基督是我们的辩护者
约翰壹书一章5节至二章2节
5神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见、又报给你们的信息。
6我们若说是与神相交，却仍在黑暗里行，就是说谎话，不行真理了。
7我们若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。
8我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了。
9我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。
10我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，他的道也不在我们心里了。
1我小子们哪，我将这些话写给你们，是要叫你们不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那里我们有一位中保，就是那义者耶稣基督。
2他为我们的罪作了挽回祭，不是单为我们的罪，也是为普天下人的罪。
信息分享
神早有预备。我们犯罪时，总有一位辩护者代表我们来到神的面前求情。留意第1节说，神仍是我们的父，纵使我们犯罪跌倒，伤透祂的心，但祂与我们的关系不会改变。
这在地上的家庭里可以清楚看到，孩子们常常做很多错事，但他们仍是我们的孩子。做错了事要去处理，但父母与儿女的关系不会因此就改变。
英文的新国际译本将第1节翻译为：「若有人犯罪，那义者耶稣基督将会代表我们向父神申诉。」
我们为何需要基督为我们申诉？因为那恶者撒但在神面前控诉我们，要神定我们的罪，将我们处死。但神的儿子却会代表我们申诉说：「父啊，他是我们的儿女，我已经为他的罪受了刑罚，他的罪债已经还清了。」
如此，撒但的指控便宣告无效，我们的罪便蒙神赦免了。神竟然为我们预备了如此完全的救赎，实在令我们深深感恩和谦卑。基督已经在各各他山上，为我们作成这一切。我们还有甚么缺欠呢？基督是我们的中保、代求者和辩护者。多么完美的救赎啊！
反思：
当我们往后望，看见基督为我们受死，因而得着信心。
当我们往上望，看见基督为我们求情，因而得着确据。
当我们往前望，看见基督要为我们再来，因而得着盼望。
我们还有甚么缺欠呢？
CHRIST OUR ADVOCATE
1 John 1:5 to 2:2
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Message
What happens if in spite of all God's wonderful provision for us, we fail and fall? We can do that all too easily, can't we?
God has provided for that event as well. If we do sin, we have an Advocate who takes up our case with our Father. Notice that verse1 says God is still our Father. He does not alter our relationship with Himself, even though our sin grieves Him.
This is easily illustrated in an earthly family. Our children did many things which were wrong, but they were still our children. What they did had to be dealt with but our relationship to them did not alter.
Notice how the N.I.V. translates this first verse. 'If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.'
Why do we need Christ to speak for us? Because we have an adversary, an accuser, Satan itself. It accuses us to God and demands our death. But God's Son says, 'Father, that is one of our children. I died to pay for that one's sin. It is already paid for.'
Satan is defeated and we are forgiven. Isn't that both wonderful and yet humbling? What a complete redemption God has planned for us. Christ made it all possible by His death at Calvary. What more could we ask for? Christ is our Mediator, our Intercessor, our Advocate. How marvellously complete !
Worth remembering:
Faith looks back and sees Him dying for me.
Assurance looks up and sees Him pleading for me.
Hope looks ahead and sees Him coming for me.
What more could I ask for?