Accuser or Advocate?

This past Sunday, our lesson topic was "Accuser or Advocate" from a group study by Judah Smith called Jesus Is ________.  I found our discussion after the video to be challenging and encouraging at the same time.  So, let me pose the question Smith poses to us, "Are we to be accusers or advocates in our world?" 

I know what the obvious answer is.  We should be advocates.  But how does this apply practically with our spouse, children, friends, neighbors? Can we be advocates all the time?  As the old adage says, "hate the sin, love the sinner."  Can we stand firm on convictions from God's Word in a non-accusatory way?  Or should we? 

Like I told the class, it requires a lot of prayer and leading by the Holy Spirit. 

Here are some verses that show examples of accusation?
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.  (Revelation 12:10-11 ESV)
 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11 ESV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:17-18 ESV)
Here are a few quotes from Judah Smith from Jesus Is _________:
He is on your side not because of who you are but because of who he is. His love is unconditional and overwhelming. He is your advocate, your defense lawyer, and your biggest fan.
But when sin becomes more important than the sinner, an alarm needs to go off in our heads.
What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you regarding this topic?  Are we always to be advocates even when people are doing things that hurt them and others?  Can we still be in relationship with them even if they do things that are clearly called sin in the Bible?

We know God hates sin because it hurts us and because He is holy.  God's way is always best. Yet He is able to love us despite our sins.  Are we as humans capable of this too?

 

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