And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:1)
An advocate is someone who supports, strengthens and stands in the gap for another. Inasmuch as the Bible identifies the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, it also identifies Jesus in the same capacity. Today I want to encourage you with a word about Jesus, your Almighty Advocate.
First, Jesus in your Advocate at the moment of your salvation when God the Father accepts you as His own, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Here is what the conversation might sound like between Jesus and His Father:
Father, this one is mine. Yes, he was guilty as charged. Yes, he was dead in trespasses and sins. But you said my death would pay the penalty for his sins and now my blood has cleansed him from all unrighteousness. You put your stamp of approval on my work being totally sufficient for his salvation when you raised me from the dead. Not only now, but forever more, there is no condemnation because I was condemned in his place.
Second, this imaginary last statement tells us that Jesus remains our Almighty Advocate forever and ever. We were not only sinners in need of a Savior when we got saved. But we are sinners in need of a Savior every moment of every day thereafter. We still sin and when we confess our sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive us, over and over again. And don’t forget this. Because Jesus was fully man as well as fully God, He knows exactly what you have gone through, what you are currently going through, and what you will go through in the future. He knows your suffering and your sorrow. He lived it Himself, yet without sin, and can sympathize with you every step of the way into glory.
Remember, regardless of where this finds you today, your Almighty Advocate is not only for you, He is with you, and He is in you. Pray that God would open the eyes of your heart today, as he did for Stephen when the religious leaders were stoning him to death, when he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His Mighty Right Hand (Acts 7:55) . . . AND HE WILL . . . because Jesus is your Almighty Advocate.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 