by
Lloyd T. Anderson • Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church West Covina, Calif.
STUDIES IN 1JOHN
“ ■F WE SAY that we have not sinned I we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1:10). It may seem strange that any should deny such a self-evident fact, but so it is. Not withstanding that God’s Word has made it plain beyond the slightest shadow of a doubt that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and that “death passed upon all men, for that all sinned” (Rom. 5:12) yet there are to be found those who deny it by using subtle arguments which are the products of a conscience which re fuses to be silenced. Shedd states: “But John is aware that the believer does betimes sin and that such sin has baneful effects up on his spiritual life. He, therefore, in chapter 2:1-3 deals with this par ticular aspect of the matter. It should b^ remarked here that chapter 1, be ing addressed to no one in particu lar, is addressed to all in general. It may be read by believer and un believer alike and its terms apply to them all.” I t specially has in view those who make some sort of profes sion, but from chapter 2 verse 1 John limits himself to the family whom he addresses as “My little children.” It is a diminutive of endearment, ap plicable to all the family. He uses the term seven times in this letter (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7; 18:4, 4; 5:21). He writes here: “My little chil dren, 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. And He is the propitiation for our
sins, and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (2:1, 2 ) . John alone of all the New Testa ment writers uses the noun Para clete. Others use the verb. Paraclete means one who is called to another’s side in order to render aid in a diffi cult situation. It designates such as we call Solicitors, Counsel, or Advo cates. Their work is to handle our case before a higher authority with the view of securing a decision in our favour. The word is used by the Lord Jesus in relation to the Holy Spirit whom He calls “another comforter” (John 14:16, 26). The idea in the English translation “Comforter” is that He strengthens, helps and “forti fies” those in whom He dwells. Thus the believer has two Advocates, one on earth and one in heaven. Two persons of the Godhead are thus en gaged on his behalf: the Spirit on earth and Christ in heaven. The advocacy of Christ in heaven has to do with the family of God and not with the sinner. His mediatorship is for the sinner. His priesthood is for the pilgrim. His Headship is of the body. It is important that these distinctions should be kept clear in our minds. Christ is an Advocate “with the Father.” He is not said to be an Advocate with God. The object of this advocacy is not to bring chil dren into the family but to maintain those already in, in harmonious re lationship with their Father. The di vine relation of life can never be destroyed but its enjoyment may be 29
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