Jesus: Our Advocate of Love and Forgiveness
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the powerful role Jesus plays as our Advocate, standing at the right hand of God on our behalf. Jesus is not a prosecuting attorney, but rather our defense attorney, standing against the accusing spirit. He is for us, wanting us to succeed completely and entirely. He longs for us to join Him in eternity, and this is His work on our behalf. The sermon also emphasized the importance of acknowledging and confessing our sins. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The sermon further highlighted the depth of Jesus' love and mercy for us. Even when we sin, Jesus does not condemn us but offers forgiveness. He seeks after us, desiring our salvation. If we stumble and fall, we are encouraged to confess our sins quickly and seek His help. Jesus, our Advocate, pleads on our behalf before the Father, knowing our hearts and our desire to live a life pleasing to Him. He defends us against the accuser, ensuring we do not become discouraged or disheartened.
Key takeaways from this sermon include:
- Jesus is our Advocate, standing in defense for us against the accusing spirit. He longs for us to succeed and join Him in eternity ([15:52]).
- Acknowledging and confessing our sins is crucial. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness ([02:14]).
- Jesus does not condemn us when we sin but offers forgiveness. He seeks after us, desiring our salvation ([03:18]).
- If we stumble and fall, we should confess our sins quickly and seek His help. Jesus, our Advocate, pleads on our behalf before the Father ([10:50]).
- Jesus' love and mercy for us is deep. He defends us against the accuser, ensuring we do not become discouraged or disheartened ([14:00]).
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. Jesus is our Advocate, standing at the right hand of God on our behalf. He is not a prosecuting attorney, but a defense attorney, standing against the accusing spirit. His heart longs for us to succeed and to join Him in eternity. #!!00:59!!#
2. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This forgiveness is the first step towards salvation. #!!02:14!!#
3. Jesus is able to forgive, no matter how deep the sinner may have fallen in wretchedness. No one has fallen so deep that the Savior cannot reach them. #!!03:18!!#
4. When we stumble and fall, we need to confess our sins quickly. Like a child learning to walk, we may stumble, but we must get up and continue on our journey towards righteousness. #!!10:50!!#
5. We have been given grace to know, love, and serve our Savior. This grace is a gift from God through Jesus Christ our Lord, offering forgiveness for all of our past sins. #!!15:52!!#
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. 1 John 1
2. Romans 3
3. Luke 7:36-50
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In 1 John 1, what does it mean when it says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness?
2. How does Romans 3:23-24 relate to the point about Jesus being able to forgive no matter how deep the sinner may have fallen?
3. In Luke 7:36-50, how does the woman's actions demonstrate her faith and love for Jesus?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus as our Advocate impact our understanding of God's forgiveness?
2. What does it mean to confess our sins and why is it important in our journey towards righteousness?
3. How does the parable in Luke 7:36-50 illustrate the relationship between forgiveness and love?
Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the concept of Jesus as our Advocate in our daily lives?
2. Can you recall a time when you stumbled and fell, and how did you confess and seek forgiveness?
3. How can we show our love for Jesus, who first loved us and forgave us our sins?
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, our Advocate and Defender
In a world where we often feel accused, condemned, or misunderstood, it is comforting to know that we have an Advocate and Defender in Jesus Christ. He stands before God on our behalf, interceding for us and defending us against the accusations of the enemy. He understands our weaknesses and failures, yet He loves us unconditionally and fights for us relentlessly.
1 John 2:1 - "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt accused or condemned. How does it comfort you to know that Jesus is your Advocate and Defender? How can you lean on Him more in such situations?
Day 2: Confession and Forgiveness
Confession is a vital part of our spiritual journey. It is through confession that we acknowledge our sins, express our remorse, and seek God's forgiveness. God, in His infinite mercy, is always ready to forgive us when we come to Him with a contrite heart.
1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Think about a recent sin you've committed. Have you confessed it and sought forgiveness? If not, what's holding you back? How can you make confession a regular part of your spiritual practice?
Day 3: The Power of Faith
Faith in Jesus Christ can bring us peace, resolution, and strength, especially during challenging times. It is through faith that we can overcome obstacles, endure hardships, and experience God's power in our lives.
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when your faith in Jesus Christ brought you peace or resolution? How can you strengthen your faith and trust in Him, especially during challenging times?
Day 4: The Love of Jesus
The love of Jesus is unconditional, sacrificial, and transformative. It is a love that forgives, heals, and restores. It is a love that compels us to love others in the same way.
John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
Reflection: How have you experienced the love of Jesus in your life? How can you respond to His love and share it with others?
Day 5: Overcoming Sin
Sin is a reality that we all struggle with. But God, in His mercy, has provided a way for us to overcome sin through the cleansing power of Jesus Christ. Through Him, we can experience forgiveness, righteousness, and victory over sin.
Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
Reflection: Reflect on a sin that you struggle with. How can you rely on God's promise of cleansing and righteousness to help you overcome this sin? What practical steps can you take to resist this sin in the future?
Quotes
1. "Jesus our Advocate. He is our attorney, standing at the right hand of God on our behalf. He is for us. He wants it to succeed completely and entirely for us. He wants to get us into eternity together with Him. That’s His heart; that’s His longing. That’s His work on our behalf." - 00:59
2. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." - 02:14
3. "No one has fallen so deep that the Savior cannot reach them. What an amazing hope that is. It’s written that He has made propitiation, or atonement, for our sins, it’s written here a little bit further. But not only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world, John writes. For the sins of every sinner. So great our Savior is, so great His love is!" - 03:18
4. "We have an offer to the free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, of forgiveness for all of our past sins. And it’s written that He has passed over all of our past sins, in His forbearance. So that in this present time we could be forgiven. And we have that expression, it’s not exactly Biblical, but that God He has so dealt with our past sins that He has cast them into the sea of forgetfulness." - 08:14
5. "We need to be forgiven. And we need to confess. We need to acknowledge. We need to admit if we fall. We need to admit it to Him, and let sorrow come into us; let that be a grief to us. And I believe it is like that for everybody who has come to that knowledge of Jesus Christ, that He is their Savior. We don’t want to hurt Him! We don’t want to transgress against Him! We don’t want to do something which is going to be displeasing to Him." - 09:53
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