Back in 2013 one of my friends sent this thought to me from Henry T. Mahan. It has blessed me so many times in the succeeding years that I thought I should share it with you all.
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."1Jn.2:1
This scripture recognizes our frail, sinful human nature. A believer does not love sin, does not excuse or justify sin, but grieves over sin and desires to be without sin. Yet he owns and confesses his sin!
As Spurgeon once said, "Sin is my name, sin is my nature, and to deny is to deny the Word, deceive myself and call God a liar. My old nature is such that I will sin until I die, for sin pollutes the best things I do."
This scripture encourages the believer to trust and hope in the mercy of God AT ALL TIMES! It does not say, "If any man is holy, prayerful, and almost faithful, has an advocate;" but IF ANY MAN SINS, he has an ADVOCATE with the Father. It does not say, "If any man sins he forfeits his right to Christ's advocacy." Grace that can be forfeited because of human failure is not GRACE at all. Mercy that is conditioned upon the merit of the creature is not mercy at all. If my title to glory rests upon my works, either BEFORE OR AFTER conversion, it is a total failure.
This scripture declares that at all times, under all conditions, Jesus Christ is our righteousness, our sanctification, our advocate and our redemption. So when I sin, when I consider my past or present, and come creeping to my closet with a guilty conscience and an aching heart, I can rejoice in the mercy of my Father; for I have an ADVOCATE, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS!
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