Tag Archives: Forgiveness of Sin

We All Need an Advocate Sometimes

Eastertide

April 9, 2021

Scripture Reading:
1 John 1:1-2:2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. –1 John 2:1-2

We were created as good, not perfect.  Paul particularly calls us to strive for perfection. What does that mean? In Corinthians 13:11, Paul states, Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, (emphasis added) listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (NRSV) This translation drops the word ” perfect ” found in other translations and uses the phrase ” Put things in order. According to Strong’s, this phrase is a more exact meaning of the Greek word katartizó*. As used here, it is a verb, not a noun or adjective. In the English language, the verb form is pronounced per-fekt. Such a distinction cannot be made when reading.

When we slip up and miss the mark or otherwise separate ourselves from God, the art of remaining in sync with God requires being intentionally active and engaged in putting our lives in order. 1 John, quoted above, tells us that when our lives are out of order, we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ, who can help set us straight.

While Paul suggests some steps to take toward putting things in order, the author of 1 John reminds us to always start our recovery by reengaging with God. If the prayer, Create in me a clean heart, O God and put a new and right spirit within me were not everlasting, I would have worn it out a long time ago. I also think we separate ourselves from God in the times when we are the most vulnerable in need of an advocate. Psalm 63:1-8 is most helpful in such times. And Psalm 23 always awaits to renew our souls. God is love and thus wants the absolute best for each of us, individually and collectively, even the whole world.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being our advocate, particularly when we have sinned and need to reorder our lives. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/2675.htm
**(Psalm 51:10)

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Accountability to God

Discipleship

January 26, 2021

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.’

What does it mean to you to be accountable to God? Most of our modern faith perspectives do not deal in the forces of hell-fire and damnation that were prevalent in the founding of our country and widespread through the 19th and early 20th century. My mother told me once that she ran as fast as she could to the outhouse at night as a child because she was afraid the devil would reach up, grab her leg, and pull her into hell. I have wondered what kinds of sermons to which she was subjected that bought on that fear. She did not want her children to share that same fear, although she did teach us to be accountable to God. We were taught to confess our wrongdoings and ask for forgiveness not only from God but from anyone we might have harmed in any way. That included a good dose of learning the difference between what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God because that is what should be right or wrong in our eyes. I have become a strong supporter of righting wrongs in real-time.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we bend to the pressures of the world to adapt our living to the world’s ethics rather than yours. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.