Turn with me, if you would, to
1 John chapter 2. 1 John chapter 2. Let's read the
first two verses. These will be our text. My little children, these things
write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for
our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of
the whole world. Now, I want to go right into
this. Rather than taking the time to start with an intro and
set up some things, I want to go straight into this. The root of our problem is sin. The root of our problems, all
of our problems, and the root of our problem is sin. God says, don't do it. And all of us have. All of us
have. Last week we were in chapter
1, verse 8, which says, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. Whether we are aware of
it or not, many people are not aware of
it. And when I say many, I mean most. But whether we are aware
of it or not, Sin is all that we are. It's all that we do. It is mixed
with everything that we do. Do you know why we do things
that we shouldn't be doing? Sin. Do you know why we say things
that we shouldn't be saying? Sin. Do you know why we think
things that we shouldn't be thinking? Even those who honestly believe
that they're sinless before God. They know what rolls around in
their mind. They know what rolls around in
their mind. Sin. Do you know why we become offended? Have you ever become offended? Offended means, how dare you
say that to me? I don't deserve that. I'm above that. Do you know why
we become offended? Sin. Do you know why we become
disappointed? That is not how I wanted the
providence of this situation to work out. You know why we
become disappointed? Sin. Do you know why we get angry? That is sin. That's a little
evidence of sin popping out. Do you know why when the speed
limit says 70 miles per hour, we just have to go 75? We see the sign, it says 70.
Our brain immediately says, okay, I am going to set my cruise control
on 75. It's not that we were going downhill
and the car accidentally got going too fast and we barely
bumped 75 before we could hit the brake. We set our cruise
control. That says 70. I'm doing 75. It's
because of sin. It's a desire to break the law.
Do you know why when we see a police officer sitting on the side of
the road even when we're going under the speed limit? Do you
know why we slam on our brakes? It's because we know something
of what we are and we know something of what we're capable of. We
know something of what we're prone to. I wouldn't put it past
me at all to be sinning against the law right now. I probably
am sinning. That's the immediate reaction.
I better slam on my brakes. We condemn ourselves. We recognize
our guilt. It is mixed with everything that
we do. Now, let me show you something
that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was an apostle, not when he
was still being referred to as Saul of Tarsus. This is while
he was an apostle. Turn with me to Romans 7. Romans 7 verse 1. Know ye not, brethren, for I
speak to them that know the law? Know ye not how that the law
hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? The law of God,
whatever he has said is good and right. Whatever he has said
to do or not do, sin is Going against His law, that's what
sin is. And His law has dominion over us as long as we live. Verse
7, right here in Romans 7, it says, What shall we say then?
Is the law sin? God forbid! No! I had not known
sin, but by the law. For I had not known lust, except
the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. I would have never
known or recognized lust at all. Had the law not said, thou shalt
not covet. So the law is what exposes sin. That's the purpose of the law. Just like us slamming on the
brakes when we see the police officer on the side of the road.
We've been breaking the speed limit for a hundred miles already
and never gave it a thought. could have cared less. It did
nothing to us on the inside. With every mile that we got away
with, that sin meant nothing to us. But the moment we saw
the law, as long as we obey the law, we're
fine. There's nothing to worry about.
But here's the problem for us. Verse 14 says, For we know that the law is spiritual,
but I am carnal, sold under sin. It's not a question of if I am
going to sin. It's when. I am carnal, sold under sin. I cannot hardly find one moment,
and that's being generous, when I'm not sinning. I can't hardly
find one moment. If I ever do get around to actually
doing a good deed, I'm so lifted up with pride over it, which
is sin. And that's what the Apostle Paul
is saying right here. Verse 14, we know that the law
is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin, for that which
I do I allow not. Allow means no. I don't know
why I do it. Why do I do the things that I
do? I don't know why I do that. I don't know why I think that. That which I do, I allow not.
