STUDIES IN FIRST, SECOND & THIRD JOHN

Lesson 4  Christ, our Mercy-Seat
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

A. My little children - - - An expression of tender feeling and personal responsibility. Though John is known as the most tender and loving of all the Apostles, this love caused him to be as demanding as any when it came to living for Christ , for he loved HIM first of all and his love for THEM sprang from that first love.

B. I write these things to keep you from sinning. There is no excuse for a child of God to practice sin!
1. Sanctification of one's life is not to be found in 'praying through' to an instantaneous work of perfection, but in studying and assimilating the Word of God. 'Praying through', the 'second blessing' etc. engenders pride -( "I did it!" "I got it!" )
Bible Study, with prayer for understanding, humbles us.

C. One simply CANNOT practice sin and the Bible at the same time! "And if any man sin- -" 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
God has provided EVERYTHING. Even the answer to our imperfection. Security of the believer will bring man to his knees in humility when seen properly.

D. We have an advocate with the Father.
Christ is more than an intercessor. An advocate (paraclete) is one who understands and can interpret the actions of one person to another.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Christ explains US to the Father. The Father also has an advocate (paraclete) with us to explain His holiness and righteousness. Since this cannot be understood except spiritually, He sent His Spirit to witness to us.
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

E. The Advocate is named and identified. None other is appointed, none is needed and no other will be accepted for there is none other qualified. Only Jesus, the anointed, the righteous one. This rules out mothers, fathers, preachers, priests, saints or potentates!

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

A. And - - He not only interprets our actions, but He is able to DO something about them.
(explanations by an attorney do nothing to satisfy the law's demands.

B. He is the propitiation (covering) for our sins.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak
particularly.

As the mercy-seat separated the priest from the demanding table of stones (they died when not so protected) so, Christ stands between us and the perfect demands of a Holy God. He keeps us from looking into the face of God which would consume us, and we, instead, see Jesus.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He keeps the Father from looking upon our shortcomings, which would destroy us and HE SEES JESUS!

C. John is NOT telling us this in order to excuse our sins, or to comfort us in sinning, but to remove doubt and hopelessness and cause us to repent of sin.

D. AND FOR THE WHOLE WORLD ... The sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for sin.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Next: The Truths Applied in Practice