Jesus Christ Our Advocate Gives Assurance.
1 John 2:1-6

1. Failure and the Fear of It Is Universal
A. Our primary failure is in relation to God (sin and transgression). The gospel is more than a "gateway" to be entered and then neglected. It is a “guardrair” to protect us from pride and the pit of despair.
B. Pride says, "I have no sin" or "I have not sinned”, (I John 1 :8. I 0).
C. Despair says, “Because I have sinned, there is no hope for me.”
D. The gospel says we have an Advocate with the Father (1 John 2: 1 ). Jesus Christ is the Mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5-6). We can be forgiven because God has come in the flesh for sin.

2. The Good News of the Gospel
A. We have an Advocate
1. An advocate is one who is called alongside of another.
2. An advocate sits with, stands with and in the place of another.
B. This Advocate intercedes with the Father (Hebrews 7:25).
C. This Advocate is righteous (and without sin). This Advocate satisfied the wrath of a holy God (v. 2).
1. Propitiation is satisfying and turning away the wrath of God. Jesus is the only means of propitiation (v. 2). There is no other way.
D. But the death of Christ benefits only those who believe (Hebrews 4:2).

3. We All Aspire to Assurance and Acceptance
A. We all long to be loved by those who are most significant.
B. God desires for us to have assurance (vv. 3, 5-6, cf. I John 5: 13).

4. Where Shall We Look for Evidence?
A. Look to you own life. But that sounds like blasphemy!
1. It is all of grace. We do not switch from grace to works.
B. The grace that saves is the same grace that produces fruit.
C. We are saved by faith alone but the faith that saves is never alone.
D. Obedience is not the basis of our salvation.
E. But obedience is the evidence of saving faith and God's grace.
F. The evidence is not perfection but a change of direction.