WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.759 May the truth of the gospel bury itself deep in our souls. 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:06.900 And may you be glorified through it. 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:08.919 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:10.200 --> 00:00:10.919 You may be seated. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:21.140 Well, if you've been with us the last few weeks, we know that we have been going through a short Easter series. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:28.199 And as we move past Easter, we will be returning to our study of 1 Peter that James will resume next week. 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:32.079 But today we're actually going to focus on a short passage from 1 John. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:34.560 1 John chapter 2, verses 1 through 2. 00:00:36.500 --> 00:00:41.579 Now, what do you feel, what are your feelings when you come home after a long day of work? 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:46.320 What's your normal routine when you come home from work? 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:49.439 Are you exhausted? You just kind of plop on the couch? 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:55.260 I guess the idea of us actually coming home from work may be a foreign concept in this past year. 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:56.939 As many of us are actually working from home. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:01:01.059 So maybe you just leave your home office or a bedroom and you come downstairs. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:05.900 If you're like me, you may just go to the kitchen and stare in the refrigerator for a few minutes. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:08.140 What about kids? 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:11.299 What do you do to rest when you come home from school? 00:01:11.459 --> 00:01:13.159 Do you sit and watch television? 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:15.680 Do you get a snack and you go outside and play? 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:18.560 What about university students? 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.439 Especially as we think about the end of the year. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:25.780 And we think about the final exams that we have and the papers that we have to finish. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:31.439 How great that feeling is when we can rest and know that we're done with our work at the end of the term. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:37.640 Well, last week we focused on Jesus' resurrection and ascension. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:47.319 And so after all that we know Jesus was put through, we may think that like us, Jesus just needed to rest and recuperate. 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:49.400 That he just went back up to heaven. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:52.900 He sat down at the right hand of God the Father and he just went, whew. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:55.180 Glad that's over. 00:01:56.019 --> 00:02:00.260 That was a pretty tough 30-some years, especially that last part. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:07.820 So you may think that Jesus can kind of just put up his feet and rest for a few thousand years until he finally decides to come back. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:11.700 Maybe you picture him as kind of just handing off the baton to the Holy Spirit and saying, 00:02:12.180 --> 00:02:13.580 It's your turn now. My work is done. 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:17.680 But that certainly is not the case. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:20.819 And that's not what we're going to see in this passage today. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.680 We're going to see the continuing work of Christ. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:27.580 Even though he is no longer with us in the flesh, he continues to work for us. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:30.340 He continues to love us and care for us. 00:02:32.100 --> 00:02:35.540 And we'll see this in 1 John 2, verses 1 and 2. 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:36.760 So let's read that together now. 00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:41.500 My little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 00:02:42.420 --> 00:02:47.000 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.140 He is the propitiation for our sins. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:54.360 And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 00:02:55.480 --> 00:02:56.660 This is the Word of God. 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:01.140 So as we start to think of the continuing work of Jesus, 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:06.760 it's important maybe to recap what we know of Jesus' earthly ministry that we focused on these last few weeks. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.740 Obviously, we know that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:13.200 He was fully God, yet fully man. 00:03:14.380 --> 00:03:16.060 He lived a sinless life. 00:03:16.140 --> 00:03:17.140 He was without sin. 00:03:17.220 --> 00:03:19.760 He was perfect in fulfilling the law that we couldn't. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:22.560 We know that he went to the cross. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:25.240 And there he experienced the full wrath of God. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:29.159 And it was his blood that was given out for the forgiveness of our sins. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:32.099 We know that after his death, he was buried. 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:37.360 He spent three days in the grave before he resurrected and ascended to the Father. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.360 And so, as we're going to look at this passage and some other passages today, 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:45.160 and thinking about what happened after that ascension, 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:48.860 it's actually maybe helpful to look at a particular catechism. 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:54.600 We know that catechisms can be useful as they can summarize our beliefs and our doctrine. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:59.400 So one that actually stood out to me was the Heidelberg Catechism, question number 46. 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.780 And I want to read that for us now. 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:04.340 This is what it says. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:06.719 How are we to understand the words, 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:08.219 He ascended into heaven? 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:10.180 Here's the answer. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.439 That Christ, in sight of his disciples, 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.439 was taken up from earth into heaven, 00:04:15.659 --> 00:04:18.240 and that he continues there for our interest 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.300 until he comes again to judge the living and the dead. 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:23.780 Did you catch that part? 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:27.720 Christ is in heaven for our interest. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:37.399 And we see that this is certainly something that we can look at further in this passage. 00:04:38.659 --> 00:04:40.859 That Christ is in heaven, His redemption. 00:04:40.979 --> 00:04:42.599 Our redemption is secure, obviously, 00:04:43.079 --> 00:04:45.419 but He continues to work for us. 00:04:45.459 --> 00:04:49.459 And so what we see in this passage is really two ways in which Christ works for us. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:52.120 One, He serves as our advocate. 00:04:52.919 --> 00:04:56.179 And the second, He serves as our propitiation. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:05:00.079 And so let's look first at Christ as our advocate. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.199 That word that's used in this passage in 1 John 2, 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:06.300 it really means to come alongside. 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:10.180 And it's a word that's not used very much in the New Testament. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.680 In fact, it's only John who uses this word, 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:16.180 and the only other time where he uses it is in his gospel, 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:21.160 when Jesus is talking with His disciples during the Last Supper. 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:24.020 And He says to His disciples, He says, 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:28.840 I am going away, but I'm going to send you another advocate. 00:05:29.900 --> 00:05:31.360 And so we know that if He's saying, 00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:32.840 I'm going to send you another advocate, 00:05:32.960 --> 00:05:36.340 that He Himself is considering Himself an advocate. 00:05:36.760 --> 00:05:39.620 And it's interesting because in John 14, 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.580 that's usually not, it's not translated as advocate. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.100 In the ESV, it says He's our comforter. 00:05:46.200 --> 00:05:48.100 In NIV, it says our counselor. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:52.939 But here in 1 John 2, Christ is our advocate. 00:05:53.400 --> 00:05:56.680 And that's important because this word advocate 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:59.780 actually has legal implications to it. 00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:02.360 And so when we think of Christ as our advocate, 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.879 we're literally saying that Christ is our lawyer. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:10.820 Now, for those who don't know a lot about my background, 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.020 after I graduated university, I then went off to law school. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:16.820 So education system is a little different here. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:19.099 When you complete university in the States, 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.740 then you go to law school, which is three more years of education. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.259 And one thing you do in between those years of law school 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:27.639 is you try to find work, an internship, 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.019 a clerkship with a judge maybe, 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:32.399 a means of getting practical experience, 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:35.779 making connections that may lead to a job down the road. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:39.259 And so I remember after my first year of law school, 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.920 I interviewed with this firm 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.319 that did medical malpractice defense work. 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:47.199 So it was a firm that represented doctors, hospitals, 00:06:47.459 --> 00:06:49.620 other health care providers when they had been sued. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:51.959 It was actually a firm that I worked at, 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:54.399 I clerked at for two years in between law school, 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:57.240 and then I worked there for seven years before coming here. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:00.180 And I remember very specifically 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:02.659 my first time meeting a couple of those partners 00:07:02.659 --> 00:07:04.800 in that first interview I had with them. 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:07.659 And of course, they asked me questions about myself, 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:10.160 but also told me a lot about their practice 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.620 and their passion for practicing law. 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:16.260 And actually, both of these partners were believers. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:18.340 And I remember specifically something that they said 00:07:18.340 --> 00:07:19.580 that really stuck with me. 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:23.560 They said that just as Christ serves as our advocate, 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:26.760 we want to be an advocate for our clients. 00:07:28.400 --> 00:07:30.260 And you could see just how much passion 00:07:30.260 --> 00:07:31.940 they had for their work. 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:36.779 They wanted to support those who were experiencing 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:40.100 probably their most vulnerable point 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:41.680 in their professional career. 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:43.639 They wanted to represent them with integrity 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.439 and represent them with passion. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.459 They wanted to effectively plead their case 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:50.120 to a judge or jury the same way 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:52.379 that Christ pleads our case to the Father. 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:54.939 And so when they said that to me, 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.240 that was something that really stuck. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.220 It was something that I used 00:07:58.220 --> 00:08:00.860 to guide me in my years of practicing law. 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:02.060 It's something that continues 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.720 to serve as a picture for me now 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.560 when I think about Christ's work in our life. 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:10.020 And so Christ is literally our lawyer. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:11.879 He's a lawyer that represents us 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.340 against the accusations of Satan. 00:08:15.520 --> 00:08:17.580 And so let's look further into this passage. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:20.379 It says that we have an advocate. 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:23.280 That's simple present tense. 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:26.840 Not that we had one when Jesus was here on earth. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.060 Not that we had one, 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.180 but Jesus is no longer involved in our lives. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:32.740 We have an advocate in Jesus. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:36.060 Someone who is continuing to serve us 00:08:36.060 --> 00:08:37.360 as he is in heaven. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:40.659 It goes on to say the location, 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:41.620 which is very important. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.379 We have an advocate with the Father. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:49.360 You know, one of the most important things for me 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:50.899 when I was going into trial 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:54.200 that was most advantageous for me to know 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:55.899 was to know the judge. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:59.139 Not so I could get any special favors from the judge, 00:08:59.139 --> 00:09:00.480 but when you knew the judge, 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:01.740 your trial judge, 00:09:02.319 --> 00:09:03.240 it helped you 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:06.360 in that you know how he may rule in certain issues. 00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:07.500 You know his temperament. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:09.439 You know how he controls the courtroom. 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:10.980 So if I was going to trial 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:12.019 and I didn't know the judge, 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.620 oftentimes I'd pick up the phone 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:15.220 and call other lawyers 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:19.039 that I knew may have been in front of that judge before 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.179 and ask them, 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:21.600 what can you tell me about this judge? 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:24.320 How can I have an advantage in this trial 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:26.560 just based on my knowledge of the judge? 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:29.720 And so here we see that Jesus, 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.060 as our lawyer, 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:33.259 he knows the judge. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.879 He is always in the presence of the judge. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:38.399 He is united with the judge. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.600 So there's no question about 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:43.180 whether Jesus is able to get a trial date with the judge. 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:45.120 There's no question about 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.040 whether he knows how the judge may rule. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:50.600 He is one with the judge. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:55.759 We also see here how our advocate is described. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.019 We have an advocate with the Father, 00:09:58.680 --> 00:10:00.500 Jesus Christ, the righteous. 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:04.519 Now I've heard lawyers described 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.980 as a lot of things in my day, 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:09.220 but righteous is not usually at the top of the list. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.980 I don't know if lawyer jokes are as common here 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:13.759 as they are in the States, 00:10:13.820 --> 00:10:15.420 but I've yet to hear a lawyer joke 00:10:15.420 --> 00:10:17.460 about the righteous lawyer. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.480 But that's who we have in Jesus. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:24.779 He is our righteous advocate. 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:26.180 He is without fault. 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:28.040 His motives are pure. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:30.540 Therefore, his advocacy is perfect. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:35.879 And so that's the kind of advocate we want. 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:37.680 But you may ask, 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.180 well, why do we need an advocate? 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:43.320 Isn't Christ's work on the cross complete? 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.840 Aren't our sins forgiven? 00:10:44.920 --> 00:10:45.879 And the answer is yes. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.460 But we need to recognize this relationship 00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:51.440 that we continue to have with sin 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.460 that's rather complicated. 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:55.800 And this is what John points out in verse 1. 00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:56.259 He says, 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:58.340 I am writing these things to you 00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:59.899 so that you may not sin. 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:01.580 But if you do... 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.559 And he continues. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:06.519 You see, John's reason for writing this letter 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:10.159 was to encourage believers to live righteously. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:14.700 But he also includes a dose of reality here. 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:17.419 He knows that even if we are in Christ, 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:19.600 we will continue to sin. 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.840 And so there's really two ways 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.500 that we can look at this relationship 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:24.840 that we have with sin. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:26.480 We can look at it judicially 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.740 and we can look at it morally. 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:31.779 So let's think about it judiciously. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.399 Judiciously, we are without sin. 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:39.440 We are innocent because of the blood of Christ. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:42.740 Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us. 00:11:43.800 --> 00:11:45.160 It says in Romans 5, 9, 00:11:45.280 --> 00:11:48.080 Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, 00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:51.860 much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:56.300 So we are not guilty in God's court of law. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.880 And so when that happens then, 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.340 God is not only our judge, 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:04.500 but he is also our father. 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:07.700 We are welcomed into relationship 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:11.120 with God the Father and God the Son. 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:15.639 And so that's when we look at our sin judicially, 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:16.639 but how about morally? 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.740 Well, we know, as John has pointed out here, 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:22.799 that we are still sinful. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:24.820 And even though there's no condemnation 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:26.299 for those who are in Christ Jesus, 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.039 we are still going to sin 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:30.340 for as long as we have breath on this earth. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.899 And the problem is that sin 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:34.139 disrupts our relationship with God. 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:37.759 And we see that Paul verbalizes this struggle 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.759 in Romans 7, where he says this, 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:42.100 For I do not do the good I want, 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:45.240 but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing. 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:48.600 Now if I do what I do not want, 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:50.480 it is no longer I who do it, 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.779 but sin who dwells in me. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:56.860 So Paul admits too that we continue 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:58.360 to have this sin problem 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:00.039 even when we're in Christ. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:03.460 And so if we continue to sin, 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:07.040 that means we continue to need God's forgiveness. 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:10.800 We continue to need the Spirit to convict us. 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:14.060 We continue to need Christ as our advocate 00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:16.820 to restore our relationship with the Father. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:19.100 And so how does he do this? 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:21.220 We know now that he is our righteous advocate, 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.100 but practically speaking, 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.639 how does he serve us? 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:28.280 Well, it says this in Hebrews 7, 25. 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:33.519 Consequently, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.600 those who draw near to God through him, 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:39.220 since he always lives to make intercession for them. 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:41.960 That's the key word there at the end, 00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:42.800 intercession. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:46.639 Jesus is continuing to make intercession for us. 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:49.980 We see at the end of Jesus' life, 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:53.000 when he was in the upper room with his disciples 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.080 during that last supper, 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.080 he talked to Peter directly, 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:59.820 and he said to him that you are going to deny me three times. 00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:03.900 But he says something else that gives us this insight 00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:05.360 into the heart of Jesus. 00:14:06.540 --> 00:14:06.840 He says, 00:14:07.160 --> 00:14:09.900 Satan demanded to have you that he may sift you like wheat, 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:12.700 but I have prayed for you 00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:15.620 that your faith may not fail. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:21.060 We see hours later that Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:24.140 and this is where he prays his high priestly prayer. 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:26.160 And two of the things he prays for is, 00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:27.160 one, his disciples, 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:29.520 and two, for all believers. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:35.340 And so, just as Christ did in his earthly ministry, 00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:37.320 Christ continues to do that now. 00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:40.160 Christ is continuing to pray for us. 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:42.640 As he sits at the right hand of the Father, 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:45.180 it is Jesus who intercedes for us. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:48.860 And so that can give us great confidence in our salvation, 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:51.200 because we know Jesus has promised, 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.120 I will pray for you. 00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:58.420 You know, when I would get a new case in my office 00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:59.320 when I practice law, 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:03.460 it was pretty much guaranteed that it would take about two years 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:06.000 before this case ever went to trial. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.420 Certainly there were cases that would get dismissed or settle along the way, 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:15.179 but just how it went to work up these cases. 