Dennis R. Smith

 

The whole of the bible is given to us to use as a preventative against sin.  In its pages there are countless messages directed to the reader of the advantages of living a righteous life. Sometimes these messages show up in the form of examples, while at other times they openly declare the dangers of living without Christ.  One of the most direct and frightening is the statement “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Even those of us who might be trying hard to live without sin fall into this group from time to time.  We do need “reminders” like this passage to alert us to get back in line when we get out of line.  When this happens, those who are Christians know that there is a promise and a way to make corrections to our sinful life.  It is the Christ who died for us and who becomes our Advocate to plead our case before the Almighty God who is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1st John 1:9).   Our unforgiven sins  can pull us down and so burden us that we become ineffective in our service to God.  When this happens, may we be ever aware of this message: “If any man sin,  we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; And he is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins” (1st John 1:1-2).  What a loving Father we have in God!