16th May 2024

16th May 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 John 2v1-6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


A Christian is someone who has repented of their sin and put their faith in Christ. Such a person has been called by the God of light and in response they are to walk in the light. But a follower of Jesus isn't perfect and can be described by the latin phrase "simul justus et peccator". What does this phrase mean? The Christian person is at the same time justified and sinful.


Even so, the Christian isn't to delight in sin. John was clear "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." (v1). The Apostle knew rightly that perfection on this side of heaven is impossible but nevertheless, the Christian should hate sin and strive by all the means of God's appointment to walk rightly before the Lord.


But what if we do fall into sin? Can the Christian lose their salvation? Will Jesus get fed up with us and remove us from His Book? By no means. If we sin then we can be assured that Jesus is our advocate who even now is at the right hand of the Father (v1b). Christ lives forevermore and although we do not see Him, we know where He is and what He is doing. Christ is the righteous one and He is able to save us to the uttermost. Even when we fall we should remember that Jesus always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7v25).


Robert Murray M'Cheyne put it beautifully when he said "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." Christ is our advocate and He is the "propitiation for our sins" (v2). This word is hard to say and sometimes misunderstood. What does it mean? That Christ is the sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God.


Imagine a fierce storm coming to your family picnic on the beach. No one wants the wind, rain and lightning to beat down upon them so they quickly run for cover. The storm comes but the wise have found shelter in the car. God is rightfully angry with sin and His wrath burns against all manner of wickedness. But for the Christian, the sacrifice of Jesus has turned God's wrath away from us because it was poured out on Christ. He is our propitiation and under His wings we are safe from the wrath to come.


How should be respond to such good news? If we love Jesus then we are to keep His commandments (v3). To say we love the Lord without any obedience to His word, makes us a liar (v4). Let's be clear - we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our own obedience cannot save and will always be incomplete, but if our faith is genuine then obedience will and must be evident.


If we are united to Christ by faith then we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel following the path Christ charted for us (v6). In this way God's love is perfected (v5). Does this mean that God's love was lacking and needed to be improved by us? No. The love of God has a purpose - to redeem and sanctify sinners. So if a man calls upon the Lord and is saved and responds to the grace of God with obedience, there God's love is perfected, or in other words His love is accomplishing its purpose.


Christ is our advocate and propitiation and to His people He says "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14v15).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q40 What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
​