Jesus Is Our Advocate!

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

John uses the address “dear children” in a warm, fatherly way.  He is not talking down to his readers but is showing affection for them.  At this writing, John was a very old man.  He had spent almost all his life in ministry, and many of his readers were indeed his spiritual children.

"Freedom Through Forgiveness"

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32)

...do not 'grieve' the Holy Spirit = to make sorrowful, sad...you were 'sealed' = idea of ownership, securityLet all 'bitterness' be put away from you = to cut, to stab
Let all... 'wrath' be put away from you = rage
Let all... 'anger' be put away from you = temper
Let all...'clamor' be put away from you = yelling, shoutingLet all...'evil speaking' be put away from you = verbal attacks
Let all...'malice' be put away from you = evil, meanness
...be 'kind' to one another = kindred, like a family member
...be 'tenderhearted' to one another = compassionate...be 'forgiving' to one another = unconditional favor released
...even as God in Christ forgave you = Biblical idea of a 'release', 'sending away', or 'letting go'; a cancellation of a debt or the release of an 'offense'

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:23-26)
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:1-4)

Father God, it is my prayer that I be more like your Son when it comes to forgiveness and showing patients with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord forgive me if I have become a stumbling block to a weaker believer by causing them to sin. Father God, I pray that the light of Jesus shines through me and that I will always remember to give You all the glory that You so richly deserve. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen