Our Advocate
A. The Purpose of This Epistle Is the Abundant Life
1. Fellowship with God and His family
2. Fullness of joy, flowing from assurance of salvation
3. Forgiveness of sin in daily life
B. The Problem of Sin in the Lives of Believers
1. Sin destroys fellowship (ch. 1)
2. Sin will make us ashamed at Christ’s coming (2:28)
3. Sin may bring physical death (5:16)
C. God’s Provision for Daily Victory
D. The Aim in the Christian Life (v. 1)
1. "That you sin not"
2. Awareness of sin brings us to the Savior
a. Want to be saved? Acknowledge you are lost
b. Want to go to heaven? Realize you are bound for hell
c. Christ came to save sinners
3. Upon receiving Christ by faith we are forgiven (Col. 1:14)
4. What should then be our goal as believers? .
a. We should aim for daily victory
b. Jesus is our example
5. We are equipped to win
E. The Advocate for All Christians (v. 1)
1. "But if any man sin"
a. Facing the reality of imperfection
b. God loves us still (Rom. 8:38-39)
2. "We have an advocate with the Father"
a. An advocate who comes to our aid when we stumble
b. An advocate who intercedes in heaven for us (Heb. 7:25)
c. An advocate when the Enemy comes against us
C. The Atonement
1. He is the propitiation for our sins
2. He has paid for our sins with His own blood
3. Christ has reconciled us to our Father (2 Cor. 5: 17-20)
4. He finished His work of reconciliation on the cross
5. His work as our advocate continues
Conclusion
A. We Are to Invite Others to the Abundant Life
B. The Call for Consistent Christian Living
1. In view of His atonement
2. In view of His continuing work as our advocate
