Thursday, December 23, 2021

Pastor's Ponderings, December 23, 2021

Jesus Is Our Advocate When We Sin 

Nina Golgowski wrote an article in the December 20, 2021, Huffington Post about an official investigation into former president Donald Trump’s business practices. The article was entitled, Trump Sues New York Attorney General Over Business Investigation.  The article went on to say that “The former president's lawsuit accuses Letitia James (the New York Attorney General) of violating his constitutional rights.”  

 

Despite what we may feel about the former president’s tactics, this article reminds us that everyone will go before the eternal court of God the Father.  We have an advocate who can plead our case (1 John 2:1-2). The devil is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10b).  No matter how we protest our innocence, all of us have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).  

 

No one can say that they are more holy than someone else. The Bible says that all we have to do is to confess our sins and that God is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  We can come boldly into God’s throne and mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

 

While we may have different opinions about our former president’s using his constitutional rights in court, we can remember that all unrighteousness is sin including our own (1 John 5:17).  However, we can thank God that we don’t need to rely on legal maneuvering; all that we need is Jesus. He makes us righteous in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).  When we are disobedient, let us remember that we have an Advocate who will speak for us before God the Father.

 

Hebrews 4:16

New International Version

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

1 John 2:1-2

New International Version

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

Revelation 12:10b

New International Version

10…For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

 

Romans 3:23

New International Version

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

1 John 1:9

New International Version

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

1 John 5:17

New International Version

17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


 

 

 

 

 

 

No comments: