John, pt. 63 | John 10:7-11

John 10:7-11 and the One Door to Life

You will at this time take your copy of the scriptures and turn with me to the gospel of John chapter 10. We will consider verses 7 through 11 the gospel of John chapter 10. Verses 7 through 11. And this is the 63rd message.

And this glorious gospel allow me to open in prayer. Oh God and Father Son and Holy Spirit. Lord as always we gather together to hear from you. Your people has gathered together to hear from you. They have not gathered together to hear from me a mere man but God.

I ask as your man servant that you by the power of your spirit will speak through me or that you will help me to explain to articulate this passage of Scripture and that you will use this as food and drink for the nourishment of their body.

For the nourishment of the body the body of Christ. And I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. All right. So let's begin with the text. But let's start back at verse 1 for context. Chapter 10. Verse 1. Jesus speak into the Pharisees.

Truly truly I say to you he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way. This man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep to him.

Speaking of the shepherds speaking of Jesus the gatekeeper this Holy Spirit. The sheep hear his voice and he calls his own by name and leads them out when he has brought them out. When he's brought it all his own he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice.

A stranger they will not follow but they will flee from him. But they do not know the voice of strangers. This figure of speech Jesus used with him but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Verse 7. This takes us into our passage. So Jesus again said to them truly truly I say to you remember he's speaking to the Pharisees. I am the door of the sheep. All who come before me came before me are thieves and robbers.

But the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me he will be saved and go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Maybe this will help. I can hear a little feedback. I might need some help. Okay we got a new mic and we're trying to figure it out.

Okay. All right all right here we go. Last week I began by telling you an ancient story. Well not an ancient story but it's something that used to take place in past times. It's it's very rarely taken place today.

And it is the story of a Judas goat. A Judas goat is a goat that they would put into the sheep boat into the sheep pen. And it's the goal of the Judas goat was to blend in and deceive. This goat was to confuse the sheep to that would allow them to believe that he is one of us.

This goat is one of us. Right. And again the purpose was to blend in and deceive. Now the Judas goat gets this name because of Jesus's disciple Judas Iscariot. Right. Jesus was among the twelve. He was numbered among the twelve.

He was numbered among the Apostles. But he was not like the other Apostles. Right. He blend in to deceive and to deceive who. Well to deceive the disciples. There's no way that he could deceive Jesus but it was to betray Jesus.

And so at this time this throughout history this this goat this Judas goat was named after that disciple for the purpose of that. And this Judas goat would deceive the sheep on the day of slaughter. So when it came time for the sheep to be slaughtered this Judas goat knew to lead the sheep and some would have a trap door that as this Judas goat was leading the sheep this trap door with open and this goat would know to go into the trap door while the sheep walked into the door in front of them which led them to slaughter.

In some cases they did not have a sliding door so the Judas goat would enter in to the door of slaughter but he would be spared. And our thing for this Lord's Day is one door. There's only one door. And my proposition that which I aim to explain just like there is only one door into the sheep though there is only one door that opens to life.

There are not many doors that open to life. There is one door. And in order for someone to be saved they must in fact enter into this one door which is Jesus. Now for the question which Jesus in our outline we're going to identify the biblical Jesus as well as the defense of who Jesus is.

So in our outline I'm going to present before you three things. The first is the I am statements last week we walked through. Last week was our third week in this chapter. The first week we looked at verse 1.

The second week we looked at verses 2 3 and then last week we looked at verses 10 through I mean verses 1 through 10 and you probably thought to yourself he skipped the I am statements. Well that's because I'm doing it this week and I've done it in previous weeks.

So the first point we will look at the I am statements. Second point the his exclusivity. In the third point his sovereign protections. So point number one the I am statements point number two his exclusivity and point number three his sovereign protection.

As we transition let us not forget where we've been. Jesus is responding to a question asked of him by the Pharisees in chapter 9 verse 40. But let's give that some context. So look with me in chapter 9.

