R sbc
June 3rd 2007
Sunday Morning
Series: “Christ Is The Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 120
Subject: THE DUAL OFFICE OF CHRIST
Text: 1 John 2-1-2
Intro: I love how the Apostle John greets his fellow Christians... “MY LITTLE CHILDREN”
He uses this one other time in this book. It is found in 1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
This approach is only used one other time in the BIBLE Paul used it.. Ga 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, No doubt it has to do with one’s relationship to another... in these cases it is spiritual.
In our text we have main offices mention and shown how they work. We will try to preach on them this morning.
I.. “ HE IS OUR ADVOCATE”..VS 1
Several things demand our attention in this one verse alone... never take for granite what is said is just a statement it is a volume of worthy information...
(1.) The use of the word: “ that ye sin not”
(2.) The fact stated: “ If any man sin”
Through out the bible we have plenty of witnesses that literally lay down the biblical fact that humans sin. Beginning with Adam and Eve and not long after that their son murders his brother. The ancient were filled with the difficulty of not sinning just as we are. Abraham sinned, David sinned, Saul sinned, Solomon Sinned... we join the long list of people that are charge and rightly son and found guilty...
(3.) We have an advocate:
a. Advocate what is it? “ It is a person who goes long side another”.
The greek word is paraclete this is the same term that Jesus used when he said of “THE HOLY SPIRIT.. Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; The word comforter is the same as advocate... stands by one goes along side one.
b. An Advocate stands up and a priest is seated:
Isaiah 3-13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
Another occasion we see the LORD moving from his position of sitting to standing: Ac 7: 55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
John Bunyan says in his sermon on Advocate the following and I quote him: “ By this office , he offers no sacrifice, by this office he obtains the conversion of none”. End of quote. By this office of the priest he obtained eternal redemption for us, and by the office of an Advocate he maintains the right of those whom he purchased redemption for has the right to based upon what he did.
c. An advocate must be qualified and have the ability to plead..
Notice he is “THE RIGHTEOUS” he is clear from any wrong, in himself he holy, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. One who is without fault, cannot be found guilty on any charge...
Isa 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
Two other times in this book he is said to be righteous... I John 2-29 and I John 3-7
II... “CHRIST IS OUR PROPITIATION”..VS 2
The many interpretations of this verse is astounding to say the least. The many schools of interpretation is the results of men not being able to look at the verses realistically. Some believe it to be the Apostles and the Jews only, some believed it be for all of the human race, some believe it to include fallen angles and the devil.. So what do I believe?
I believe it to be all for whom Christ died, both Jew and gentile, it is the same as in John 3-16. It is not for all men without exception, but with out distinction. Let me show what I mean using the term “whole world” ..1Jo 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. So it is classified here and also in our text. It is all the people of GOD...
1. The purpose of propitiation: Our sins
This word has to do with the work in which Christ satisfies the Father on our behalf. It is like the man in the Temple crying these words: Lu 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
a. He is said to be sent for that purpose:
Ro 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
B. He is said to be well accepted to do this:
At his baptism, it is said by his Father, this is my l beloved son in whom I am well pleased. When Elijah and Moses talked of his death in Jerusalem the Father spoke up and said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
The Son and the Son alone is the acceptance that we have with the Father, no one else, not one law, not one work, not one hope, not one blood sacrifice, not the prophets, nothing... but the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Once again Peter confirms it..2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
C. The Father tells Christ his intend and done it:
John 12–27-28 27 ¶ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
III... “THE GREAT BENEFITS FROM HIS WORK AS ADVOCATE AND PROPITIATION”
Many things could be said of both with regard to us his people... I will mention a few to encourage us with.
1st. There is the fact that we are never alone..
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. This is not just for the Apostle this is for all of God’s people. He meets with us, he anoints us, he loves us..... Christ came back in the person and work of The Holy Spirit of God. And he remains in us, by us, and many other such like things.
2nd. There is the fact that we are with him in heaven now:
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
3rd. That we will always have someone in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
4th. There is the fact that sinners have been saved and sinners can be saved until they die, or Christ comes...
This is the good news of the gospel. You can be saved today if you want to be, you can be saved to day if the LORD is calling you, you can be saved today if you trust Christ and him alone. You can be saved today if you will but surrender to him.
a. Come to Christ just as you are without one plea.
b. Come to Christ without delay, today is the day of salvation
c. Come to Christ sincerely, not hypocritically.
d, Come to Christ right where you sit now....