Hopeless without my Advocate!

by Steve Cornell

 

A truth that has become increasingly real and special to me is found in the New Testament letter titled First John. I am sure you’ll find immediate application because of the opening line. Here it is: “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). The goal of life was mentioned in the prior verse. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin” (I John 2:1). Another verse in the New Testament, describes the Christian life as a “struggle against sin” (Hebrews 12:4).

 

For many people, sin is an unclear and undesirable subject. Yet we all recognize that we do wrong things for which we feel guilty. If sin is understood as an offense against another, we all sin. Therefore, the need for forgiveness is real to all honest people. Some, of course, limit this to a horizontal experience. Human forgiveness is all they trouble over. But, deep inside, I believe most people feel a need for forgiveness that is greater than human forgiveness. If we were created to be in a reconciled relationship with our Creator, we need His forgiveness when we sin against Him. And, I suggest that sin is more than violation of the Creator’s Law. It is equally offense against the Creator on a personal level. My confession of each sin could always be started with the admission, “I have sinned against you, my Creator.” Jesus pictured the prodigal son saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son (Luke 15:21). Sin is always a relational issue.

 

This takes me back to my opening reflection.  “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). Another translation renders it, “…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father…” (NASB). The New Living Translation opens up the meaning further with the rendering, “if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (I John 2:1). And the next verse is crucial to the matter: “He (Jesus Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).

 

The idea of an atoning sacrifice for sin (or, as older translations say, “propitiation”) is common to religion. But there is a major difference between the Christian understanding and all the other religious concepts of it. In religion, the sinner brings something to offer to the deity hoping to pacify the angry god/s. In Christianity, God’s righteous anger toward our willful rebellion and sin is withdrawn from us because the punishment it deserves has been placed on our willing Savior, Jesus Christ (See: John 10:17-18). In this way, the satisfaction of the wrath of God toward sin has been accomplished by the love of God through the gift of God. From our end, the hymn writer paints the right picture, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” God is both the propitiator and the propitiated.

 

As I walk with God in this life, I have an increased awareness that I would be doomed if I did not have an advocate with God the Father. I would like to say that I don’t sin anymore but the truth is the more I learn about God and His will, the more I realize that I do not measure up to His glorious being and purpose. Yes, I desperately need the one who pleads our case before the Father. And, with profound gratitude, I know that God has provided for my need. And, not for mine only, but for the whole world! Reflecting on this truth, the apostle broke out in a line of praise:

 

“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ (II Corinthians 5:18-21, NLT).

 

This draws me to three passages from the New Testament book of Hebrews. Let these truths settle deep within your heart. Here you’ll find peace that passes human understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Jesus.

 

“Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself (Hebrews 7:26-27).

 

“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:24-28).

 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,^[e] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

 

Closing with a great hymn seems appropriate. Reflect on these words, or hit the link below and sing it!

 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill the law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let me hide myself in Thee.

 

http://x.imeem.com/zUilvW_RhA

 

 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Dying Well

I believe in the dignity of humanity. Made from the dust of the earth in the image and likeness of God, humans are the crowning work of the Creator. Yet we are a fallen race. This means that along with our dignity we must acknowledge our depravity. It shouldn’t be too hard to make this dual confession. Side by side in our history, we find human examples of great acts of kindness and heroism and horrific acts of hatred, violence and destruction. Clearly, we have fallen from our dignity by rejecting the rule of our Creator. Our dignity has been deeply marred. Because of this simple yet tragic fact, “From dust we have come and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19). Yes, “Death is the destiny of every person and the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, influential or unknown, educated or uneducated, religious or heathen—each one of us will draw our last breath and die.  

Over the past fifty years in our nation, we have created a culture more significantly insulated from death than previous generations. We’ve moved aging and dying out of our homes into hospitals and convalescent homes. Suffering and death is more often something we visit rather than something we live with daily. In previous generation, aging parents were brought to the homes of their children to finish their days on earth. This came with hardships, discomforts and sacrifices but it also yielded an important education in what earlier generations called, “The art of dying well.”  

Before taking matters too far, we should pause and acknowledge several truths about death and life.

1.     Death is an enemy and a thief –not a welcomed friend.

2.     Death reminds us of our sin and the curse

3.     Death separates us from our loved ones

4.     Death is an occasion for grief and sorrow.

5.     Life is precious as made in the image and likeness of God.

6.     Life should be protected.

7.     Life must be valued and promoted over death 

Yet, with these important acknowledgements in place, life in our temporal, physical bodies is not ultimate and should not be elevated above matters of eternal consequence. Jesus stated this plainly in Luke 12:4-5:

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

One has well stated that, “Believers are not to cling to the trappings of this life till the very end. Rather we should slowly lose our grip on this world as our affections are gradually transferred to the next. This must start early in our Christian lives. It is imperative that, as maturing Christians, we begin early the process of dying. We must no longer fear death; we must see it as a defeated enemy. We must begin to relinquish the material values of this life and to focus increasingly on the life of eternity that God has prepared for us. It is with these perspectives that we will be prepared to face the latter days of our lives.”

“He who fears death or is not willing to die,” wrote Luther,  “is not sufficiently Christian. As yet such people lack faith in the resurrection, and love this life more than the life to come” (quoted in A Commentary to the Epistle to the Hebrews by P. E. Hughes, [Grand Rapids, 1977: Eerdmans] 114).

Think of how Jesus faced death with majestic calmness and selfless focus as he hung on that brutal instrument of torture. His followers ran for fear of their lives. The soldiers mocked him and divided his garments. The religious leaders could only express their outraged over the sign on Jesus’ cross. The crowd ridiculed Jesus and shook their heads in disgust. While this was happening, what did Jesus do? He committed no sin and never uttered a deceitful word. Though repeatedly insulted, he did not retaliate. Though he suffered so greatly, he uttered no threats. Instead, He “kept entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (I Peter 2:23). In the garden of Gethsemane, after loud crying and tears to the one who was able to save him from death (Hebrews 5:7), he embraced that Father’s will to be our sin offering. As he hung on the cross dying, Jesus was prayed for his abusers (Father Forgive them), tended to his mother, ministered to a criminal and accomplished our salvation.  

When the appointed time had come for him to die, no man took his life from him he laid it down by himself (John 10:18). Jesus called out with a loud voice: “Father into your hands I commit my spirit”. Then he breathed his last breath and died. What dignity!

But the story didn’t end with death because, “God raised him up putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24).

Because Jesus broke the power of death, those who trust him as their Savior should have a radically different view of death. This is where the Scripture offers unparalleled perspective, comfort and hope. If you have come to Jesus and trusted him as Savior, he wants you to be clear that “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). Those who come to Christ have been given to him by God the Father and Jesus said, “I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39-40). Jesus was unequivocally clear when he said, “…because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).Those who belong to Jesus should adopt the perspective described in Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” The reason we have this understanding of living and dying is that, “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep (i.e. alive or dead), we may live together with him” (I Thessalonians 5:10). Yes, “…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). If you trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, remember his words, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).Jesus gave direct orders when he said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Consider some of the features of the place awaiting us: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).In view of these words of hope, we join the apostle in confessing that, “…we are of good courage…and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8). Even while we serve Christ in this life, we live with tension because at a deeper level, we join the apostle in confessing that, “…we prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8).We realize that ”…to depart and be with Christ, …is very much better (Philippians 1:23). Although death itself is not desired, the destiny awaiting those who belong to Jesus should be strongly desired. This is why the apostle can write, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). We cannot live or die well unless we take ownership of these words. This must become our life purpose statement: “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Steve Cornell