For what I would, what I wish I did, what I know is right, that do I not. But what I hate,
all these things that I wish I didn't do, these things that
I know are wrong, these things that I know are sin against God,
he said, that's what I do. That do I. If then I do that,
which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
The whole time I'm sinning against it. I know the law is good. I'm
the one in the error. Verse 17, now then it is no more
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me,
that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing. For to will is
present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. How to truly do something good
without sin infecting it, Paul said, I've yet to find a way
to do that. That's never happened for me. And we all have to say the same
thing with Paul. If we get honest with ourselves,
we have to say the exact same thing. That's never happened
for me. Verse 19, for the good that I would, I do not, but the
evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that, I would
not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in
me. This sin has control of me. This
sin has ruined me. Verse 21, I find then a law that
when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight
in the law of God after the inner man. But I see another law in
my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing
me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! O wretched
man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord, so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God,
but with the flesh the law of sin. Now with all of that sin
and all of that bad news, why does he thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord? He said it's terrible, terrible,
terrible, terrible, terrible. I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Why does he say that? Hold your
place here in Romans and go back to our text. 1 John 2 verse 1 says, My little
children, these things write I unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. If any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. What does that
mean? What is an advocate? An advocate is a person who speaks
on the behalf of another, defending his case and proving his cause. It's a person who speaks on the
behalf of another, defending his case and proving his cause.
If any man sin, we have someone I'm entering into this in a moment.
If any man sin, we have someone who will speak on our behalf,
defending us and proving our innocence. Now go back to Romans, this time
chapter 8, our brother read a moment ago. Romans 8 verse 33 says, Who shall
lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. If any man sin, we have someone
who is at the right hand of God. The right hand means the seat
of honor. We have someone who is sitting
in the seat of honor, making intercession for us, advocating
for us, defending us, proving our innocence. Turn with me over
to Hebrews chapter 7. Hebrews 7 verse 22, by so much
was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were
many priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason
of death. There were all these priests
back in the Old Testament and they kept dying and the next
one would come along and they died and the next one would come
along. Verse 24, but this man because he continueth ever hath
an unchangeable priesthood. 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." He is able to save
to the uttermost if any man sin. If any man sin, it does not matter
what the sin is. It does not matter to what degree
it was carried out. He said, I live forever to make
intercession for them. I ever live to speak on their
behalf. Now, how can he do that? How
can he do that? How can he plead for us? How
can he defend us? How can He prove our innocence? Go back to our text, 1 John 2.
1 John 2, verse 2 says it's because
He is the propitiation for our sins. What does that mean? That means he is the payment
for our sins. He was the one who made the payment
and he was the payment. He can advocate for us and he
can defend us because he knows exactly what was paid to wipe
our slate claim. He knows that it was paid in
full because he's the very one who paid it all the way to the
end. He can plead our innocence because
He's the one who made Himself to be guilty. He can plead our
innocence because He made Himself to be guilty in our place. Look at Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews 10 verse 9, it says,
Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away
the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will
we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily,
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins." Can't you see those priests? Men would
go to them and women would go to them saying, we've sinned,
what do we need to do? And they'd say, now here's what
you need to do. You got to go get a dove. You're going to have
to go catch a dove and bring me a dove. And then they'd sin
again. And here's what you're going
to have to do. You're going to have to go get a lamb and bring me a lamb. This
is what you need to do. And they daily offered the same
sacrifices and it never stopped. It never ended. Verse 12 says,
but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,
sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting
till his enemies, those who sinned, be made his footstool. Come sit
right at his feet. For by one offering he hath perfected
forever them that are sanctified. Perfected forever. If God puts
you in Christ, you are perfect. You're perfect. You are made
spotless. There is no fault. He removed
all stain. Perfect. Verse 15 says, where
of the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us. In this courtroom we have
an advocate. Is there a witness? The Holy
Ghost says, I'm a witness. I saw the whole thing. The Holy Ghost also is a witness
to us. For after that, he had said before,
this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their
hearts and in their minds. Will I write them and their sins
and iniquities? Will I remember no more? He won't
even remember them. Why? They're gone. Blotted out. Removed as far as
the east is from the west. Gone. Look with me at Colossians
2. Colossians 2 verse 13. and you
being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the
way, nailing it to his cross. That's what Christ did for us. He made himself to be the payment
of our sin. He paid every drop of that sin
in full by nailing it to his cross. And now as our advocate,
he intercedes for us. And this is what he says to the
law. This is what he says to the law. You're welcome to search
all you want to. Go ahead. Go way back in the
books. You're welcome to search all
you want to. You will never find one sin. They're not there. They're gone. They're not there. Oh, but I
did it. They're not there. Now, turn
with me to Jeremiah 50, and let me tell you a story while you're
turning. Jeremiah 50. When I first started preaching, Brother Henry said to me, illustrate,
illustrate, illustrate these things. like a parable. Our Lord preached
in parables. Tell a story that will help people
truly enter into the glory of what's being said in the scripture.
