1 John 2:1, commentary and pictures

John calls believers his little children, God's own by creation and redemption, urging them not to sin but to stand on the solid rock of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. If anyone sins, Jesus Christ the righteous stands as the sole Advocate, Mediator, High Priest and Intercessor with the Father, with no need of any human priest, saint or mediator. He is fitted to plead because divine and human natures meet in Him, the Son of God and Son of man who took fallen human nature without its taint, was tempted in all points yet without sin, and gave His pierced hands, bruised body and spotless life as the propitiation not for believers only but for the sins of the whole world. Pardon and cleansing are received by sincere repentance toward God for transgressing His law and by confessing and forsaking sin in faith in Christ alone, when God is faithful and just to forgive, take guilt to Himself, blot out transgression and clothe the sinner in Christ's righteousness. If through temptation one is surprised into sin, Jesus does not turn away or leave that soul to perish but sympathizes, pleads His own merits and blood against Satan's accusations, and forgives the sorry who ask.

Address and Context

The address as little children belongs to believers as God's own by creation and redemption, embracing the learned and the honored and gray-haired men and women, and its aim is that they sin not. The call resists sin and turns from it, yet provides that when anyone sins Jesus Christ the righteous serves as Advocate with the Father, whose advocacy and cleansing blood ground hope, justification by faith, and the putting away of sin rather than grieving Him. No one may claim to be without sin, and the saving principles of Christ are to be made known to the whole world by faithful stewards of His grace. The same aim summons a brother to leave unsettledness for the solid rock of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus.

John wrote as an old man nearly one hundred years old, giving a firm decided stirring testimony that aged workers are not useless but reveal Christ's life in their own lives. He steadfastly maintained faith and repeated over and over the story of the crucified and risen Saviour. His purpose was to keep young believers from losing hold on Christ under persecution and to bring them into fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

The verse continues the message of 1 John 1 and is to be read with it to gain true understanding of what Christ teaches. That message is that God is light and in Him is no darkness, that walking in the light brings fellowship one with another and cleansing from all sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that confession brings forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness. It is to be read with singleness of purpose, with the wisdom that comes from Christ who is sanctification and righteousness, with walking in knowledge of the truth and partaking of the divine nature, and with walking humbly with God without crowding the mind with many things. It harmonizes with speaking truth in love and growing up into Christ the Head with the whole body joined and edified in love, means much for those living in the last days, and belongs with remembering first love, repenting, and doing the first works.

Knowing Him is proved by keeping His commandments, and to say one knows Him while not keeping His commandments makes a liar with no truth in him. Whoever keeps His word has the love of God perfected in him and is shown to be in Him, and whoever says he abides in Him must walk even as He walked in full obedience. These marks plainly depict true conversion and membership in the Lord's family, and experimental knowledge of Christ and communion with Him as Redeemer and friend produces true obedience with fervent love for God and people in pity, tenderness and compassion. A harsh, dictatorial, ungentlemanly spirit toward brethren proves control by Satan and the presence of the fallen foe rather than Christ, brings wicked charges against Christ in the person of His blood-bought saints which God never endorses, and shows learning in Adam's school of disobedience rather than yoked learning in the Master's school, since the love of God always produces the fruits of His Spirit.

The commandment meant is no new commandment but the old commandment heard from the beginning, with no change in the law from the beginning, the same as before the fall of Satan and as obeyed in the heavenly courts by the angelic family when earth's foundations were laid. It is both old and new and true in Him and in believers because darkness is passing and the true light now shines. Loving a brother is remaining in the light and abiding there with no cause or occasion of stumbling, while hating a brother leaves one in darkness even until now, walking blindly in darkness without knowing where one goes because darkness has blinded the eyes.

