In I John 1:8 we read I John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
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: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
According to this passage, Jesus is “an advocate with the Father.” What’s an advocate? The Greek word is paraklhtos. It’s usually translated “Comforter.” But it also carries the idea of a Defender. It means “one who is called alongside to give assistance in court.” He’s someone who pleads someone else’s case.
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: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
You see, your sins are what stand between you and God. And you need an advocate. But John also says this. “He is the propitiation for our sins…”
What a propitiation? The Greek here is ilasmos. It refers to “a sinless one who puts away sin for another.”
Folks, this is Who Jesus is. He’s your Defender; the One Who pleads your case in the court of Judgment. And He’s your sinless One Who puts away your sin.”
This is how the Father forgives you of all your sins. This is His Son at work on your behalf. This is Christ, the Sin-bearer. His work on your behalf is what enables the Father to completely forgive you of each and every one of your sins.
Later in this same book John says this. I 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.”
The propitiating work of Jesus is rooted in God’s love for us.
What should each one of us remember when we come to His table?
First, remember Him.
Second, remember His forgiveness is complete.
Third, remember His blood is sufficient.
At the first Communion table, Jesus said this. Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Mark 14:24 “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
Luke 22:20 “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Romans 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;…”
Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
I Corinthians 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
I Corinthians 11:25 “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
No one else in all of history can ask you to remember His blood. Why? Because the blood of Christ is God’s open door into a personal relationship with Him.
Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;…”
Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
Nearly the entire Book of Hebrews deals with this matter of the blood that Jesus shed. Listen to the Apostle Paul from Hebrews 9:12. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,…”
Jesus told the Apostles at that first Communion Table that it was His blood that was enables anyone to enter into a personal relationship with the Father.
Here’s how practical the blood of Christ truly is. (14) “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
His blood, Christ’s shed blood, did for you what nothing else could ever possibly do. It purges “your conscience from dead works” so that you can serve the living God.
Folks, all those good works prior to your salvation are described in Scripture as “dead works.” They are truly dead as far as accomplishing anything spiritual. And what could possibly cleanse your conscience from these dead works? One thing and one thing along; the blood of Christ.
Think as you come to this table today what Christ has done for you.
One, His blood cleansed your conscience from dead works.
Two, He did what no priest could ever do – take away your sins. Hebrews 10:11 “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand 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: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
According to this passage, Jesus is “an advocate with the Father.” What’s an advocate? The Greek word is paraklhtos. It’s usually translated “Comforter.” But it also carries the idea of a Defender. It means “one who is called alongside to give assistance in court.” He’s someone who pleads someone else’s case.
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: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
You see, your sins are what stand between you and God. And you need an advocate. But John also says this. “He is the propitiation for our sins…”
What a propitiation? The Greek here is ilasmos. It refers to “a sinless one who puts away sin for another.”
Folks, this is Who Jesus is. He’s your Defender; the One Who pleads your case in the court of Judgment. And He’s your sinless One Who puts away your sin.”
This is how the Father forgives you of all your sins. This is His Son at work on your behalf. This is Christ, the Sin-bearer. His work on your behalf is what enables the Father to completely forgive you of each and every one of your sins.
Later in this same book John says this. I 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.”
The propitiating work of Jesus is rooted in God’s love for us.
What should each one of us remember when we come to His table?
First, remember Him.
Second, remember His forgiveness is complete.
Third, remember His blood is sufficient.
At the first Communion table, Jesus said this. Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Mark 14:24 “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
Luke 22:20 “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
Romans 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;…”
Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
I Corinthians 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
I Corinthians 11:25 “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
No one else in all of history can ask you to remember His blood. Why? Because the blood of Christ is God’s open door into a personal relationship with Him.
Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;…”
Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
Nearly the entire Book of Hebrews deals with this matter of the blood that Jesus shed. Listen to the Apostle Paul from Hebrews 9:12. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,…”
Jesus told the Apostles at that first Communion Table that it was His blood that was enables anyone to enter into a personal relationship with the Father.
Here’s how practical the blood of Christ truly is. (14) “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
His blood, Christ’s shed blood, did for you what nothing else could ever possibly do. It purges “your conscience from dead works” so that you can serve the living God.
Folks, all those good works prior to your salvation are described in Scripture as “dead works.” They are truly dead as far as accomplishing anything spiritual. And what could possibly cleanse your conscience from these dead works? One thing and one thing along; the blood of Christ.
Think as you come to this table today what Christ has done for you.
One, His blood cleansed your conscience from dead works.
Two, He did what no priest could ever do – take away your sins. Hebrews 10:11 “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;