Thy Strong Word — I John 2:1-6. You may know that you have eternal life: I need an Advocate.

Rev. Curtis Deterding pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study I John 2:1-6.

We all need an advocate who will stand up for us when we are unable to stand up for ourselves. It is the righteous Christ who took on our sins, made the payment for our salvation, and has done all of this for the whole world. In this payment, we joyfully follow His commandments, repenting as we fall, but comforted that the Savior of the world is there as our Helper. Help to confess Jesus as LORD, help to follow His commands, and help to serve others. “O Holy Spirit, as You are our Advocate, help us to believe and follow the Lord’s commands. O Jesus Christ, as You are our Advocate, thank You for making our payment and fill us with Your promises to help us in everything. In Your name, Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

I John 2:1-6

Christ Our Advocate

2 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. ²He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. ³And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

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Rev. Brady Finnern

Rev. Brady Finnern, host of Thy Strong Word. is an expert in all things Minnesota, including hiking the great mountains of the 5th flattest state in the Union and making his own maple syrup. Although chow mein, fried ice cream, and Peanut Persian donuts with maple frosting are at the top of his foodie list, his prized possessions include his gas station refillable fountain soda cup (which, he says, the savings will pay for college for his 4 kids). Pastor Finnern's Divine Call is as President of the LCMS Minnesota North District, and in addition he also enjoys traveling, coaching track, and movie nights with his wife and kids that may or may not include Shawshank Redemption or any of the Thriller movies. When he's not singing his favorite hymns or listening to his favorite metal music, you might find him working out or taking naps. (Probably naps.)