Advocate's Identity and Nature

When anyone sins, Jesus Christ the righteous stands as the believer's sole Advocate, Mediator, High Priest and Intercessor with the Father for sinners, for believers, for humanity and for the church, and He is the only sacrifice that can atone. No human virtue, priest, saint or mediator is needed, and prayer and confession are to be made to Him alone, while His call remains that they sin not. His advocacy gives the sinner no reason to abandon hope or to conclude obedience impossible, for by God's name and strength believers can keep His commandments, put away sins rather than grieve Him, be justified by faith, and have His blood cleanse from sin, since no one can claim to be without sin. This charge to make known saving principles to the whole world and to be faithful stewards of His grace rests on that call to avoid sin joined to the provision of His advocacy.

He is also the only Judge and Redeemer-Judge, so no person is placed on the judgment seat to pronounce sentence against the brethren, and individually taking heed for truth as it is in Jesus abiding in the heart keeps believers from judging one another. His people answer to God and not to human rulers, for as Priest He atoned for His people's sins by shedding His blood. The One who seeks to win people from sin to holiness will also judge them, and because He took human nature with all its infirmities, died for sinners, experienced human suffering and temptation, overcame Satan's temptations and gave His blood to save, He understands human frailty and will judge with justice and tenderness. As Redeemer He died to make cleansing from sin possible, and before Him as Judge people are accountable.

He is fitted to plead because divine and human natures meet in Him, providing the ground for reconciliation with God, and He pleads for sinners bearing the marks of His crucifixion. As Son of God and Son of man, Creator and creature, He humbled Himself, took fallen human nature without its taint, was made like His brethren, became poor so fallen helpless people may receive an immortal inheritance and become heirs of God and joint heirs with Him. He experienced human weakness, sorrow and temptation in all points yet without sin, kept untainted from manger to cross, overcame on their behalf and bore sin's shame, guilt and burden, so as representative and intercessor He sympathizes with every person and knows how to help those who are tempted. His sinless life prepared the way for people to come to God, through Him the entrance into the holiest is made manifest, and to those who receive Him as Saviour He gives power to become sons and daughters of God. Complete humanity joins Him to sinners and perfect divinity to the Infinite throne, and retaining humanity after ascension at the head of humanity forever, He now in heaven intercedes for them, which gives comfort and hope and calls them to entrust themselves to Him.

He is the propitiation for sins, not for believers only but for the sins of the whole world, making satisfaction for sins. This reveals the Father's measureless love like a bottomless ocean, showing God's aim that His little children sin not yet providing an Advocate if any man sin. Knowing Him is proved by keeping His commandments, claiming to know Him without keeping them makes a liar with no truth in him, keeping His word perfects God's love and shows being in Him, and abiding in Him requires walking as He walked in pity, tenderness and compassion.

God's provision for sinners is without limit, and the throne of grace is the highest attraction because God occupies it as a Father whom sinners may call Father, and because God did not leave salvation with love alone but placed at His altar an Advocate clothed in human nature. The sin of Adam and Eve caused fearful separation between God and man, and Jesus steps in between fallen man and God as Mediator and great High Priest pleading on man's behalf, announcing a devised plan through which God can be reconciled to man and man to God, so man may come to the Father, present his case through Jesus Christ, and find his case not hopeless if he sins. His advocacy belongs with His incarnation, divinity and atonement as vital truths of Christianity, and His life in heaven is the work of advocacy with the Father. By His incarnation, life, death and mediation the Father is satisfied and glorified, receives Christ's friends as His own, welcomes them as friends because of infinite love for Christ, takes the penitent person's case as His own and presents the appeal for pardon. He intercedes for those who receive Him, introduces them to God as His sons and daughters, pays their ransom with His own blood, and by His merits gives them power to become members of God's royal family, children of the heavenly King, as surety and witness that God is true.

Jesus is the one Advocate with the Father for all mankind and all peoples, presenting His merits before the Father for all, making no difference because of skin color and respecting no person above another. He understands all circumstances, and it is the privilege of every soul to take hold of the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour.