We'll begin with verse 24. So for the second time they speaking of the Pharisees called the man this man who was born blind and said to him give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He answered whether he is a sinner or not.

I do not know one thing. I do know that through that though I was blind now I see they said to him what did he do to you. How did he open your eyes. And he answered them. I have told you already and you would not listen.

Why do you want to hear it again. Do you also want to become his disciples. And they the Pharisees reviled him saying you are his disciples. But we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses.

But as for this man we do not know where he comes from. The man answered why. This is an amazing thing. You do not know where he comes from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners.

But if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will God listens to him. Never listen. How good his theology is. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a blind man.

When you read your Old Testament no one was ever healed of blindness. Verse 33 if this man were not from God he could do nothing. They answered him you are born in utter sin and would you teach us. And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out and having found him said do you believe in the Son of Man. This is he saying do you believe that I am God. He answered who is he sir notice the sir your translation might say Lord Lord case LORD which means sir who is he sir that I may believe in him.

Jesus answered him you have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you. Then he replied notice the Lord is different. It's capital L lowercase ORD which means master. He said to him Lord master I believe.

And he worshiped him. Jesus said for judgment I came into this world that those who do not see may see and those who see may become blind. And as we walk through this we spoke about how Jesus is speaking of spiritual blindness and how the Pharisees are confusing it with physical blindness.

Look at verse 40. Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him are we also blind. Jesus said to them if you are blind you would have no guilt. But now that you say we see your guilt remains.

And as we've been walking through chapter 10 this brings to our understanding the covenants and I brought before you the covenants we had the the covenant of redemption the covenant of works and the covenant of grace.

And in the covenant of redemption what we believe is that God made a covenant with God God the Father Son and Holy Spirit covenant together to save a people. And in this covenant God the Father purpose to save a people and he sent his son Jesus Christ to live the life that these people could not live and to take upon himself the punishment that these people deserve.

And he was buried and he rose again on the third day. So he accomplishes the purpose to save the people by living for them and for dying for them. And the Holy Spirit applies that purpose through the preaching of the gospel.

We who are Christians are supposed to be delegates sent out into the world to tell people how they are to have peace with God in Romans chapter 5 verse 1 tells us it's by faith. Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God.

There is no other way to have peace with God if you are not justified by faith. My dear friends you do not have peace with God. You are an enemy of God. You are an enemy of God. We spoke of excuse me we spoke about the covenant of works how God is the one who makes covenants.

We don't agree with God in covenant but God imposes covenants upon people. And God imposes as a covenant of works. He did so with Adam. He did so with Moses. I mean with Abraham Moses and David these imposed covenants.

And it was that you had to do something in order to live. And if you did not do it our broker command that was given to you you would either be removed from the land or you will be put to death. A covenant of works a covenant of death.

But God also promised the covenant in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. And this covenant would be brought forth by a seed that came from the woman and it passed from Abraham to David and fulfillment in Christ.

And so this covenant of grace is this new covenant. And we'll walk more through that. And if you want to know more about that go back and listen to the past messages. Point number one the I am statements.

Look with me at this glorious chapter. The I am statements are found in verse 7 verse 9 and verse 11. Look at verse 7 Jesus so Jesus said again to them speaking of the Pharisees truly truly I say to you I am the door of the sheep.

Look at verse 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me he will be saved and go in and out and find pastor. Now look at verse 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.

Now we have covered this in great detail in this glorious gospel where we see these I am statements in the Greek this is ego I me or ego e me depending if you're from the north of the south right of how you say that.

Right. It's kind of like the word logos. Some say logos some say logos. Yeah it's a tomato potato or how is it potato potato or tomato tomato. Right depending on how deep south you are. Right. And so the I am statements is it I am is ego I me which is the Greek the tetragrammaton yo-have-va-have.

And so the Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint. And so in Exodus chapter 3 verse 14 if you will turn there with me we see the I am statement given to us by God. Now in this we know that there rose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph at the beginning of Exodus and he enslaved the Hebrew people for hundreds of years 430 to be well 400 to be exact for the enslavement.

