2. Be Honest with Your Advocate

John 2:1-14
Advocate: “One who pleads another’s cause.” Christ Is our Advocate.

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3 this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.
10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

If you were to appoint an attorney to represent you in court, he would surely expect you to tell him the details of your case, and to relate them accurately. How could he represent you properly if you are not open and honest with him? John sees God as your Judge and Christ as your Advocate. And he is instructing you to be honest with your Advocate.

1. In the first place, you are not to sin.
2. But if you sin, you have an Advocate with the Father.
3. Your Advocate is interested in your case, and is well qualified to represent you. He is the propitiation for your sins (He died in your place in order to remove your sins and restore you to favor with God.)
4. You know Him because you keep His commandments.
5. Your advocate is just and is representing you well, but how honest have you been with Him? His light is shining on you; are you careful to walk in His light? Here is a test for you. (a) If you say you are living in the light and yet hate a brother, you have been in darkness until now. (b) The darkness has blinded you until you can’t see where you are going. (c) But if you love your brother, you abide in the light of your Advocate— a comfortable places to be as you stand before the Judge.
6. John tells why he is writing this letter. He reassures the “little children” (those who are new and inexperienced in the faith) that their sins are forgiven. He reminds the “fathers” that they have known their Advocate from the beginning. He encourages the “young men” to remain strong and continue overcoming the evil one.
7. If you keep Jesus’ commandments and walking in His light you are in good standing with God, but if you are only pretending to walk in the light and are not being honest with your Advocate, you are a liar who is still walking in the darkness. Don’t wait until you are called to judgment to obey your Savior; it will be too late then. Be honest with Him now, since He is your present Advocate before the Judge.