It is a Choice

 

1 John 2:1-2

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” 

This seems to be a general letter to the church at large, and it is a letter that any Christian would find encouragement in while reading it, when we sin, and John used these words “But if anyone does sin” John made it sound like it was possible to sin but it was not the norm, and yet in the church today people often refer to themselves as dirty rotten sinners, that is a long way from “But if anyone does sin!”  John was aware that Christians could be deceived and enticed into sinning, but he also understood that such action was always a choice. 

So the apostle John tells us that when we choose to sin we have an advocate with the Father, and He is Jesus Christ.  When we sin, Jesus intercedes on our behalf before His Father.  I believe it goes something like this; Father, you know Bob, in fact you know all about him, well today he tuned in to channel 1 and for a short while he forgot whose he is and he acted on the message that was designed to entice him into sinning.  Father, Bob is back in channel two, and he has acknowledged that he sinned and has asked me to forgive him.  Father, Bob still has not grasp the fullness of the victory that happened to him in that hotel room in Victoria, Texas.  However, my divine power has granted to Bob all things that pertain to life and godliness, and the more he understands the promises I have made to him, the more he will walk in victory.  Father, Bob has an understanding that my blood was required to cover his sin, and that the life he now lives, he lives by my power.  But often he seems to listen to channel one and in doing that he often is enticed into sinning. 

He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  Often it is important to checkout the definition of a word like propitiation, why, because it is not a word we use in conversation. Propitiation is accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross in his crucifixion or sacrifice. He is believed to have fulfilled the wrath and indignation of God. The crucifixion or sacrifice of Christ conciliates God, who would otherwise be offended by human sin and would demand penalty for it. The concept of propitiation is associated in some Christian theological systems with indemnity, imputed, righteousness, and atonement.  (Wikipedia Dictionary)

I’m a bottom line guy, this is my take; God took his full wrath out on His Son, wrath that I deserved, but it was imputed on Jesus, Jesus atoned, made full payment for sin. So if you sin, you have an advocate, John calls him Jesus Christ the righteous.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice