My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1 John 2:1

Is Jesus your advocate? This is a question every believer should ask when it comes to everyday living as a Christian. The theme for the epistle of John is fellowship. How do we maintain fellowship with the father God? Who will speak in our defense when something goes wrong in our life? The Greek word for fellowship is “Koinonia.”  Koinonia is joint participation in sharing with one another our cares, possessions, and gifts. Is fellowship important? Yes, it is very important, for it speaks to our standing and position in Christ Jesus. It speaks to our walk as a believer. If you are just barely hanging on in your walk as a Christian to where you are not witnessing his manifestation, your fellowship may be weakened or damaged. We have been alienated from God by our trespasses. Do you talk to God every day? It may be time to evaluate our fellowship with God.

We should take a closer look at the word trespass. The Greek word is “hamartano,” which means to commit a fault against someone, or offend someone. If you have gone beyond an individual right in possessions, or injured an individual by causing trouble, this is considered a sin. If your hands or feet are dirty, you would wash them. Have you ever washed another person’s feet? I once provided a service of washing feet at Curves a women’s fitness program, to demonstrate Avon’s foot products. I never realized how a person’s foot can be full of pain by the impact of daily walking in different types of shoes or the imbalances of the body that would impact the foot. Washing the feet was important to Jesus because of where we walk may affect our mind and spirit towards doing something we should not do. The world can soil us towards sin. One may not think this is possible but remember the struggle we have every day between the carnal man and the spiritual man.

Last week’s devotional I stated that “those who walk in the flesh cannot please God. To walk in the Spirit is to walk in the faith, for this is the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus.” The law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus is the law of love. Jesus is our advocate because He sacrificed himself on the cross to give us the gift of righteousness. Therefore, we can have our sins forgiven when we repent. Repent is confession of the wrong we have done. If you have wronged someone, this will affect your fellowship with God. In John chapter 13, Peter said to Jesus, “thou shalt never wash my feet,” [see John chapter 13 verse 8]. Jesus said to Peter, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me,” [John 13:8]. “Thou hast no part in me,” said Jesus. Remember that fellowship is joint participation. By denying your participation, you are denying Christ. We are cleansed through Christ, therefore Christ becomes our advocate, since He is seated at the right hand of God and intercedes for the saints.

Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 7:25

Christ is our advocate because he lives forever to intercede for the saints. It takes our participation in confession daily to keep our fellowship with God open. Jesus is our advocate who waits to hear our confession and he intercedes to the Father on our behalf. Just listen to what John said in chapter one of verse 3.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:3

Our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. The importance of keeping that fellowship is to stay in the light of Jesus who became the light of the world. Our old nature may still become active if we allow it, but through Christ divine provision through the cross, he is able to restore us back into fellowship with God and man. If our fellowship with God is breached, so is our fellowship with man. We must recognize our position, for God is light, and in him is no darkness at all, [see 1 John 1:5]. If you are walking in darkness there will be no light to reveal the truth. There will be no confession, until the light has shone upon our hearts.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7

We can only have fellowship if we walk in the light of the love of Christ. Walk in the light as he is in the light. Wow! This means we are walking in the light together with Jesus. The importance of fellowship is daily confession of our sins so that we may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. We must hear and keep his word in order to walk with Jesus. Remember the words of Jesus, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me,” [John 13:8]. Fellowship is participation. Believing is taking part in who Jesus is. Jesus’ righteousness becomes our righteousness when we believe in his sacrifice. We confess our sins, and he is faithful to forgive our sins, [see 1 John 1:9]. Our fellowship with God, will shine the light towards those around us. This fellowship will keep us in his word and the love of God will be perfected in us, [see 1 John 2:5]. The importance of fellowship affects your relationship with others. That is why John stated the following.

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his bother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.”

1 John 2:9-10

You will not stumble if you abide in the light of Jesus in true fellowship by being honest with your confession before God. Remember the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6:9-13.

 Our Father which art in heaven, 
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, 
And the power,
And the glory, 
Forever.  Amen

Now take a look at verses 14 and 15 of Matthew chapter 6, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you of your trespasses.” Trespasses is committing an offense against another person. This is important to remember and to ask in prayer for forgiveness if anyone has trespass against us, for this will break your fellowship with God. Go to that person and be reconciled with that person, and sin not, for we have an advocate with the Father through Jesus Christ. Jesus is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, for He is interceding for you every day.