Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:1

Jesus our advocate




My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if someone should sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1, EMTV)


A1 Outline

B1 First sentence

C1 My little children

C2 These things

C3 I write

C4 To you

C5 That

D1 You

D2 May not sin

B2 Second sentence

C1 Conditional

D1 If

D2 Someone

D3 Should sin

C2 Main clause

D1 We

D2 Have

D3 An Advocate

E1 With the Father

F1 Jesus Christ

G1 The Righteous

A2 Notes

B1 We do sin

C1 True Christians do not want to sin. Job 42:6, Romans 7:13-24, Galatians 5:17

C2 Sin is deceptive. Ephesians 4:22, Titus 3:3,

C3 We sin because we give in to our evil desires. We find them pleasurable. James 1:14-15, Romans 13:13-14

C4 Others are watching. Let us be careful. Matthew 18:6, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

C5 We must repent of them and ask forgiveness. We ask forgiveness from God. 2 Corinthians 7:10, Revelation 2:5

C6 We have an advocate.

B2 Advocate

C1 Meaning--Someone called alongside to help.

C2 Illustration--Zechariah 3:1-5

C3 Our advocate is Jesus. He comes to our help as mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) with the Father. Because Jesus is righteous, He is accepted by the Father to help in our behalf. Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34 Compare Matthew 10:19-20 and Romans 8:26.

A3 Questions

B1 Why do people sin?

B2 Why do Christians sin?

B3 What is the standard for defining sin?

B4 What are we to do if and when we sin?

B5 Who do we turn to when we have sinned?

B6 Who is able to forgive our sins?

B7 Why is He willing to forgive our sins?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:1-2

Jesus Christ is the forgiver.




1 John 2:1-2


My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if someone should sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only concerning ours, but also concerning those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2, EMTV)


A1 Outline

B1 1 John 2:1

C1 First sentence

D1 My little children

D2 These things

D3 I write

D4 To you

D5 That

E1 You

E2 May not sin

C2 Second sentence

D1 Conditional

E1 If

E2 Someone

E3 Should sin

D4 Main clause

E1 We

E2 Have

E3 An Advocate

F1 With the Father

G1 Jesus Christ

H1 The Righteous

B2 1 John 2:2

C1 He Himself is

C2 The propitiation

D1 For our sins

D2 Not only ours

D3 Of the whole world

A2 Notes

B1 This is a continuation of the thought from 1 John 1:8-10. It deals on forgiveness. What are we to do with sin? The answer is here.

B2 God wants us to live a godly, blameless life. Galatians 5:24, 1 Timothy 6:11, Titus 2:12, etc.

B3 It is inevitably that we will sin. A provision has been planned and enacted. Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 7:25

B4 Often it is in reading/studying the Scriptures that we learn of our sin.

B5 Jesus is the Advocate for us with the Father in heaven. The Holy Spirit is the advocate for our earthly journey.

C1 The Greek word is παράκλητος parakletos.

C2 It means to call someone over to help them and is translated intercessor, helper, comforter, and advocate.

C3 We need to call; Jesus is listening and willing to help. He loves us and wants to forgive sins.

C4 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:24.

C5 It is also used of the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17

C6 From the Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary on 1 John 2:1:

Advocate.—Same word as St. John uses in his gospel. It is there translated "Comforter" (John 14:16; John 14:25; John 15:26; John 16:7). One who is ready to plead for us; and One who has peculiar power, and right, to plead. See our word "Intercessor." With the Father.—With is literally towards. But the point is, that the Advocate is always with the Father, and His help is therefore always available. The name for God, Father, is intended to remind us that the apostle is not here speaking about anybody and everybody's sins against God, but precisely about the sins of God's children, which are sins against their spiritual and Divine Father. The righteous.—Or, the perfect, ideal, model Son, who never sins, but does always the things that please the Father. His standing before the Father as the righteous Son is the perpetual plea for merciful dealing with those who want to be such sons as He is, and cannot be by reason of their bodily and human frailties. Righteous sonship is the best of pleas with the righteous Father.

C7 This Advocate is with (literally towards) the Father ministering for us.

B6 Jesus Christ, the Righteous. This is because Jesus never sinned. He obeyed His Father and went to the cross where He suffered for our sins and is the perfect mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5

B7 There is no other who is a "propitiation for our sins."

C1 Wilbur Pickering writes on 1 John 2:2 propitiation: "Now there is a good deal! Having Himself paid my debt, when the Son pleads my case before the Father, I will be cleared. Thank you, Lord! The term 'propitiation' is not so well known these days, but it has a specific theological content that needs to be preserved. It refers to an atoning sacrifice that is required to satisfy God's outraged character, outraged by our sin."

C2 We continuously see throughout Scripture that sin makes God very angry. Since it makes Him very angry, we need to avail ourselves of the only method that satisfies His justice.

B8 It is not only the sins of the elect but all peoples' sins if they meet God's conditions.

A3 Questions

B1 According to 1 John 2:1, what is one of the purposes that John wrote this letter?

B2 What is the solution for a Christian's sin?

B3 What is the extent of Jesus Christ's salvation?

B4 What is an advocate?

B5 Is Jesus the only propitiation for sins?

B6 Is Jesus the propitiation for just Christians?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 1:10

If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:10, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Conditional

C1 We claim

C2 That we have not sinned

B2 Main clause

C1 We make

C2 Two things

D1 First

E1 Him

E2 A liar

D2 Second

E1 His word

E2 Is not in us

A2 Notes

B1 Claim--This is say. It is not truth, so the translator used the word claim.

B2 Sin here is a verb.

B3 The claim is that we have not sinned. This is the attitude of everyone sometime. It is to plead not guilty.

C1 Not guilty because we think that we are good.

C2 Not guilty because we don't want to be punished.

B4 Main clause shows serious errors.

C1 Calling God a liar.

D1 "He who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4, EMTV)

D2 "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (John 8:44, EMTV)

C2 The Scripture verses are not in us.

C3 We have the wrong interpretation.

C4 We have not applied it to our lives.

B5 The result is that we have sinned and sin again by our false claim.

B6 A quote from the Bridgeway Bible Commentary on this verse:

"John is not saying all this so that people might think that sinning is normal behaviour for Christians, as if it does not matter if they sin. On the contrary he wants them not to sin. But it is inevitable that they will sin sometimes, and he wants them to be assured that when that happens, cleansing is available because of the atoning blood of Christ. On the basis of his death, Christ can ask the Father to forgive the sinner (1 John 2:1-2)."

A3 Questions

B1 If we want fellowship with God and the congregation, what must we do?

B2 Have you ever said that you have not sinned? How did this affect you?

B3 Why would someone claim such a thing?

B4 Was is preaching against sin unpopular?

B5 What is the significance of not having His truth in us?

B6 How do we know what sin is and if we have sinned?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Conditional sentence 2. 1 John 1:9

C1 If

D1 We confess

E1 Our sins

C2 Main clause

D1 He is

E1 Faithful

E2 Just

F1 To

G1 Forgive

H1 Us

H2 Our sins

G2 Cleanse

H1 Us

H2 From all unrighteousness

A2 Notes

B1 Words

C1 Confess

D1 The Greek word is ὁμολογέω
homologeo.

D2 It means to agree with, acknowledge, confess.

D3 In this case to agree with God's appraisal and according to God's standards.

D4 The New Testament has over 1,000 rules.

D5 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn't know. You said, 'Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:2-6, WEB)

C2 Sin

D1 The Greek word is ἀμαρτία
amartia.

D2 The Daily Bible Study on 1 John 1:8 explains this word.

D3 Cross references

E1 Jesus responded, "I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. (John 8:34, HCSB)

E2 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in Me; (John 16:8-9, HCSB)

C3 Faithful

D1 The Greek word is πιστός pistos.

D2 It means faithful and trustworthy.

D3 An example would be a faithful, trustworthy, worker or messenger.

D4 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? (Matthew 24:45, ESV2011)

D5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. (Proverbs 14:5, WEB)

C4 Just

D1 The Greek word is δίκαιος dikaios.

D2 It means just, righteous, correct.

D3 It has the idea of conforming to a standard, not only in mind and attitude but also action.

D4 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him. (1 John 2:29, EMTV)

D5 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or figs from thistles? Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18, EMTV)

C5 Forgive

D1 The Greek word is ἀφίημι aphiemi

D2 It means to send away.

D3 Sin is sent away from us. It has no effect on us on Judgment Day.

D4 God is just because He is the Law giver and because Jesus suffered for our sins.

D5 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. (Nehemiah 9:17ESV)

D6 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:43ESV)

C6 Cleanse

D1 The Greek word is καθαρίζω katharizo

D2 It means to clean or make clean. It is applied to physical, ethical, and spiritual conditions.

D3 The cleaning is because sin makes us spiritually unclean. God alone can clean. No human or organization can clean.

D4 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling those having been defiled, sanctifies for the purity of the flesh, by how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works in order that we might serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13-14, EMTV)

D5 And made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:9, EMTV)

C7 Unrighteousness

D1 The Greek word is ἀδικία adikia

D2 It means injustice and unrighteousness. Injustice would be as a corrupt judge (Luke 18:6). Unrighteousness is not doing what is right (Matthew 22:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, etc.).

D3 'I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. (Jeremiah 33:8, NKJV)

D4 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14, NKJV)

A3 Questions

B1 How important is confession?

B2 Who do we confess to first?

B3 Who is the Law Giver?

B4 What attitude is shown when we confess our sins?

B5 How does God's faithfulness in forgiving us affect you?

B6 Is there any reason to feel guilty after God has forgiven and cleanse us?

B7 What do we do when we remember our sins?

Psalm 34:8--Devotional

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalms 34:8 ESV)




Taste and see refer to physical rather than spiritual or esoteric senses. An atheist will not accept any proof except what is physical and proven by science. It is only in our senses that they have faith. Yet John and Peter, apostles of Jesus Christ, tell us–

1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us (1 John 1:1-2 ESV)
   


2. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV)
   

The Lord is good. Goodness is defined by God. When He creates it is good (Genesis 1:31). The Gospel is good (Isaiah 52:7). It is the opposite of evil (Amos 5:14. (Evil is breaking God's Laws.)). Justice, mercy, and walking humbly with God are given as examples of what God calls good (Micah 6:8). God's character and actions are called good in Luke 18:19. Everything Jesus did is described as good in Acts 10:38.


God is good, and He is powerful and lovingly watches over His own. Those who trust Him rather than trust in philosophy, science, government, or themselves find this true. (Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:3, Psalm 40:4, Proverbs 3:5, and 2 Corinthians 1:9. To help us understand trust we can read Luke 11:22 and Luke 18:9.


Those who have put their trust in God surely know and experience this. May this be the life of all people.

Daily Bible Study—1 John 1:8

"If we claim that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8




A1 Outline


A2 Notes 1 John 1:8

B1 Words

C1 Claim

D1 The Greek word means say. This is the common word as in "Jesus said."

D2 The EMTV translates it as claim, because saying "I have no sin" is obviously not so.

C2 Sin

D1 The Greek word is amartia.

D2 It is "missing the mark." The mark or target is God's law.

D3 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4, EMTV)

D4 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. (1 John 5:17, EMTV)

D5 Sin comes in two forms.

E1 In ignorance. This is the person did not know. It could also been done in a mistake or even accidentally.

E2 In full knowledge. This is in defiance. God has stated that stealing is wrong, but if one doesn't care what God says, then steals. It is in defiance.

D6 No matter how committed, there is a penalty which must be paid. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, EMTV)

B2 No sin does not refer to original sin but to sin after conversion. Proverbs 20:9, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 64:6. Compare John 9:21. We are all sinners. Sin is repulsive to us and God.

C1 There are 2 effects of denying our sin.

D1 We are deceived.

E1 Not facing reality.

E2 Not being humble.

E3 Not believing the truth.

D2 The truth is not in us.

E1 Truth is incredibly important to God.

E2 Truth not in us doesn't mean we have no truth or are totally ignorant of truth. It means that we are not acknowledging what is true.

D3 Any group or person who denies sin is truly deceived and lacking the truth. There are teachers and pastors who teach not to use the word sin or redefine what sin is.

D4 Jesus is the only man who never sinned. John 14:30, Hebrews 4:15

C2 The results of denying sin.

D1 Deceived

D2 Will receive punishment for sin. Ignoring it will not be of any use.

D3 Hardens the heart. The conscious becomes less responsive to guilt.

A3 Questions

B1 Why would anyone claim to have no sin?

