Two weeks ago, I began a mini-series on the book of I John entitled Really Living. In week one, I spoke about true joy which can only be found in Jesus. This particular lesson deals with chapter two of I John. We, as believers, need a proper view of our Saviour. I John 2 will help you as you get to “Know Your Master.”

1. Jesus is our Advocate. In I John 2:1, God’s Word makes it very clear that God does not want the Christian to sin. He has made every provision for him/her to abstain from sinning. In Psalm 119:11, God makes it very clear that if we hide God’s Word in our hearts, it will keep us from sinning. Sin is always unnecessary in the life of a Christian.

We found in chapter 1 that we, however, as believers do sin (see I John 1:8 and 10). So what if we sin? Are we hopeless? No, absolutely not! “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. We have One to plead our cause before God. That One is Jesus Christ the Righteous. Christ tells us in John 11:42, speaking of His Father, “I knew that Thou hearest me always.” We have the assurance that Jesus Christ pleads our cause and the believer is always secure.

Christ can be our Advocate because He is righteous. He is completely perfect and without sin. Being the Righteous Saviour qualifies Him to be our Advocate, our Representative before the Father. He constantly pleads our cause, securing our fellowship with Him.

2. Jesus is our Propitiation. I John 2:2. The word propitiation means “a means of appeasing.” The truth is that Jesus is the Propitiation for our sins by His atoning death on the cross, and that, because of His atoning death, God’s wrath on us as sinners is fully appeased.

Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every on to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” What does it mean “hath laid on him”? It means “made to strike.” That is, God hath made to strike on Jesus Christ the iniquity of us all and that Jesus has borne God’s wrath on our sin in our place. He appeased the wrath of God on us and we now do not have the wrath of God abiding on us. In fact, we as Christians can never have the wrath of God abiding on us! God’s wrath on our sin has been satisfied and is fully appeased. He is our Propitiation!

3. Jesus is our Abiding Place. I John 2:6. As Christians, it is our privilege to abide or live in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself teaches us in John 15 that we may and ought to abide in Him. He gives an illustration of the branch abiding in the vine. Abiding in Christ is where he imparts His very life into us in that He is our life!

Abiding in Christ gives us everything we need to walk as He, Christ, walked. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” Here is the secret of doing what God wants, the secret of having His strength: “Abide in Me,” Jesus said!! What a privilege to abide in Christ! “And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

4. Jesus is our Anointer. I John 2:27. In verse 20, God’s Word says, “But we have an unction from the Holy One.” The meaning is that the Holy One (Jesus) gives us anointing (unction), which is the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word tells us that the same “anointing” the disciples received and thereby could study and understand the Scriptures, is available to all Christians. The Bible is not a closed book! The Holy Spirit is our teacher. Every Christian can read, study, and understand God’s precious Word!

5. Jesus is the Coming One. I John 2:28. Here the Scripture tells us to “not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” In chapter 3, John will deal more with the second coming of Christ, but needless to say, that one of the most comforting views of Jesus is that He is indeed the soon Coming One!!

Jesus said in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Then in the verses to follow, “I go to prepare a place for you,…and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am; there ye may be also.”

Jesus is coming SOON! This is the best news to every Christian! Before He comes, meet your Master in His Word and in prayer. Get to know Him better. Let’s not be ashamed when He comes!