessed with rules and judgment, constantly shifting standards and expectations, but the gospel offers a radically different way: a life rooted in grace, not fear.

John, writing as a spiritual father, urges us to avoid sin because it is destructive, but he also assures us that when we do fail, we have an advocate—Jesus Christ the righteous. Jesus stands before the Father on our behalf, not as a distant observer, but as God Himself who has entered into our pain, taken our judgment, and now intercedes for us. He is not just a helper, but the very sacrifice that satisfies God’s justice and brings us into favor, not just forgiveness. In Christ, we are not merely brought back to zero; we are seen as beloved sons and daughters, clothed in His righteousness.

This relationship with God is the heart of the gospel. It’s not about rule-keeping or earning favor, but about being transformed by the love of the Father. Our deepest longings—for satisfaction, healing, and belonging—are met not in the things of this world, but in communion with God. As we experience His love, our lives are changed. Obedience flows not from compulsion or legalism, but from a heart that has been captured by grace. Like the story of the prodigal son, God’s love is extravagant, welcoming us home whether we’ve wandered far or tried to earn His approval through our own efforts.

The invitation is to know Him—not just to know about Him, or to do things for Him, but to truly experience His love. This love transforms us, perfects us, and calls us to live as Jesus lived: openly, honestly, and joyfully as children of a good Father.

Key Takeaways

1. Hiding our failures is a natural response to shame, but God calls us to walk in the light. True freedom comes not from concealing our brokenness, but from confessing it and trusting in God’s grace to cover us. The gospel invites us to live honestly, knowing we are fully known and fully loved. [01:54]
2. Jesus is our advocate, not just pleading our case, but standing as God Himself who has taken our judgment. He is both the righteous judge and the one who bears our penalty, ensuring that justice and mercy meet at the cross. This means we are not just forgiven, but welcomed into God’s favor as His beloved children. [08:02]
3. The satisfaction and healing we long for cannot be found in the shifting promises of the world. Jobs, relationships, and achievements will always leave us wanting more, but in Christ, our deepest desires are met and our wounds are healed. God’s love is the only thing that truly satisfies and restores. [16:03]
4. Obedience to God is not about earning His love or keeping up appearances. It is the natural outflow of a heart transformed by grace. When we truly know God, our lives begin to reflect His character—not out of duty, but out of delight in His love. [22:27]
5. The story of the prodigal son reminds us that both rebellion and legalism can keep us from experiencing the Father’s love. Whether we run from God or try to earn His approval, we miss the heart of the gospel: a relationship with a Father who delights in us, welcomes us home, and transforms us by His love. [24:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - The Car Scratch: Hiding Our Mistakes
[01:54] - The Instinct to Hide and the Call to Walk in the Light
[02:56] - The False Dichotomy: Grace vs. Rule-Keeping
[04:31] - 1 John 2:1-6: Jesus Our Advocate
[05:48] - John’s Pastoral Heart and the Danger of Sin
[07:05] - God as Righteous Judge and Loving Father
[08:02] - Jesus the Advocate and Propitiation
[10:29] - What Propitiation Means: More Than Forgiveness
[13:00] - Created for Relationship with God
[15:28] - The Futility of Worldly Satisfaction
[16:41] - The Transforming Work of the Spirit
[18:13] - Signs of Knowing God: Transformation and Obedience
[20:44] - The Temptation of Legalism
[22:27] - Love Perfected: Obedience Rooted in Grace
[23:01] - The Prodigal Son: Experiencing the Father’s Love
[25:31] - The True Goal: Presence with God
[26:45] - A Father’s Love: The Painted Rock
[27:19] - God’s Transforming Love
[28:02] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 2:1-6 (ESV) — My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 2:1-2, what does John say is available to us when we sin?
What does the word “advocate” mean in this passage, and who is our advocate?
In verses 3-6, what does John say is the evidence that someone truly knows God?
The sermon began with a story about hiding a scratch on a car. What does this story illustrate about our natural response to mistakes? [01:54]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think John uses the language of “little children” when addressing the church? What does this say about his relationship to his readers? [05:48]
The sermon says that Jesus is not just our advocate, but also the “propitiation” for our sins. What does it mean that Jesus is both our defender and our sacrifice? [10:29]
The sermon contrasts living by rules and judgment with living by grace. How does the gospel offer a different way to deal with our failures compared to the world’s approach? [02:56]
In the story of the prodigal son, both the rebellious son and the rule-following son miss out on the father’s love in different ways. What does this teach us about the dangers of both rebellion and legalism? [24:49]

Application Questions

The sermon talked about our instinct to hide our mistakes out of shame. Is there something in your life right now that you are tempted to hide—from God, others, or even yourself? What would it look like to “walk in the light” with that area? [01:54]
When you think about Jesus as your advocate, not just pleading your case but standing as God Himself who took your judgment, how does that change the way you see your failures and your relationship with God? [08:02]
The world offers satisfaction in things like jobs, relationships, or achievements, but the sermon says these will always leave us wanting more. Where are you most tempted to look for satisfaction outside of God? How can you turn that longing toward Him this week? [16:03]
The sermon said that obedience is not about earning God’s love, but the natural outflow of a heart transformed by grace. Are there areas where you find yourself obeying God out of duty or fear rather than delight? What might help you shift your motivation? [22:27]
In the story of the prodigal son, the father welcomes both sons home with love. Do you relate more to the rebellious son or the rule-following son? How does the father’s response challenge or encourage you? [24:49]
The pastor shared about holding onto a painted rock from his son, not because it was perfect, but because of love. How does this picture help you understand how God sees you, even with your flaws? [26:45]
What is one practical step you can take this week to experience God’s love more deeply—not just know about Him, but actually know Him? [27:19]

Sermon Clips

He didn't just square us to zero. He fills the cup. He changes God, the three in one, God's perspective of us, not just from love and grace, but to see us as holy and righteous. He makes it so that we have exceeded the standard because it's now his life that God sees in us. He loves us. And so he brought propitiation, which is not just forgiveness, but favor. God doesn't look at you and say, you know, I was going to judge you, but now you're forgiven. And so just like stay in line. He loves you immensely and sees a son and a daughter when you were in Christ. He sees one. He is drawing closer to him to experience his love. [00:12:11] (49 seconds) #reunitedthroughsacrifice

God is giving an invitation to us, and not just us, but the whole world, that the sin that we experienced, the sin that we are guilty of, the pain that we have experienced, the pain that we feel now, all of those things, can be overcome by the cross, by the sacrifice of Jesus, by the Son's love for us and intercession for us with the Father, that he is a righteous judge, but he took the judgment upon himself so that we could be saved. God loves us. [00:14:23] (38 seconds) #gospelofsatisfaction

``See, the beauty of the gospel isn't simply that we would avoid hell. It's not even that we would get to heaven. The beauty of the gospel is that we would have relationship with the God who created us, that sin has separated us, but because we can be reunited with him, God will satisfy us fully and unconditionally in a way that we so deeply desire and yet can't find in anything else. [00:15:01] (25 seconds) #transformedbygrace

See our advocate, Jesus, he wants us to experience God's love. When John calls us to not sin and to obey the commands, it's because he wants us to experience God's love. When we experience the love of the father, our lives are transformed. Our obedience is growing and continues to grow because the way that we live reflects understanding the love of the father. It's an experience that changes our hearts and changes our lives. [00:25:00] (37 seconds)

The gospel isn't about avoiding sin. It's not about getting out of hell. It's not even about going to heaven and experiencing like Lamborghinis and champagne flutes. I don't know if either of those things are there, but Revelation 21, it's about being in the presence of God. It's about being in the presence of God, a loving father, a king of kings and Lord of lords who is righteous and good and just and loves you and wants you to be with him and has done everything in his power to make that possible when you put your faith in him. [00:25:48] (35 seconds)

That's what the love of a father is like to look at this little rock that, you know, spilled paint on for 20 minutes. That's how God sees you. That's what it's like to have an advocate in Jesus is a God who sees you and knows you every wart, every flaw and loves you. And he wants you to experience that. And that love will transform you. That love will change you. And that love will change you. And that love will change you. Do you know him? [00:27:18] (34 seconds)

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