Ground and Work of Advocacy

His advocacy rests on His sacrificial death and His spotless, victorious life, by which He answered the claims of the law and became a perfect offering that reunites fallen humanity with God and opens the way of salvation. His plea is His pierced and broken body, His wounded hands and pierced palms, His pierced side, His bruised body and marred feet, by which redemption was purchased at infinite cost. He is fitted for this work because He bore human griefs and sorrows, was tempted in all points as humans are yet without sin, suffered humiliation, rejection, crucifixion, prayed for His persecutors, rose and ascended, and lives in unending death to sin and life to God that makes Calvary last forever. As Advocate He points to the palms pierced by wicked men and declares His people graven there, the Father bows in recognition of the price paid, angels approach the cross with reverence, and the sacrifice remains so unfathomable that it will take all eternity to understand line upon line.

After completing the offering of Himself without the gate He now serves as Priest and Advocate in heaven, in the holy place and most holy place within the veil, seated with the Father before the kingdom of glory begins and before He receives the throne of David when His mediatorial work ends. The risen and ascended Christ visibly ascended in meekness and quietness as sympathizing Friend and glorified Redeemer to occupy His Father's throne, where He carries forward the atonement begun on earth, which is cause for rejoicing and belongs to justification by faith. His death opened a new and living way for both Jew and Gentile to come to God, so that from that time the blood of beasts offered for sin became valueless. As the only Sin-bearer and only Sin-offering who entered once for all into the holy place He needs no man's virtue and no man's intercession, prayer and confession are to be offered only to Him, He saves to the uttermost all who come in faith because He ever lives to make intercession, and this leaves no place for propitiatory sacrifices, masses for the dead, intercession of saints, or priests and rulers interposing between Christ and souls, while believers stand like Israel in the outer court waiting for the blessed hope of His glorious appearing, for that same Saviour who is Advocate will come again. This ministry is closely connected with the Holy Spirit, is not understood by natural study but is seen when the Spirit renews, and is to be preached so that the crucifixion stays vivid, as it was preached with power after Pentecost when the disciples understood His life, rejection, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and promised return.

He does not treat any case with indifference but personally attends to each one like a shepherd seeking a strayed sheep, caring for each soul with mercy and compassion to bring the sinner back. He represents His people in the heavenly courts, presents petitions asked in His name, sees their need in discouragement and distress and comes to their aid when human support fails. Their sincere contrite prayers are joined with His intercession, His righteousness and merits alone avail to remove sin's stain and are placed as sweet incense with prayers in the golden censer at the incense altar, and the Father hears and answers with forgiveness, pardon, rest, mercy, grace and truth. By this mediation as Mediator and great High Priest He makes it possible to approach God, saves completely those who come to Him, secures what is needed to endure trials and resist temptation, cleanses by His blood, justifies by faith, and calls sinners to put away sins rather than grieve Him, for no one can claim to be without sin and yet no sin makes the case hopeless.

He pleads for His people while Satan accuses them of sins that are real, and human beings cannot answer those charges, for His defense rests not on their merits but on His own merits, righteousness, blood and perfect obedience. Lifting His wounded hands He presents them as His defense, claims them as the purchase of His blood, as brands plucked from the burning graven upon His palms, and asks that they be accepted despite defects and unlikeness to Him. For guilty people standing in sin-stained garments, confessing guilt and unable in their own strength to meet Satan's charges, who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him, He pleads their cause by the mighty arguments of Calvary and by His perfect obedience which has given Him all power in heaven and earth, vanquishes the accuser with The Lord rebuke thee, declares grace sufficient, assures them their iniquity is caused to pass and they are clothed with change of raiment, and invites the weary to His easy yoke. Though sin draws people away because His presence exposes guilt, and though He has been abused by ingratitude, He remains Advocate for followers who have sinned but have not given themselves to control of evil when they put away sins and seek the Lord in humility and contrition, knowing both their sin and their repentance, and in days of peril this intercession is their security as He leads all willing to be led upward step by step where the clear light shines.