Or it's right around that number. And in this time Moses was born and I can't get into all the detail because of time but Moses sees a man attacking an Egyptian and this I mean a Moses. He is an Egyptian attacking a Hebrew and Moses kills him and then he flees from Egypt fearing for his life.

And at this time Moses sees from a distance a bush burning. So that's the context. Look at me look with me at verse 13 this this burning bush this bush that's emblazed with fire that is not consuming is God.

And God speaks to Moses from this bush. Verse 13 then Moses said to God if I come to the people of Israel and say to them the God of your fathers has sent me to you. And they asked me what is his name.

What shall I say to them. Verse 14 God said to Moses. Yahweh said to Moses I am who I am ago I me ago I me. And he said to him and he said say to the people of Israel I am sent me to you. This is the tetragrammaton.

And so when we're reading here in John Jesus uses the tetragrammaton I am I am. In our text Jesus is saying I am God I am God. He is saying that he is God and that God is the door to God and God himself is our Good Shepherd.

I remind you of Psalm chapter 23 the Lord Yahweh is our Shepherd. God is our Shepherd. God is the Good Shepherd. And that's what Jesus is saying in these I am statements. And I would encourage you if you have time to go back and listen to all the Gospel of John and I go into this tetragrammaton a lot deeper but it's the Yohev Vahev translated in the Greek I am and I am.

Ego means I am I'm I me means I am I am I am. God just is point number two his exclusivity. His exclusivity here is brought forth from verses 7 through 9 again let's read that together. And Jesus again said to them truly truly pay attention.

Listen to me. He said I got something to say amen amen. I say to you I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me he will be saved and go in and out and find pasture.

Here in these verses Jesus is speaking about his exclusivity meaning there's only one way I am the only way. That's what this is saying. I am the only door. I am the only Good Shepherd. And yet we know Psalm 23 the Lord Yahweh is our Shepherd.

Hence to this tetragrammaton the I am statements he does not. Well so he he does this he represent his exclusivity quite often in in this gospel but also in the other Gospels as well. And we see in the the letters written by the Apostles they point to this exclusivity of Jesus.

But he does it real clearly. And we've looked at this verse several times in John 6 14 which reads. Jesus said to him speaking to Thomas I am the way the tetragrammaton I am the way the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me. He says no one comes to the Father except through me. And first Timothy chapter 6 it tells us that God dwells in unapproachable light speaking of the Father and the Son.

And when I would equate the Holy Spirit God dwells in unapproachable light. You cannot approach God. God must condescend. You cannot approach him. He dwells in unapproachable light. Like I don't know how else to say.

It's unapproachable. God is unapproachable. You cannot approach him. He must condescend and that's what he done in Christ. But Christ says that no one can come to the Father unless they go through him.

And he also says that no one can get to him unless the Father draws them. His exclusivity is very narrow. When he says I am the way he tells you the destination to the Father. I am the way the truth and the life.

And no one comes to the Father except through me. So when he says I am the way he is speaking about to the Father. Jesus is the only door to the sheep. Jesus is the only door by which we can be saved.

And Jesus is the only way to the Father. And so a lot of times Christians are accused of of saying that we should not say that there's only one God. We should not say that in this one God there's only one way.

My dear friends we're only repeating what the Bible says. This is what Jesus says. If we should not be ashamed of what the Bible says and what Jesus says about himself we should say we should agree even though it hurts and say amen.

Oh don't ever. Let us say oh my to what Jesus says. Let us agree with what Jesus says. Turn with me if you will to Matthew chapter 7. Let's look at verses 13 and 14. Matthew 7 13 and 14 this is Jesus speaking.

He says enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction. And those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life.

And those who find it are few. Here in Matthew chapter 7 we have two gates. The first gate that is described as wide it's easy but it leads to destruction. It leads to hell. It leads to consuming fire that does not consume your body.

