Tag Archives: verdict

Advocate (1 John 2:1), June 12, 2017

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Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. God is called our Advocate, not just our judge. What does that mean for you today.
  3. Scripture
    1. 1 John 2:1
    2. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
  4. Devotional
    1. Our Advocate
    2. Have you thought much about what it means to have an advocate or especially what it means for God to be your advocate?
      1. Definition: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
      2. A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves.
      3. An advocate is a type of professional person in several different legal systems and it is also a commonly used honorific for remarkable lawyers, such as in “Adv. Sir Alberico Gentili“. The broad equivalent in many English law-based jurisdictions can be a barrister. However, advocate is also a word to indicate lawyers of superior classification.
    3. Why might having God as an advocate be important to us?
      1. Throughout the Bible we read about a final judgment based on our actions during our life
      2. Those actions hinge on our belief in Jesus, the second person of the triune-Godhead, the Son of God. God incarnate, come to earth to die as the penalty we should pay for our sins
      3. If we believe in God, the Son, for forgiveness of our sins, He acts as our Advocate, our lawyer, our defender in the final judgment before God, the Father
      4. We are found “Not Guilty” before the law that establishes the judgment for our sins
      5. Just like our courts today, we are not found innocent, because we have all sinned, but we are found “Not Guilty” because our penalty has been paid, our punishment has been served, our sentence has been satisfied
      6. Our advocate points out the blood spilled on our behalf and the change in verdict that should be applied because of the sentence He served in our stead
    4. Jesus, our Advocate, the perfect defender, our lawyer in the final judgment who prepares the brief and wins our pardon because of His actions 2,000 years ago
      1. Jesus is the judge but He is also our Advocate
      2. When we believe in Him for our salvation we do not lose our case before the judgment seat
      3. He finds us not guilty
      4. Just imagine
    5. Think about God our advocate today as you worship Him
  5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The verdict is in, guilty as charged (John 9:39-14), March 3, 2017

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Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

 

  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Guilty! Caught in the act and no defense can free you. Now what do you do? There is no escape, or is there?
  3. Scripture
    1. John 9:39-41
    2. Jesus:  I have entered this world to announce a verdict that changes everything. Now those without sight may begin to see, and those who see may become blind.

Some Pharisees (who overheard Jesus):  Surely we are not blind, are we?

Jesus:  If you were blind, you would be without sin. But because you claim you can see, your sin is ever present.

  1. Devotional
    1. The evidence stacks up. There is no doubt. Any question of innocence has been swept away with the overwhelming reality of what lies before the judge. There is no question of the outcome. You stand at the defendant’s table with no defense. Head down, heart pounding, you know what the only verdict can be guilty because you did it. You know you did it and God, the Judge knows you did it.
      1. Something amazing happens
      2. You’re forgiven
      3. Free to live, just follow Me
      4. Past is forgotten, files stacked on the bench just disappear
    2. What we deserve
      1. Punishment for our sin
      2. Bible says only adequate punishment for our disobedience is death
      3. Separation from Him because He is a holy God and abhors evil
      4. All the ills and evil that the world can throw at us because of our selfish desires and ungodly behavior
    3. What He gives us when we come to Him with a contrite heart in true repentance
      1. Grace – unmerited, undeserved favor with Him
      2. Mercy – not what we deserve
      3. Forgiveness
      4. Sins forgotten – cast into the sea to be remembered no more
      5. Loving embrace
      6. Adoption into His family
    4. When we believe in Him we begin to see the law can only condemn us
    5. When we trust in Him for forgiveness of our sins, we experience His grace and mercy
      1. Able to feel His spirit invade our life and change our outlook
      2. Able to extend His grace and mercy to others
      3. Able to introduce Him to others because His love reaches out through us
    6. Jesus announces a new verdict that changes everything. Feel the grace and joy that brings when you accept His gift of love into your heart
  2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.