Comfort in Jesus

In today’s sermon, we will be reminded to Love God and do what He says. We agree with the first part, the love of God in Christ has been bestowed upon us. But we find in ourselves sin lurking at the door. We desire to do right but find that we do wrong. What are we to make of this? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” And the Apostle John says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not."

         If we are honest, these words cut us deep, especially as we think about our weak practical devotion to God, our Father, as we think about our fickle fidelity to our wives in thought and word and sight, as we think about the honor and respect that you ladies owe your husbands, and you children owe your parents. Our sins, our lack of love to God, cry out against us.

         But the rest of the verse from the Apostle says, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” He is our paraklete, our comforter. This is the same word that describes the Holy Spirit, who is our paraklete, our Comforter. So, we do sin, and therefore we apply to Jesus, our Advocate, to forgive us our sins and to comfort us by the renewing work of His Holy Spirit.