While He is Advocate in the heavenly courts the Holy Spirit is intercessor in the court of conscience, pleading within believers, guiding, teaching, reminding and comforting, sent in Christ's name to represent Christ and to give the spiritual power needed to overcome enemies. Christ acts as Advocate through the Holy Spirit, pleading before the Father the power and efficacy of His Word, as He prayed for Peter, and the same prayer He offered for Peter He offers for all humble and contrite hearts, remembering the fallen after denial. Even when mortal believers make mistakes and err in human blindness they are not left alone, for all heaven is in sympathy, Jesus bears them upon His heart, and this proves the interest of Father, Son and Holy Spirit for every believing soul and gives reason to cherish faith in discouragement. He is at once pleading before His Father's throne in behalf of sinners and pleading with the sinner to turn and live, following up His great atonement by the work of the Holy Spirit on every heart, winning men from deception after God gave Himself and became poor that men through His poverty might be made rich, forming new habits and holding powerful propensities in check under a conquering Leader unto certain victory, with the bow of mercy still arching the throne in testimony that mercy and justice are blended and every believer shall have everlasting life. The Advocate is distinct from the Holy Spirit who as Comforter personifies Christ, who humbled Himself to take fallen human nature without its taint, passed as second Adam over the ground where Adam fell, met the foe who caused the fall and overcame every temptation on man's behalf, so the wearied are to look to Him, every human being is to be loved for His sake, and no human is to be looked to as supreme in counsel and unerring in wisdom.

After going to the Father His connection with the Father continues, and from heaven He still does the work of salvation as Jesus Christ the righteous for those who cast their helpless souls upon Him as Saviour and Redeemer. Simple faith that takes God at His word, claims His Word and walks in the light given receives His working, so that those for whom He gave His life become partakers of the divine nature.

Forgiveness Through Repentance and Faith

Forgiveness and cleansing come when sin is confessed and forsaken with contrite, heartfelt confession and sincere repentance toward God for transgressing His law, in thorough conversion and partaking of the divine nature, for God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse when the sinner sees sin in God's light. No painful penances or long pilgrimages are required, but the one who confesses and forsakes receives mercy, and the one who repents and asks for prayer for restoration to health must make confession in order to receive blessing. Every sin is an offense against God and is to be confessed to Him through Christ, with sin of a private character confessed to Christ as the only Mediator between God and man, not disclosed to another person unless the Holy Spirit specially leads, while open sins are confessed openly and wrongs against others are made right with those harmed. Christ does not exploit or shame those who make humiliating confessions to Him, and He pardons individually the moment forgiveness is asked in living faith believing He is fully able, His mercy being full with nothing wanting, a perfect chain with no flaw and no missing link, faithful to promise and just to His own law while justifying all who believe, delighting in mercy. Thousands fail by not really believing Jesus pardons them personally and not taking God at His word, yet confidence may rest on God's word and Christ's work and not on feelings, personal goodness or good works, trusting that Christ has taken away sins and credited His righteousness, and this broad truth of precious redemption should be brought more fully into life.

Every person may come directly to God with full assurance of faith through Christ alone, seeking Him with the heart and not turning to any human being, priest or pope. Remission of sins comes only through the merits of Christ, forgiveness rests on God alone, and no human being can take away sin, for Christ alone can receive, strengthen and comfort the helpless soul. Those carrying anxiety and sorrow can come to God in prayer through Him, entrust burdens to Him, and leave them there rather than taking them back into anxious worry, asking individually and believing that He who gave His life will hear all who draw near with full assurance. This is the gospel message to be announced to sinners, giving encouragement that sins remitted are freely available and that Christians stand free, joined to propitiation for the sins of believers and of the whole world.

Repentance is God's gift and comes before pardon, and through sincere repentance toward God for breaking His law and faith in Christ as Redeemer, substitute, surety, atoning Sacrifice and Advocate the repentant receives pardon, peace, washing and clothing in His righteousness. The law exposes and condemns sin but cannot pardon, cleanse or save the sinner, so salvation comes not through the law's power but through Christ pleading for the sinner and paying the penalty incurred through disobedience, His death being the only ground of pardon. Although God's law cannot save those who break it, Christ's grace frees from condemnation under the broken law so the pardoned can then obey it, relying on Him rather than on own works or righteousness, with self-abasement and cross-bearing part of the provision. Sin gives cause for accusation and doubt, yet hope and access rest not on personal merit but on Jesus the righteous Redeemer, whose sacrifice bears sin and whose mediation makes pardon, peace and righteousness possible, His blood restoring the sin-stricken soul and making petitions acceptable, while the cross reveals both justice against evil and love leading to repentance.

Through repentance and faith He takes guilt upon His own soul, causes iniquity to pass by transferring it to Himself, blots out transgressions, forgives and imputes His righteousness and character. The law of God remains holy, just and good, like a mirror that points out defects of character and shows sin and condemnation like an unclean face, but it offers no pardon, cannot save from sin, cleanse, or take defilement away, and sinners cannot answer its charge themselves. Coming to Him with contrition seeking pardon gives the character of Jesus, for His cleansing blood takes away sins, justifies before God, frees from sin and gives power to render obedience, exalting the law as detector of sin rather than doing it away, since redemption was made so man might be a doer of that law. By faith sinners may accept Christ as personal Saviour and Surety and receive pardon through Him as substitute bearing condemnation, standing blameless with filthy garments of sin and shame removed and clothed in His robe, accepted in the Beloved with God's image renewed, for He saves from sins not in them. Through infinite mercy and justice meeting in Him, faults, errors and transgressions are forgiven instead of punished in wrath, pardon is written against the name, His merit is presented as propitiation, He intercedes and introduces those who receive Him as sons and daughters of the royal family with power to become members by the ransom of His blood and the atonement of His incarnation, life and death, which is reason to glorify God and not expose a child of God to the enemy's darts or give enemies advantage from mistakes.

He stands as Advocate and propitiation for every repentant person who receives Him regardless of weakness or the number and greatness of transgressions, sufficient for every conflict and able to take away sin. This gives hope of forgiveness and acceptance to one who fears unfaithfulness has put him beyond favor, to the fearful, the fallen, those surprised into sin, and those whose past life has been displeasing, for He still lives to make intercession pleading His own blood, and His sufficient grace subdues sin and drives away spiritual darkness when sin gains power and guilt burdens conscience. The penitent depends on His advocacy, grace and righteousness for help, progress, forgiveness and cleansing, since without divine help a sinner cannot escape sin's power, while true conversion makes sin hateful and transforms character, and growing knowledge of Christ reveals weakness and need. God does not leave His people even when they err nor turn from them in wrath for any light thing, but His love remains toward them to receive them in loving arms if they come believing, and Jesus who gave His life will not turn away or forsake the sinner unless willfully and determinedly forsaken to serve the world and Satan. He loves to have hopeless and helpless sinners come just as they are, cast themselves on abundant mercy and believe they are received and saved, keeping their name on His breastplate as He pleads before the Father while angels minister, hover and drive back evil angels lest they utterly destroy, calling the desponding away from the dark side and wrath to abundant mercy and willingness to save, to break doubt's spell and cry in living faith, I will, I do believe.

Law Sin and Obedience

Sin is the breaking of God's law, and the call not to sin means keeping all of that law. That law remains holy and just and good, a transcript of Christ's character whose glory is reflected in it, and it works like a mirror that points out defects of character. It shows sin and condemns the sinner, with death as the penalty even for the least transgression, but it offers no pardon and has no power to cleanse, save, or take defilement away. The sinner must therefore come to Jesus Christ the righteous as Advocate with the Father, who takes guilt upon Himself, imputes His righteousness, justifies before God, and gives power to render obedience to God's will. Saving the transgressor in this way does not do away with the law but exalts it, for redemption exalts the law as the detector of sin and Christ's great sacrifice was made so that man might be a doer of that law. By beholding Him the soul is changed into His image of righteousness and purity, partaking of the divine nature and growing in conformity to God's will.

The verse gives no safety to disobedience and no excuse for sin, but joins forgiveness through the Advocate to the necessity of keeping the commandments. Continuing in sin brings condemnation, so every provision of grace is given that sin may appear hateful and be ceased in Christ's strength. Sin is none the less heinous because others claiming to follow Jesus have done the same. Knowing Him is proved by keeping His commandments, and to claim to know Him while not keeping them is to lie with no truth within, while keeping His word perfects the love of God in the keeper and shows abiding in Him, which requires walking just as He walked. Even defenders of the law still sin and must not claim to be without sin, and those who attack commandment-keeping people for taking the Word just as it reads twist Scripture to excuse their own disobedience and war against the law as a yoke of bondage instead of acknowledging, repenting, and confessing.

God's purpose that His children sin not makes obedience to the law the condition of salvation, meaning full obedience to all the commandments, not merely admitting they are of God. This is possible for human beings under the Abrahamic covenant of grace, in God's name and strength, so His commandments are not grievous but happy to do. Christ did not abolish the law by giving His life to redeem the race; He died as victim for transgressions because the law could not be abolished, and His death proves the law immutable. No one with light on what keeping the commandments comprehends will be saved in transgression of them, but faithful commandment-keepers who love God, take Him at His word by faith, and hold fast their profession have a clear title to mansions, the immortal inheritance, and the everlasting kingdom.

Satan first tempts to yield and sin and then tells the sinner it is no use trying to keep God's commandments and he might as well be an open transgressor, and to cease trying is exactly what Satan wants. If anyone sins, even when taken unawares, he must not give up hope in Christ, stop praying, conclude obedience impossible, or stop trying as useless, for that places him wholly on Satan's ground. Instead he should in contrition confess to Jesus Christ the righteous alone, stop defending wrongdoing, recognize the need to change, seek the Lord humbly and more earnestly, and begin again. Overcoming is possible through the merits of Jesus Christ, who conquered and bore the test on humanity's behalf, in whose strength each person is to strive to do God's will, with the Advocate's grace giving strength to obey in humble rejoicing.

Judgment Atonement and Return

Jesus Christ the righteous now stands before the Father pleading as Intercessor and Advocate in the great Day of Atonement in the sanctuary above. It is court week with court in session and a case pending for every sinner, and when He takes up the case the suit is presented to the Father and is indeed gained. He stands there as Representative at the altar of incense with the golden censer, with His long human arm encircling fallen humanity while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite, joining God and man. He is the Propitiation for the sins of every repentant one who receives Him and believes on His name, answering prayer with forgiveness of transgressions, pardon of sins, and rest, and pouring mercy and grace and truth into the soul so the sinner is accepted in the Beloved. He pleads before His Father's throne in behalf of sinners and at the same time pleads with the sinner to turn and live, following up His great work of atonement by the work of the Holy Spirit on every heart as a risen Saviour ever living to make intercession.

The present time of His advocacy is the day of grace and granted probationary time, to be used to overcome sin and make thorough work for eternity. Freedom from slavery to sin comes by turning from Satan's attractions and looking to Jesus long enough to see and understand His love, forming new habits and holding powerful propensities for evil in check under a conquering Leader who guides on to certain victory. He is not to be met with garments of self-righteousness but with daily humbling before God, confession of individual sins, seeking pardon for transgressions, and cooperating with Christ in preparing the soul to reflect the divine image. By faith believers must enter the sanctuary above and unite with Christ in working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, for those who do not will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and pronounced wanting. Confession and humbling of soul are the only position of safety and hope, with sins confessed to go beforehand to judgment and be blotted out rather than hidden and made public to the universe. Unless they overcome while they have this Advocate and become thoroughly converted, overcome selfish character, and become partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption of the world through lust, they will never possess the heavenly treasure or dwell with the self-sacrificing Son of God, but by trying to save their lives here will lose their lives eternally.

His advocacy gives sinners who forfeited life by Adam's fall another opportunity to keep God's commandments and live, for God has done everything possible through Christ to win men from deception, giving Himself and becoming poor so that men through His poverty might be made rich. No matter how poor the sinner, how many difficulties surround him, or how great his infirmities, the compassionate Saviour accepts him, for He loves every member of the human race because He bought them all with the price of His self-sacrificing life and humiliating death as their Redeemer, laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown and clothing divinity with humanity. His love is so great He would have given His life as a ransom if only one person could have been saved. The bow of mercy still arches the throne of God, testifying that every soul who believes in Christ as personal Saviour shall have everlasting life, for mercy and justice are blended in God's dealing with His heritage. He is the propitiation for sins, not for believers only but also for the sins of the whole world, and knowing Him is proved by keeping His commandments, while he who says he knows Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.

In the investigative judgment the record is examined, and sins must be confessed now so they will go beforehand to judgment and be blotted out when the times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. He understands each person's temptations, trials, and weaknesses, and pleads for the self-distrustful, God-fearing penitent, confessing that person before the Father and the holy angels. He appears before God on behalf of the righteous dead, who are not present in person when their records are examined and their cases decided, and He examines the cases of believers from every generation, including the living. Those who truly repent and by faith claim Christ's blood as their atoning sacrifice receive pardon recorded in heaven, and in the judgment's closing work their sins are blotted out and they are accounted worthy of eternal life. His advocacy does not excuse unrepented sin, for unrepented wicked deeds bring condemnation, but the penitent whom Jesus claims as His own is not blotted from the book of life, and their sins are remembered no more.

While He remains Advocate the judgment of the righteous is completed before He comes, so their judgment and acquittal are complete before He comes and the eternal life given to the saints at His coming confirms that they have already been judged. That same Saviour who is Advocate, making atonement when sin occurs, will come again to this earth the second time to take them to Himself after preparing mansions. He is the Lamb slain making an atonement for sins as Intercessor and Advocate in the heavenly courts, a living Saviour who was crucified, has risen, and is coming again, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the power and wisdom of God to break sin-cursed hearts and win them to love Jesus. His advocacy opens the way for everyone who has fallen by breaking God's law to prepare for His second appearing, so that at His appearing they may be vindicated, having put away all evil and overcome through Christ's cleansing blood. Through His intercession and the blood of God's only begotten Son redemption is obtained, the image of God is renewed in mind and heart and character, and those who come are accepted in the Beloved and made like Christ in character, receiving His wisdom and His righteousness and His sanctification and His redemption, if they hold the beginning of their confidence firm to the end. The light reflected from His cross makes the plan of salvation so simple that children may understand it and so powerful that only those controlled by the power of Satan resist it.

The same Jesus who gave the Sabbath and is the Alpha of Genesis stood at Sinai between God and erring Israel claiming them as purchased, was found faultless by Pilate yet murdered from jealousy, died as malefactor on Calvary opening a new and living way for Jew and Gentile to come to God, lay in Joseph's tomb, rose the third day proclaiming resurrection and life, and ascended escorted by angels to represent humanity. When He died on the cross of Calvary He began to serve as Priest and Advocate in the heaven of heavens, and because the Lamb of God died for the sins of the world, the blood of beasts offered for sin became valueless from that time on. His death is an offering for the sins of the world, and after His three-day separation from His followers He revealed Himself to them so their faith could rest on Him as their Redeemer and Advocate. His death for the sins of the world and His return after three days foreshadow the loss and recovery of Him, giving His followers grounds to rely on Him. The Son of God who came from heaven to this world because He loved people, after His life and ministry, His rejection by those He came to save, His trial and crucifixion by wicked men, and His resurrection from the dead to finish His work on earth, ascended to heaven to be man's Advocate in the presence of the Maker of the world.