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.839 There was medical records to review. 00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:18.819 There was discovery to complete. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.679 There were expert witnesses to get. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:23.559 There was depositions to take. 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.559 There were hearings to attend. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:27.039 And finally, you got the chance to set a trial date. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:33.679 And so, even though I would represent doctors or healthcare providers for ongoing two years plus, 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:37.139 I wasn't with them every day. 00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:40.620 I wasn't caring for their case on a daily basis. 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:43.340 Even though there were times I was working very hard for them, 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:46.679 there may be weeks or months at a time where I don't pick up their file, 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:50.379 because I have 20 other plus files that other things are going on in their cases. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.759 And so, we need to recognize that that's not how God, 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.600 that's not how Jesus operates. 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:59.860 He is continually making intercession for us. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:07.899 So, we can know that we have a living Savior who is praying every day for us at the throne of God, 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.200 that our faith may not fail. 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.019 Robert Murray McShane said this, 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:17.340 If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:20.519 I would not fear a million enemies. 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:23.240 Yet distance makes no difference. 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:25.320 He is praying for me. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.720 What a great comfort that is. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.480 And to know this, 00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:31.440 that His praying, 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:33.720 His intercession for us, 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:35.379 is always effective. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.600 As our advocate, 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.379 Christ never loses. 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.899 There's a saying that lawyers, 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.139 I've heard often that lawyers say, 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.960 is that if you've never lost a case, 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:48.120 you just haven't practiced long enough. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.060 Well, that's certainly not the case with Christ. 00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:54.240 For the more that He serves us, 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.180 the more He wins. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:59.259 No matter how great our sin, 00:16:59.599 --> 00:17:02.479 His intercession is always effective on our behalf. 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:05.720 And so, that brings us to our second point then. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.539 We know that He is our advocate. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:10.639 We also know that Christ is our propitiation. 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.259 Look in verse 2. 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.700 It says, 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.559 He is a propitiation for our sins, 00:17:15.639 --> 00:17:16.720 not only for ours, 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:19.179 but also for the sins of the whole world. 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:24.080 Now, propitiation is one of those kind of big Christian words 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:25.440 that we may not know what to do with 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.519 or what exactly it means, 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.259 but this is what it means. 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.160 Quite literally, 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:32.820 Jesus is the wrath averter. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.240 He has satisfied the wrath of God for our sins. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.160 And so, it's important to recognize this 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.779 because this is really foundational 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.700 into understanding 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.060 if He is our advocate, 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.039 He is, first of all, 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.080 our propitiation. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.819 If He wasn't our propitiation, 00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:49.099 then He could not be our righteous advocate. 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:53.980 One of the cases I had when I was practicing law 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.839 was representing an obstetrician. 00:17:56.419 --> 00:17:58.059 That's a doctor who delivers babies. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.399 I know healthcare systems are different 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:01.319 between here and the States. 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:03.159 I know midwives are more responsible 00:18:03.159 --> 00:18:04.099 for deliveries here 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:06.559 and doctors do most of the deliveries in the States. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.779 And this doctor I was representing 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:13.179 had been sued by a family of a baby that was born 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.620 who was born with a permanent birth injury. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:18.340 And they thought it was my doctor's fault 00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:19.720 for causing this injury. 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:21.940 And our theory in the case was, 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.120 no, it wasn't our doctor's fault. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.100 He didn't do anything wrong. 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.580 In fact, there was a complication 00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:26.480 during the delivery 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.460 that caused this injury. 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.660 It was a known risk 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:31.360 and outcome of this complication. 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.680 It was actually our doctor 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:35.100 who followed the standard of care 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.080 in delivering this baby 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:37.180 through this complication 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:39.140 actually saved the child's life. 00:18:40.820 --> 00:18:41.940 And so, during this trial, 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.880 I had the opportunity 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:45.600 to cross-examine the baby's father 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:47.420 who was in that delivery room that day. 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.880 And what I did during that cross-examine 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:53.580 is try to allow him to explain 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:55.420 exactly what he saw. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.200 Because when he explained that, 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.960 even though he thought 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:00.559 the doctor was doing something wrong, 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.880 he actually gave a textbook description 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:06.039 of what the doctor should do 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.000 in the circumstances. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:10.940 And so, after the trial was over 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:12.319 and the jury was deliberating, 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:14.200 they were out for about an hour 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:16.599 before a note was brought to the judge 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.680 from the jury room asking 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.980 if the jury could be brought back in 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:22.700 to listen to my cross-examination 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.660 of the father again. 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.519 And I knew when they asked that question 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.880 that we were most likely going to win the case 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:31.140 because in that cross-examination, 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:33.079 I was able to use the plaintiff's witness 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.579 to prove that my doctor 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:36.079 abided by the standard of care, 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.299 that he didn't do anything wrong. 00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.839 And so, sure enough, 00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:41.519 they re-listened to this examination, 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.159 they went back into the jury room, 00:19:43.439 --> 00:19:44.500 and 15 minutes later, 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.500 they returned a verdict 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:47.199 in favor of my doctor, 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.439 not liable. 00:19:50.199 --> 00:19:51.679 And so, my strategy 00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:53.279 in working up this case, 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.960 just like any other case I ever did, 00:19:55.199 --> 00:19:56.299 was to prove 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:58.059 that my doctor abided by 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.059 the standard of care, 00:19:59.139 --> 00:20:00.379 that he was not responsible 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.019 for the injury 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.599 because he didn't do anything wrong. 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:05.319 But that's not how 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:07.219 Jesus goes before the father. 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.299 It's quite the opposite. 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:11.179 Because Jesus goes before the father 00:20:11.179 --> 00:20:11.819 and says, 00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:14.679 this person is guilty. 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.159 But, 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:20.839 he uses his own righteousness 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:23.240 as our propitiation. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:27.219 Matthew Henry says this in his commentary, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.839 the clients are guilty. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.420 Their innocence 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.559 and legal righteousness 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.839 cannot be pleaded. 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.440 It's the advocate's own righteousness 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.860 that must be pled 00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.680 for the criminals. 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.880 And so, 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.140 if we continue to think about this 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.799 in legal terms, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.400 if Christ is our advocate, 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.299 then his evidence that he uses 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.259 before the father 00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:48.259 is his own propitiation. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:52.019 John Calvin said this, 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.079 that Christ's intercession 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.920 is the continual application 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.119 of his death 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.539 to our salvation. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.960 There's another saying 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:03.900 that attorneys have, 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:06.019 that if the facts are on your side, 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.359 argue the facts. 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.779 If the law is on your side, 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.480 argue the law. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.319 If neither is on your side, 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.220 just argue. 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.759 Well, in this case, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.039 we see that Jesus has both 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.879 the facts 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.640 and the law on his side. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.759 The fact is that Jesus 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.740 was able to live 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:24.039 a sinless life. 00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.980 That he was able to fulfill 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.180 the law that we could not. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.759 So, therefore, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.180 when he serves as our advocate 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:32.039 and puts himself forth 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.299 as our propitiation, 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.379 he is pleading 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:37.000 our case 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.720 on the basis of who he is 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.400 and what he has done. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.920 He lays out 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:44.220 the evidence 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.839 of his own suffering. 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:47.620 And so, 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:49.000 when we think of propitiation, 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:49.880 it's not just 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.100 this fact 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:52.100 that Jesus has to die 00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:53.279 over and over again 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.900 or experience 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.620 the wrath of God 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:55.600 over and over again. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.279 He lays out 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.079 this evidence 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.860 that is sufficient 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.240 for 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.799 an innocent verdict. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.799 And so, 00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.500 this is really not 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.180 that popular 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:08.200 of an idea with some 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.600 because 00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.779 when we talk about 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.940 the propitiation 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.700 of Christ, 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.039 it inherently deals 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.279 with the wrath of God. 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.039 And oftentimes, 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.460 that's really an uncomfortable 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.740 subject to think about. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.019 We don't want to think 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.960 about the wrath 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.779 of God 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.119 because it makes us think 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:23.819 that God is just 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:25.180 this angry, 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.759 vindictive 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.379 God 00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.339 with a short temper 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.899 who needs 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:30.220 some sort of sacrifice 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.460 in order to be appeased. 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.480 But what's important 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.240 for us to remember 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.940 is the wrath of God 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:38.899 is all about 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.899 the righteousness 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:41.400 of God. 00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.820 Because of His 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.460 holy nature, 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.640 He rightly 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.880 hates sin. 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:47.660 And so, 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.019 therefore, 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.480 He cannot set aside 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.759 wrath toward our sin 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.380 and remain holy. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.820 And so, 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.380 this is where 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.800 the propitiating love 00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:57.940 of Christ comes in. 00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:59.780 God meets 00:22:59.780 --> 00:23:00.540 His demand 00:23:00.540 --> 00:23:01.140 for holiness 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:02.040 through His Son, 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:02.440 Christ. 00:23:02.560 --> 00:23:02.820 And so, 00:23:02.840 --> 00:23:03.640 if we think about it 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:05.700 in the Trinitarian terms, 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:06.700 it's actually God 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:08.519 who propitiates Himself 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:10.440 on our behalf. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.440 So, 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.100 propitiation 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.019 isn't about 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:16.140 us trying 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.920 to convince 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.519 God 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.779 to save us 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.920 and forgive us. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.039 It's not about 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.340 Christ as our advocate 00:23:22.340 --> 00:23:23.080 going before 00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:24.120 an angry God 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:25.180 and just begging 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.720 Him not to judge us. 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.620 We need to see 00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.120 that through 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:31.340 our propitiation, 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.180 it's God 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.019 that takes 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.640 the initiative, 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.559 that He's the one 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.019 that takes 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.480 the step toward us 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.079 in love. 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:37.960 He's the one 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.079 that provided Christ 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.559 as a propitiation 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.359 for our sins. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.180 He's the one 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.079 that appointed Christ 00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:44.339 as our advocate 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.440 to continue 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.480 serving for us. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.639 It says in Romans 5, 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:50.920 8, 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.900 that God commanded 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.920 His love toward us 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.200 in that while we 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.819 were yet sinners, 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.879 Christ died for us. 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.119 And not only for us, 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.299 it says it in verse 2 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.240 of our passage, 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.019 not only for us, 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.160 but for the whole world. 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:02.799 So, 00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.960 this pardon for sin 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.200 through the work 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.600 of Christ 00:24:05.600 --> 00:24:06.819 is offered to all. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.680 And so, 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.299 if we look back 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.840 what we studied 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:10.779 a couple weeks ago 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.400 when Christ 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.460 was crucified 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:14.079 and we see 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.779 the curtain 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.360 in the temple 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:15.940 being torn 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.880 from top to bottom 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.980 that our access 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.279 to God the Father 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.200 has been opened up, 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:23.059 we see that God 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.299 is inviting us 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.539 into His presence 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.480 through the blood 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:26.920 of Jesus. 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.079 And so then, 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.140 how should we 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.180 respond? 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.380 respond. 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:32.960 Well, 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.820 maybe if you've 00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.320 seen movies 00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:35.539 or maybe in person, 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.299 you know people 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.560 who think they 00:24:37.560 --> 00:24:38.320 have a good lawyer 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.400 and that gives them 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.220 the right to act 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.000 however they want. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.680 They're not concerned 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.840 about the consequences 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.700 for their actions 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.440 because they think 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.180 their lawyer can just 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.019 get them off the hook. 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.360 But that's certainly 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.240 not how we should 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:52.460 respond to Christ 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.279 as our advocate. 00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:55.500 We talked about 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.400 how much God 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.620 hates sin. 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.940 We also need to have 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:00.440 a hatred for sin. 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.200 The problem is 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.279 far too often 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:05.279 we're lenient 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.519 in our sin. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.960 We tolerate it. 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:10.340 We ignore it. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.160 We hide it. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.440 We're flippant about it. 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.900 But as we grow 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.420 in grace, 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.460 we need to recognize 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:18.140 the sin in our life 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.700 should become 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.180 more and more ugly. 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.860 So let's not grow 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:24.340 content in our sin. 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.039 Let us set 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.180 our whole soul 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.299 against it. 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.279 If we keep reading 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:32.580 on in 1 John 2, 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.320 if we continue 00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.000 reading verse 3, 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.600 it says this, 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.779 We know that we have 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.660 come to know him 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:39.140 if we keep his commands. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.140 Whoever says, 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.779 I know him, 00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.519 but does not do 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.059 what he says, 00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.600 is a liar. 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.500 And the truth 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.440 is not in that person. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.240 But if anyone does, 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.960 if anyone obeys his word, 00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:48.779 love for God 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.640 is truly made 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.360 complete in him. 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.759 This is how we know 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.559 we are in him. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.360 Whoever claims 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:55.440 to live in him 00:25:55.440 --> 00:25:56.460 must live 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.559 as Jesus did. 00:25:57.559 --> 00:26:00.379 So here's the facts. 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.740 That if we are 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.740 truly converted, 00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.419 then we will 00:26:03.419 --> 00:26:03.980 earnestly 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:06.119 pursue holiness. 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.879 Because if we don't 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:10.139 truly hate our sin, 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.679 then we won't 00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.879 truly value 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:13.039 the cross. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.799 But the problem is 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.759 sometimes we can go 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.779 on the ditch 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.399 on the other side 00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:19.919 of the road too, 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.159 right? 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.639 Rather than being 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.740 too lenient towards sin, 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.980 sometimes we can be 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.879 too severe 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.940 in thinking about our sin. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.500 And we can just 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.519 beat ourselves up 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.740 over and over again 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.700 and see ourselves 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.320 as a failure 00:26:29.320 --> 00:26:30.160 because we continue 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.240 to struggle with anger 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.259 or pride 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.140 or envy 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:34.200 or lust 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.200 or anger, 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.279 hatred, 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.180 whatever it may be. 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.820 And so we think 00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.759 that we are not 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.539 worthy of God. 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.259 How could God 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.740 possibly accept us? 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.920 We're ready to give up 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.799 on this Christian life 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.400 because we can't 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:46.920 make it work. 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.180 And so, 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.440 even though 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:52.680 it's good 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.720 to be ashamed 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.680 of our sin, 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:57.700 we need to recognize 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.660 that our attitude 00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.460 should not 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.420 be one 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.559 that forgets 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.299 or neglects 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.220 Christ's willingness 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.000 to forgive 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.840 and restore us. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.400 It says right 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.200 before our passage 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.180 in 1 John 1, 9 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.140 that if we confess 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.640 our sins, 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.380 He is faithful 00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.880 and just 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.840 to forgive us 00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.259 our sins 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.799 and cleanse us 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.140 from all unrighteousness. 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.279 And so, 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.920 let's be eager 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.320 to confess our sins 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.759 knowing that God 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.420 is eager 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.800 to forgive us. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.200 And let us be eager 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.600 then 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:28.740 and grateful 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:30.259 to allow God 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.259 to step forward, 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.580 to step toward us 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.500 in His love 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.800 and provide us 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:36.400 with Christ 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.360 a sinless substitute. 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.519 Now, 00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:41.240 if you're not a believer, 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.360 this idea 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:45.680 is a difficult concept. 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.560 Like we said, 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:49.099 propitiation, 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.839 it presupposes 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.339 the wrath of God. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.539 And that can make us 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.339 really uncomfortable 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.259 to think about. 00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:58.679 But that's the reality 00:27:58.679 --> 00:27:59.839 of our situation. 00:28:00.399 --> 00:28:01.980 That if you are not 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.639 in Christ, 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.559 then you are guilty 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.399 under the law 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:06.460 and that you are deserving 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.579 of the wrath of God. 00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:10.220 But we have hope. 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.519 We have the message 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.279 of the gospel. 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.539 That though the gospel 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.839 points out our sin 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.859 and wrath 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.779 that is due us, 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:19.700 it also extends 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.680 to us grace 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.359 and forgiveness. 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.819 And so I urge you 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.240 to recognize 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.019 that our only hope 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.480 is in Christ. 