In this gate we can find many. Jesus's the Mormon Jesus the Jesus of Jehovah Witnesses the Jesus of Islam ism and the Jesus of oneness Pentecostal ism just to name a few. The Jesus of Mormon ism according to them is the spiritual offspring of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother brother to Lucifer and brother to all human beings sent into the earth to obey Mormonism in order to become gods.

They teach that Heavenly Father was once a man just like us who obeyed Mormonism in order to in order to be given a planet and to raise up spiritual offspring for himself. This is saying that God himself had a God that he worshipped.

You find that anywhere in the Bible concerning the it's concerning the Godhead. They teach that the father some of them anyways and I'll make reference to that the father the son and the Holy Spirit are three separate gods who have one purpose.

This is what they'll openly say. But if you push them on this they'll have to admit that only the father and the son become gods because in order to become a god you have to once been a man. But they like to believe.

They'll say to you oh we believe in a Trinity. But they'll say that they unite in one purpose three gods one purpose. But if you push them if you know Mormon doctrine they'll have to admit that the Holy Spirit is not even a god because it never became a man.

That is not the biblical account. The Jesus of Jehovah's Witnesses according to them actually believe Michael believe that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. They teach that prior to Jesus becoming flesh he was Michael the Archangel and when Jesus became flesh Michael ceased to exist in heaven.

They also teach that at the crucifixion Jesus did not raise from the dead but that he ceased to exist on earth and the Michael appeared in heaven. That is not the biblical account. The Jesus of Islam according to them is not the Son of God but a prophet sent by God who did not die or atone for sins which means that their Jesus is true.

We are all in our sins. We're in our sins right now. They believe that Jesus was merely a human being but fantastically they believe that he was born of a virgin. Now how does that work. I don't know he's a mere human being but he doesn't have an earthly father.

I don't think they really think through their theology. They believe that he was born of the Virgin Mary that he lived a sinless and perfect life and performed signs and wonders. They also believe that in the end times it will be Jesus that comes back he will burn all the crosses and for all those who worship him as God he will throw in fire.

Ladies and gentlemen a little bit of a lie and a truth makes the truth a lie and that is not the biblical account. The Jesus of one is Pentecostal ism according to them is not a Trinity. They teach that Jesus and the Father are the same person.

That when Jesus that when Jesus took on flesh there was no God in heaven. Then when Jesus was praying to God addressing God he was only praying and addressing his divine self. They believe in one God in one person.

This is what's called modalism. I mentioned that I used to be I used to act in plays and a play that I used to act in yeah I know you see that right was a play concerning the passion of Christ and I played three different parts in that play.

So I had three different outfits three different facial faces right. And so that's what you call a hypocrite. So in ancient days they would have these plays and there would be these masks and they would you've seen these in movies probably where they would act and they would hold these masks in front of their face and then they go behind the scene.

They'll come back out and they'll have a different mask. But if you're an audience member you don't know. But if you only have ten people who are acting and you got 30 positions that need to be played you have to play the hypocrite and so that's what that it's called when you have to play several different parts in a play you are playing the hypocrite.

But that's also what this is. It's called modalism. It's one person playing several different parts. And so the God of one is Pentecostal ism is not the biblical account. The biblical Jesus is God is I am is yo hey va hey is Yahweh is Lord capital L or D.

The biblical Jesus is God the second person of the Trinity. The biblical account of God is that there is one God and yet three distinct persons and we like to break it down into the one. What. And the three.

Who's the one. What is this one being that we would call God. And each person father son and the Holy Spirit is the one God in and of themselves. Jesus is not required by the father to be this one God.

He is this one God. There is no hierarchy. He is God in and of himself. The biblical Jesus is the son of God son of God meaning that as the son he be came flesh. The creator of all things enters into creation by taking on flesh.

The biblical Jesus is the son of David son of David meaning that he fulfilled all the Messianic promises everything spoken about him in this book. He fulfills it. He fulfilled it. And we looked at that last week.

If you want to go in depth the biblical Jesus is the son of man and my son of man meaning that he is God that he is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. As the son of God he comes to fulfill what was spoken of as the son of David.

And as the son of man it points back to him being the son of God which travels through David. Jesus fulfills the scriptures. The Bible promises that Yahweh himself would send a servant and that we were to know that he is the servant.

Isaiah chapter 43 verse 10. The biblical Jesus is the narrow gate. All other false Jesus's are the wide gate. Look with me at verse 14 of Matthew chapter 7. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and those who find it are few.

There's only one way one door one gate and it is Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Heaven has given to us its champion. It's not offering anything else. This is how we are to be justified. And we are his delegates are to go and tell people how to be justified.

And it's through Jesus Christ. The biblical Jesus leads to life while the false Jesus's lead to destruction lead to hell. In our text we're going to see how this plays out. But those today who preach a false Jesus Mormons Jehovah's Witnesses Islamism.

One is Pentecostal ism. Listen I can write a book on it. I can I can name off a lot more but I'll spare you of that time. They are false. They have false Jesus's. They are thieves and they are robbers.

They are nothing more than a Judas goat who has been brought in to blend in and deceive and one day will lead you to the slaughter. A thief is someone who will steal from you. Right. You leave your wallet laying down.

They'll walk up pick it up thumb through it take what they won't and walk away. A robber is someone who will take by force give me your wallet. That's a robber. There's a difference between thieves and robbers.

And according to Jesus these religious leaders these Pharisees would travel across sea and land according to Matthew 23 to make a single proselyte. And they would make this proselyte twice as much of a son of hell as they themselves were.

And according to Jesus they were hypocrites because they told the people to keep the law but they themselves did not keep it. Those that preach a biblical Jesus enter in through the door which is Christ.

We looked at this last week right. God gave five gifts the Apostles the prophets the evangelists the shepherds and the teachers. And last week I explained how only two of those are in play. I mean three of those are in play today.

And that's the evangelist the shepherd and the teacher also mentioned where where it says it doesn't say pastor. And that's because pastor is the Latin word for shepherd. And so as the evangelist the evangelist those who are evangelist in this world they must enter in through the door which is Christ.

Shepherds are to enter in through the door which is Christ. Teachers are to enter in through the door which is Christ. And how do you know who is who. Well who's leading you to Christ. Who's actually going through the book.

Who's actually giving to you Christ and are not trying to deceive you with something that this book doesn't teach. So we have evangelists pastor shepherds and teachers. And we must enter in through that door.

And those that are his sheep hear the gospel through them the evangelist the shepherd and the teach and the teacher. And when they hear through them they are saved. They hear his voice in the gospel that as we preach the gospel God himself Jesus himself speaks to them.

They hear him and they follow him. I made mention of I told you I probably won't say it again but I'm gonna go ahead and re-say it how I did roofing for a long time. And I pulled up at this house. And it was a sheep gate had I don't know 20 30 40 a whole lot of sheep we walk up to it trying to be funny trying to get their attention patting on her leg making noises like trying to get their attention.

And they wouldn't look at us. They didn't look at us. They wouldn't even lift their head to us. Not one. And the woman of the house opens the door and makes a click and sound with her mouth. They all raise their head.

They see her and they follow after her. A stranger. They did not hear but they followed their shepherd. And as the minister the preacher whoever it is presenting the gospel preaches that gospel God through that gospel uses the Holy Spirit to apply the purpose of Christ in their life.

They hear and they follow Jesus. His sheep are those that go in and out and find a pastor. Turn with me to Psalm 23. Notice with me the Lord. Capital L or D. If you're reading from the LSB it'll say Yahweh the Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leaves me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leaves me in paths of righteousness for his namesake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death right.

All things work together for good. So it was Tom Bowden Sunday school. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Right here listen to this. For you are with me your rod and your staff.

They comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This was written as David was on the run from his son absent. I mean on the run from Saul the King Saul and on his own the run from King Saul. He was welcomed by his enemies the Philistines at that time they would set a cup in the middle of the table and they would pour wine into the cup.

