Letters from the Beloved – Do Process of the Law
Do you like court-based shows, like “Judge Judy” or “Hot Bench”? Or police shows like “Cops” or “Live PD”? Or maybe you like fictional shows that are a big part of TV. For example: Law & Order, which has been around for years. If you watch any of these shows you know that when you break the law there is a process that includes accusation and arrest and judgement for the crime in a fair court with legal representation to plead your case. You also know that the court date may end in penalty of some sort – jail time or a fine or both.
God’s process for sinners is not so different.
Psalm 35:24 [KJV] Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
After concluding chapter one of his letter by reminding us that we are all sinners, the beloved disciple opens chapter two on a similar theme.
1 John 2:1-2 [NLT] 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
John states that he is writing so we don’t sin. But quickly follow that statement with the remedy if we do sin. And we know we do sin because he just told us in chapter 1 that we all sin.
Step one: We sin by breaking God’s law.
[1Jo 3:4 KJV] 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Step two: We are accused of sin by the Accuser of God’s people: Satan.
Revelation 12:10 [KJV] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Step three: We are brought in for judgement. A quick search showed me more than 50 scriptures the reference the Father God as Judge in some way, including this one where King David asks God to judge him:
Psalm 35:24 [KJV] Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Step four: John tells us in 1 John 2: 1-2, that we do not appear before the Just Judge alone. He tells us we have an “advocate” who “pleads our case”. This is precisely what the Greek word used here means - "one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate".
Jesus stands with us before the Father, the Just Judge, and pleads our case for us. What might He say? Well, John indicates that Jesus reiterates that He has already paid the penalty for our sins.
While the outcome of any trial-based TV show might be up in the air until the judge rules on the case, we have no such worry or suspense in our own trials and judgement for sin. Remember, John the beloved, tackled the guaranteed outcome of any trial before the Just Judge: 1 John 1:9 [KJV] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We have a Just Judge and a strong Advocate. We deserve death, but our Advocate is faithful and so is our Judge. Pardon is guaranteed.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DyanmicChristianMinistries.org