The Work of the Advocate (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “The Work of the Advocate,” please notice that when reading I John 1:1-4 you must emphasize and capitalize the pronouns We and You in their various forms for emphasis. They distinguish between the writer (and others with him) and the ones to whom he wrote. “We” refers to the apostles and other branches of the ministry, “write to you” refers to the church members as a whole; “... that ye [the members] also may have fellowship with us....” Beloved, that means that we cannot fellowship with everyone, only with those who worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (regardless of the denominational background). Why? Because “we,” the church, have “the Advocate” (the arbitrator - the assistance of Jesus Christ), not they, the unbelievers!!! Remember, Paul said, “For it is IMPOSSIBLE.... If they [the unbelievers] shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance...” (Hebrews 6:4-6). Beloved, how can you restore or renew someone who never believed in the Lord Jesus in the first place? It is not that they cannot come to repentance, but rather that “WE” cannot renew them unto repentance. Unless they, the unbelievers, trust in the restoration power of our Savior, Jesus Christ, all of our persuasion will be fruitless as far as their restoration is concerned.

Precious Ones, I know that we all have loved ones who we desire to persuade to find solace or comfort in Jesus when they get into trouble. But the truth is, in many cases they are more apt to come to us, but not to God. As it is written in Hosea 7:16, “They return, but not to the most High....” So, since they do not have someone to plead their case, it is important that we – through our prayers – may engage our “Advocate” for them. Beloved, this may require many hours of prayer to allow God to deal with them, but it is worth it!! Perhaps some of these prayers will serve as a witness to them – to bring them to repentance – or, “... if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (II Timothy 2:25).

Chosen Ones, regardless of this modern Christian theology that consumes our era and teaches that a person can repent of themselves, we know through scriptures that it cannot be done without “the Advocate.” Beloved, one cannot just repent of themselves! Don’t take my opinion, read the recordings of scripture! Paul said of Esau, “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he [Esau] found NO place of repentance, though he sought it [repentance] carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). Paul also warns us, “... lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1) – meaning be careful, it can happen to us! This would be ridiculous for people who have exposure to “the Advocate” of Jesus as we do!

I will write more on this subject next week.

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy