Advocate

One of my favorite names given to Jesus is Advocate. The Apostle John calls Him our advocate to God when we sin. (1 John 2:1). The word advocate means one who defends or one who pleads the case of another. Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus Christ is our advocate to God.

What does this really mean? God’s justice is perfect. Sin demands a punishment and the punishment for sin is death. When we sin, God’s justice demands for our death. The foundation of God’s throne is justice (Psalm 89:14). So, one day when we stand before that throne God’s justice will demand that we pay the penalty for our sin.

Our trial before God will go only one of two ways – just like trials today. We will either be sentenced to death or we will given our pronounced forgiven and given access to eternal life.

The outcome of that trial – just like many of today’s trials – hinges on our defender. We can stand by ourselves and futilely attempt to defend our actions. But no self justification will appease God’s justice. The price of sin is death and if we stand alone with no defender – we must and we will pay the cost of our sin. Death.

Or, we have Jesus as our advocate. He will be there defend us. He will tell God that we took on His death in this life by putting to death our sinful self and giving our life to Him. He will show God the evidence of our life dedicated to Him. And when God points out that we still have sin on our record, Christ will tell God yes but I paid the cost from their sin. He will show God His robe dipped in blood (Revelation 19:13). He will argue to God that our debt has been paid. He will plead that God extends His mercy and grace to us. And since Christ is the perfect defender and He has the ultimate evidence – His blood – that our debt has been paid, God will extend us mercy. We will be forgiven and pronounced free.

But let me be very clear – Christ wants to be everyone’s advocate BUT He will not be everyone’s defender on the last day. He will only plead the case of those who tried to live a righteous life according to God’s laws. He will only stand before God’s judgment seat with those who took on His death in this life through baptism (1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 2:38, Colossians 2:12). He will only advocate for those who are His.

Don’t stand before God’s judgment seat alone. Don’t believe the lies of Satan. You won’t be able to rationalize or defend your sinful life – no matter how good of a person you are. Sin is sin to God and we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23) and the penalty for our sin is death (Romans 6:23).

You can either stand before God with no defender and no evidence that you tried your best to put to death your sinful self. God’s judgment will be swift. You’ve not paid for your sin and you will be pronounced guilty and sentenced to eternal death.

OR we can stand before God with Jesus pleading our case. He will show God His blood and tell God Hos blood paid for our debts. He will show God the evidence of our godly life. And God’s will judgment will be swift. He will immediately extend us His mercy and grace and welcome us into Heaven and give us eternal life.

Don’t stand before God alone. Let Jesus be your advocate. He is waiting and willing.