-

April 18, 2018 Wednesday

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” (1Jo 3:4-7 NKJV)



            This passage is like a prosecutor laying out the case before us to a Judge.

They have committed sin

Committing sin is lawlessness

To sin is to not have known God

To sin is to not have abided in God (And thus without God’s protection)

As sinners they have never seen or known God

They are therefore unrighteous and deceived

            But then Jesus, the defense Advocate, declares the court knows Jesus was “manifested” to take away our sin and indeed because of Him there is no sin and therefore no evidence!

            The Father declares us righteous and calls us to practice righteousness.  And then the prosecutor seeks to be the persecutor trying to weaken God’s redemption but only strengthens and grows God’s work!

            This court scene is held for each of us and through Jesus we are found innocent to live out God’s righteousness in the life we are given by and through Jesus.  As our redeemer Jesus has become our Advocate and has won our case already if we will only accept Him as our Advocate!

            Jesus does not win our case because we deserve to win because we in truth are guilty and deserve to be declared guilty and worthy of death!  Jesus wins our case by bearing our sin for us and taking away our guilt leaving the prosecution empty of evidence and proof.

            Our guilt and thus our fear are cleansed and wiped away unless we create them anew to bask in because it seems too good to be true that God could forgive us!  Then we are listening to the persecutor rather than our Advocate and Judge.

            Have you cried out for Jesus to be your Advocate to act against satan the prosecutor?  Have you believed and are living out God’s declaration that you are righteous because of the Righteousness of Jesus?  Or do you listen to the lies of the persecutor whispering that the grace of God is too good to be believed?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
April 3, 2018 Tuesday “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there , and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, an
Read more
-
September 3, 2017 Sunday             Even after a long Saturday I was able to go to Asbury and receive Communion and to worship my Lord and My Love.   We stayed for Sunday School and Peggy had a great lesson from Dr Kalas’ book Parables From the Backside Volume 2 .   A great class, a great teacher and a great book.               In the afternoon I tried to sleep but just was able to rest some.   VERY worn out by being so busy but it was good.   Bonnie remembers when we would visit Gramps, her grandfather; he would say that he would enjoy the memory of our visit for weeks.   Now I understand what he meant.   So many wonderful memories nourish me every day.
Read more
-
May 19, 2017 Looking back             As weeks turned to months the memories grew and even connected together.  A dark memory from my time in the Navy connected with a dark memory from my childhood.  Each one as I explained to my counselor and to Bonnie had a “ghost” with it.  A person who seemed to haunt my life.  Watching the news connected to a memory and suddenly I could smell, taste and see the memory and it became more real than my daily life.              At the same time I was growing weaker and the pain in the body was increasing.  There was a general weakness that began in my fingers and toes and moved upward more rapidly in my legs than arms.  The cramps became an agony and happened at least two times a night.  Lasting for about an hour each time I became more and more sleep deprived even with my C-Pap machine.             I contacted my Staff Pastor Parish Relations person and the District Superintendent to let them know about the trouble I was having as I was sl
Read more