Assurance Holiness and Mission

If through manifold temptations a person is surprised or deceived into sin, Jesus does not turn away and leave that one to perish, but as the crucified Lord prays and pleads in the presence of the Father at the throne of grace, sympathizing because He was tempted in all points as humans are and knowing how to help those who are tempted. Sin and weakness with many mistakes do not cause God to stop loving or to thrust away one who trusts Him, for Jesus Christ the righteous stands as Advocate, and the sinner need not abandon hope, conclude obedience impossible, or give himself up to despair as one lost to Christ. The sorry who ask in contrition are forgiven, grace is provided so sin may appear hateful and be ceased in the strength of Christ, and by God's name and strength believers can keep all His commandments, which are not grievous but bring happiness. As He did not forsake Peter after denial but remembered him by name, so the erring, backslidden, rebellious, tempted, sick, afflicted, spiritualist-bound, or Sabbath-keeping Adventist overcome by Satan are not cast off, forsaken or rejected, and need not mourn without hope, doubt His love in bodily weakness and depression, or listen to accusations that sin removed all right to the promises.

He knows every suffering, grief, pang of anguish, weakness, inherited organization, temper, education and condition of life, having been a sufferer Himself, tempted in all points yet without sin, and as faithful and tender High Priest He is touched with the feeling of human infirmities and acquainted with all human weakness. He bears long with those who sin, feel bitterly and do wrong, instead of rigidly marking every word and act to cut them off, pities the unfavorably organized, deals with each according to light received, and understands human needs so as to supply them from His abundant fullness. His example calls His followers to bear with one another's failings with patience, compassion and allowance for different temperaments and minds, to treat one another's errors and weaknesses with the pity and forgiveness they need from Him, and to work for others on a higher plane by ministering to weary, discouraged souls. Therefore believers are to look to Him and depend on Him alone rather than placing themselves under the guidance of human beings, dictating the course of a fellow worker, exacting discipline, watching for failings, or cherishing a hard-hearted, selfish, criticizing spirit.

Believers are to trust wholly in Christ and not in self, works, feelings, personal goodness, good works, human wisdom or any person, for confidence rests on God's word and Christ's work who has taken away sins and credited His righteousness. Those carrying anxiety and sorrow can come to God in prayer through Him, entrust burdens to Him and leave them there rather than taking them back into anxious worry, lean on His almighty arm, cast care on Him, and hang helpless, care-troubled souls upon Him. Those depressed by looking to themselves and dwelling on unworthiness should instead direct the eye of faith to Jesus, meditate on His mercy, goodness and excellency of character, look to the Saviour rather than dwell on sin, and claim the promises. To pray with the whole heart and live the prayer, to seek God, trust Him and remain steadfast rather than be led by another person's judgment, alarms Satan, gives power against temptation and strength and hope instead of weakness and despondency, lifts discouragement, and brings peace, joy, assurance and healing.

The call that ye sin not requires true conversion transforming character into Christlikeness so that pride no longer rules the heart, with entire transformation, perfect self-surrender, cleansing of heart from all defilement and deformity, partaking of the divine nature, and putting away selfishness that mars the character, earthliness and every phase of sin. It requires learning the hard lesson of yielding self to Christ, enlisting in His service as King to know and do His will, following the Lamb wherever He goes, walking even as He walked in obedience, and keeping prominently before the mind all entrusted powers as Holiness to the Lord. Growth in grace is shown by increased ability to work for God, daily becoming better able to comprehend spiritual things and better fitted to help others, bearing much fruit by abiding in Christ, overcoming suspicion and evil thinking, and making speedy preparation for the end to enter the holy city and live the life that measures with the life of God. Through receiving Christ and uniting with Him believers gain power to become God's children, an experience more valuable than earthly riches, kept pure, sanctified and holy as the bride of a King, by the power of God through faith and not of themselves.

His advocacy lays a world-wide work on believers to make known the saving principles of the Lord Jesus Christ as faithful stewards of His grace instead of following their own preferences, proclaiming Him as Advocate and bearing to others the glad tidings of pardon through Christ. There is hope for the sinner when sinners are seen, which calls for praising God with all the heart, talking faith, showing God's love to those in the shadow of death, laboring with hope for imperiled souls, and working for the sinner's salvation. Those pardoned are to yoke with Him who trod the winepress alone, plead for the bound and erring instead of leaving them condemned, and trust Him with disputed cases, sickness, healing and houses of worship while refusing unjust concessions and holding fast to His promises in humility to withstand all the wiles of Satan and come off victors.