“If
we cannot claim to live sinless lives, then the only thing that can keep us
from despairing before a holy God is that we have an Advocate in heaven and He pleads our case not on the basis
of our perfection but of His propitiation.” –
John Piper
We have an Advocate – Alistair Begg
1 John 2:1
"If anyone does sin, we have an advocate." Yes,
though we sin, we have Him still. John does not say, "If anyone sins, they
have forfeited their advocate," but "we have an
advocate," even though we are sinners. All the sin that a believer ever
did or can be allowed to commit cannot destroy his interest in the Lord Jesus
Christ as his advocate. The name given here to our Lord is suggestive. "Jesus."
He is the kind of advocate we need, for Jesus is the name of one whose business
and delight it is to save. "You shall call his name Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins."1 His sweetest name
implies His success.
Next, it is "Jesus Christ"—Christos, the
anointed. This shows His authority to plead. Christ has a right to
plead, for He is the Father's own appointed advocate and elected priest. If He
were our choice He might fail, but if God has laid help on one who is mighty,
we may safely place our trouble where God has laid His help. He is Christ, and
therefore authorized; He is Christ, and therefore qualified, for the
anointing has fitted Him fully for His work. He can plead in such a way as to
move the heart of God and prevail. What words of tenderness, what sentences of
persuasion will the anointed use when He stands up to plead for me!
One more aspect of His name remains: "Jesus Christ the
righteous." This is not only His character but His plea. It is His
character, and if the Righteous One is my advocate, then my cause is good or He
would not have represented it. It is His plea, for He meets the charge of
unrighteousness against me by the plea thatHe is righteous. He declares
Himself my substitute and puts His obedience to my account. My soul, you have a
friend perfectly fitted to be your advocate—He cannot but succeed; leave
yourself entirely in His hands.
Matthew 1:21
Sid Stewart
Executive Director, Haven of Rest Ministries, Inc.
864 226-6193
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