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.000 There's nothing 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.019 that we can do 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:29.039 to be declared 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.519 innocent 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.960 before the Father 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.779 apart from Christ. 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.960 And we can know this, 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.839 that the completed 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.819 and ongoing work 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.559 of Christ 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.559 as our advocate 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.700 and our propitiation 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:42.059 is sufficient 00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.960 for every case. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:44.480 and it's sufficient 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.920 for every defendant. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.079 Let's pray. 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.759 God, we thank you 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.019 for the work 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.759 of Jesus 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.759 who does not sit 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.740 at your right side 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.759 and just rest. 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.539 He continues 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.220 to work. 00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.000 He continues 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.799 to serve 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.779 as our advocate 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.500 because he is 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.600 our propitiation. 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.900 Lord, we pray 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.600 that we remember 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.579 that that truth 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:16.659 will be ever before us 00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:17.980 and we can 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:20.199 choose to turn 00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:20.899 from our sin. 00:29:22.199 --> 00:29:23.079 God, we ask 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.159 that you convict us. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.519 We ask that through Christ 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.219 you restore 00:29:28.219 --> 00:29:29.000 our relationship 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.500 with you. 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.079 And God, 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.879 for those who don't 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.359 know you, 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.399 we pray that the reality 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.599 of your wrath 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.619 be something 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.699 that is before them. 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.700 but to recognize 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.200 the goodness 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.160 of the gospel 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:47.380 that through your blood 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:49.440 we have been forgiven, 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.840 that we are innocent, 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:54.160 that we are not guilty 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.000 because of the righteousness 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.700 of Christ. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.680 We thank you 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.559 for that truth today. 00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.740 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:01.080 Amen. 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.179 Amen. 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.279 We're going to sing 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.439 our last hymn together, 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.119 He Will Hold Me Fast. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:32.759 When I fear my faith will fail, 00:30:33.959 --> 00:30:37.259 Christ will hold me fast, 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:42.500 When the tempter would prevail, 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:46.740 He will hold me fast. 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:52.259 I could never keep my hold 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:56.940 through life's fearful path, 00:30:57.539 --> 00:31:01.900 for my love is often cold, 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:06.220 He must hold me fast. 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:11.220 He will hold me fast. 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:16.440 He will hold me fast. 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:21.380 For my Savior loves me so, 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:26.940 He will hold me fast. 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:33.940 He will hold me fast. 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:41.740 Those He saves are His delight. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:46.400 Christ will hold me fast. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:51.660 Precious in His holy sight, 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:56.660 He will hold me fast. 00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:58.660 He will hold me fast. 00:31:58.660 --> 00:32:01.660 He will hold me fast. 00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:06.040 His promises shall last. 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:11.460 Bought by Him at such a cost, 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:15.320 He will hold me fast. 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:21.480 He will hold me fast. 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:25.539 He will hold me fast. 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:30.480 For my Savior loves me so, 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:35.799 He will hold me fast. 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:50.799 For my life He bled at night. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:54.700 Christ will hold me fast. 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:59.700 Justice has been satisfied. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:01.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:03.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:05.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.700 Christ will hold me fast. 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.700 I will hold me fast. 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:11.700 Christ will hold me fast. 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:14.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:18.700 Till our faith is turned to sight. 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:24.700 When He comes at last. 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:28.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:32.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:37.700 For my Savior loves me so, 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:39.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:44.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:53.700 He will hold me fast. 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:57.700 For my Savior loves me so, 00:33:57.700 --> 00:34:02.700 He will hold me fast. 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:17.699 He will hold me fast. 00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:24.699 Will you stand with me to receive the benediction taken from Psalm 121. 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:27.699 Now may the Lord keep you from all evil. 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:29.699 May He keep your life. 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:31.699 May the Lord keep your going out and your coming in from this time. 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:34.699 forth and forevermore. 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.699 Amen. 00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:04.699 When I tell God. 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:08.699 May the Lord keep you from all evil. 00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:13.699 What can wash away my sin? 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:20.699 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:26.699 What can make me old again? 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:31.699 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:38.259 Oh, precious is the flow. 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:44.179 That makes me white as snow. 00:35:44.919 --> 00:35:50.000 No other fount I know. 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:55.419 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:35:56.699 --> 00:36:12.319 For my pardon this I see. 00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:17.619 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:21.619 For my pardon this I see.