And after he told me that a few times, I guess he realized I
didn't have any illustrations. I'd preach and he'd say, illustrate,
illustrate. And then I didn't have any illustrations. So he wrote down a bunch of his,
and he gave them to me, and he said, here, use these. And this
is one of the ones he gave me. This is a true story. Happened
to him. He said, I was attending a meeting
in 1948 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where our school friends and
I sang for the services. On my way home from the meeting,
It was pouring rain and I did not see the stop sign. And we
collided with an old Ford, which was severely damaged. And a young
lady ended up with a cut over her eye. The police came and
gave me a ticket to appear in court several days later. I was
21 years old and had no experience with courts and et cetera. So
I called my dad in Alabama and asked him to be present. We went
to court, and I sat with my father awaiting our call to answer for
my offense. Two or three hours passed, and
my dad and I were the only offenders left. They kept calling names,
and they sat there. They kept calling names, and
they sat there. Two or three hours passed, And he said, my
dad and I were the only offenders left. The judge looked at us
and asked, what are you charged with and why are you here? I
stood and told the judge about my wreck several weeks ago. And
the judge turned to an officer and asked, what is this young
man charged with? The officer said, We have no record of any offense
charged to him. The judge turned to the officer.
You have no record of any offense? No, sir. He said, then, son, you're free
to leave. Free from the law, oh, happy
condition. Jesus has bled, and there's remission. Cursed by the law and bruised
by the fall, Christ hath redeemed us once for all. That's what our advocate has
done for us. Wiped our slate clean. You don't have anything against
him? I don't have anything. Look right here at Jeremiah 50
verse 20. In those days, and in that time,
saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for,
and there shall be none. And the sins of Judah, and they
shall not be found, for I will pardon them whom I reserve."
You're free to leave. You're free to go. I'll remove
all their offense and I'm going to set them free. Now go back
to our text, 1 John 2 verse 1. My little children, these things
write I unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world. Now, I can't end
this message without saying something about the whole world. We are not going to take the
time to go through the scriptures that prove that Christ did not
die for every man and woman on the face of this earth. He did
not shed His blood for every man that has ever entered into
the whole world. But we will turn to a scripture
that clarifies what He means by the whole world. In my center
margin, I have a reference to John 11. Turn with me over to
John chapter 11. John 11 verse 49, And one of them named Caiaphas,
being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know
nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that
one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish
not. And this spake he not of himself,
but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should
die for that nation, and not for that nation only, but that
also he should gather together in one the children of God that
were scattered abroad. scattered abroad all over the
whole world. Revelation 5 says, out of every
kindred and tongue and people and nation. Christ has redeemed
to himself a particular people. Those people will be known by
this. They will confess all of their sin to the Lord Jesus Christ.
They'll confess it all and they'll cry out to Him for mercy. All of their hope will be in
His mercy. Every bit of it. If that's you,
if that's me, if we know what we are and if we're crying out
for mercy, And that means we have an advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ, the righteous. He is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for ours only, but for every sinner who cries
out, cries out from the depths of his soul for mercy. Every
one of them. Preach that to the whole world.
Preach that to the whole world. If any man sin, we have an advocate.
We're about to sing this song, and I love this line. Arise,
my soul, arise. The song says, five bleeding
wounds he bears, received on Calvary. They pour effectual
prayers. They strongly plead for me. Forgive him, O forgive, they
cry, nor let that ransom sinner die. That's our advocate. All
right, let's all stand together.