B2 Is deceiving ourselves worse than deceiving others?

B3 Is knowing the truth important?

B4 How can we know the truth?

B5 What is the standard for truth, that is, how can we know what is true or false?

Raising Children

Raising Children



A1 Be Christian

B1 Salvation

C1 This is the highest and most important. If you don't know this or are confused, see NeedGod.com

C2 The importance of this is to have God's help to lead your children to a knowledge and belief in the Gospel.

B2 God has highest authority in life (and everything else)

A2 Act Christian—There is no time for hypocrites. The children will quickly see through your façade.


A3 Love—God's love

B1 1 Corinthians 13 is God's definition of love.

B2 Love is a choice, not necessarily a feeling.

B3 Love your spouse according to 1 Corinthians 13.

B4 Honor God, then your spouse, then the children.

B5 When you come home from work, lay aside the work stresses and woes and take time to listen to your spouse and children.

B6 When the second child, etc., is born, give attention to the first born. Do this until they are older and know that you love both of them.

B7 Men help your wives. Don't be a lazy slacker. You can cook, do dishes, change diapers. Quit being a coward.

A4 Pray

B1 Prayer is talking to God.

B2 Pray for wisdom and guidance.

B3 Pray for the children.

A4 Be humble

B1 This is not weakness.

B2 This is not seeking your way all the time.

B3 This is always submitting to the truth, even if it hurts.

B4 This is asking forgiveness from your children and others when we have been wrong.

B5 For you deliver humble people, but haughty eyes you humiliate. (Psalms 18:27LEB)

B6 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29LEB)

B7 But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."2 (James 4:6LEB)

A5 Consistency

B1 Inconsistency causes confusion, then hurt, then manipulation.

B2 Be consistent.

B3 If the children have rules, follow them yourself.

A6 Raise/teach/act the fruits of the Spirit

B1 Reject/teach to reject/act by rejecting the fruit of the flesh

B2 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

C1 The first four deal with sexual sins.

C2 The next two deal with religious sins.

C3 The rest deal with sins against society.

C4 It is not enough to just tell them to not do these things.

D1 They must understand what they mean.

D2 They must know why.

B3 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:19-26KJ2000)

C1 All of the above need God's help, for they do not come naturally.

C2 All of the above not only help the individual but also society.

C3 Teach the children what they mean and why.

A7 Answer hard questions For example:

B1 How do I know there is a god?

B2 What is there evil is God is good?

B3 How do I know Jesus is God?

A8 Don't provoke to anger

B1 Abuse hurts—emotional, financial, physical, sexual, etc.

B2 Hurt leads to bitterness, then anger, then hate, then murder (suicide or homicide).

B3 Inconsistency, favoritism, treating your spouse badly, etc. are some other examples.

A9 Choices have consequences


A10 Be care of addictive habits

B1 Coffee is addictive but does not cloud the judgment.

B2 Drugs (even unneeded prescription drugs), alcohol, porn, etc. are addictive and cloud the judgment.

A11 Quiet

B1 Learn to speak quietly.

B2 Learn to listen intently. Know what the other person is saying.

B3 Look in their eyes when they are talking.

B4 Don't interrupt.

A12 Work ethic

B1 Have a job (if at all possible).

B2 Be on time.

B3 Do a good job.

B4 Have a job where you can be home as much as possible.

B5 Money is not the most important thing.

B6 Have chores for all the children.

B7 If possible live in the country, so all can learn gardening, animal care, and enjoy a less crowded life.

A13 Learn to prioritize

B1 Somethings are more important than money.

B2 What are your priorities?

B3 What is most important for each day?

B4 Find your priorities and keep them as much as possible.

A14 Bible reading/studying

B1 Read the Bible and study it every day.

B2 If it is a boring book to you, then examine yourself to see if you are really a Christian.

B3 Buy a well bound Bible, preferably a study Bible. Again there are many. You can search on line and many retailers have previews/samples of pages.

B4 Have a plan to read and study it.

B5 Search for online Bible study. My favorite is Blue Letter Bible, but there are many.

A15 Worship together

B1 Have daily family devotions from the Bible, not just any book. Read it, explain it, apply it, memorize it together. Dad should take the lead.

B2 Attend a faithful Bible teaching church together.

A16 Enjoy your family.