And if they just poured a little bit of wine into the cup it meant you can drink but you have to leave. They poured the cup up to the top. It meant you can drink stay a while but you're not welcome. You do have to leave.

But if that wine Exodus the cup and overflows and hits the table. It was a sign at that time that you never have to leave. You're welcome. David goes into the house of his enemies. And in his enemies house they overflow the cup telling David he never has to leave.

Only through the power of God can that happen. He leads me in paths of righteousness. He will protect us even though we walk in the valley of the shadow of death. But also notice this. He says your rod and your staff comforts me.

Now if this was just the Shepherd he would not have this keenly rod. The rod here is speaking of kingship. This is speaking about a king Shepherd. And what a David end up being a king Shepherd. David is a picture a type of an anti type a picture of something greater.

Who is Christ. Who is our King Shepherd. Turn women back to our text. If you are his sheep you will be saved through the gospel and you will find pastor. And if you are not his sheep you will not be saved and you will not find pastor.

You say Jeff I would you say something like that. Go back to verse 3. To him the shepherd the gatekeeper opens the sheep. Hear his voice and he come by here. He calls his own sheep just given the the the picture that there's other sheep.

He calls his own sheep. Was it say by name. And he leads them who his own sheep who heard him. He leads them out verse 10. Look at verse 10. The thief comes only to steal kill and destroy these Pharisees these Judas goats these religions of our day who are preaching a different Christ.

They come only to steal kill and destroy. Jesus says I came that they speaking of his sheep may have life and have it abundantly. Now if you were to do a poll on one of the most misused verses in all scripture this would have to be in the top ten God living in the abundant life.

Right. That has to be one of the top ten. The thief is the one that takes by force. This is speaking of the Oh covenant pharisaical Jews according to the context right we can draw application and point to these false religious systems of our day or these charlatans that we see on TV in who only wants your money.

Right here he is speaking about this old covenant pharisaical thieves who are trying to take by force force the the Israelites at that time to continue to remain under Moses versus the new covenant that was inaugurated by Jesus Christ.

We looked at this last week the old covenant the law was the ministry of death. Remember the covenant of works. Do this and live. If you don't do this you're going to either die or you'll be removed from the land that's a covenant of death.

The covenant the new covenant however this covenant of grace is the Ministry of Life. The abundant life is to be in the covenant of life. The new covenant the covenant of grace washed in the blood of Jesus the abundant life is to be in the covenant of life and not to be in the covenant of death it is to be in Christ and not under Moses.

The abundant life is to be in Christ. And Ephesians 2 tells us that by faith we are saved. By grace and faith we are saved. And it tells us that God saved us and that we are in Christ and as a matter of fact we are sitting with Christ right now in heaven and yet we're still here.

Because we go in and out and find pasture. Point number three. We'll tie everything together. His sovereignty. Look at verse 11. He says, I am. Remember, Tetragrammaton, the Good Shepherd. Who's our Shepherd?

The Lord, Yahweh, Jesus. Jesus is Yahweh, is the Good Shepherd. He says, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. When the shepherd was out in the field and a wolf came, the shepherd would give his life if necessary for his sheep.

And according to in God's sovereignty in this fall that took place that separates us from the peace of God, our God gave his life for his sheep. Question. How is it that the elect sheep of God are protected?

Answer. Jesus the Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Not for all sheep, for his sheep. Those whom he calls by name. His sheep, he came, he died for his sheep. He lived for them, he died for them, and at this very moment if you're in him, he is interceding for you.

This word here interceding is to, is that means that he is advocating. An advocate is the same way that the term that we would use for a lawyer, right? If you get yourself in trouble, you go to court, you do not speak for yourself, you hire someone to speak for you.

Someone who knows the ins and outs of the law. Jesus right now in heaven at the right hand of father is interceding. Speaking to the father, advocating to the father on our behalf. Turn with me to 1st John chapter 2.

This is one of those verses that needs to be explained concerning this subject. John says in verse 1, my little children I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous.