We have all watched movies or television programs where there are lawyers pleading the case for someone who is not capable of defending themselves. These lawyers become advocates and come along beside those they defend. Our advocate is the greatest of all advocates representing us to the Almighty Judge!
In John 2:1, John refers to us as “little children.” When we are saved, we are children of God and He is our Father. When we become children of God, we gain access to Jesus as our advocate. He comes along beside us and pleads our case to the Father, the Righteous Judge. John writes that as children of God, we are not to sin. We are to seek to please God in all we do, but when we do sin, and we will, He is there to help us. He is our advocate as long as we believe.
I John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
When Jesus is our advocate, it is not a license to sin. Some teach that once we are saved, we have been forgiven and no matter what we do we will go to Heaven. However, that is not the case. John acknowledges the fact that we still possess a sinful nature, and we will have a need for someone to represent us to the Father. Scripture teaches us when we sin, we are to confess and repent. In I John 1:9, we are told that if we confess and forsake our sins, He will forgive us. When we are aware that we have sinned, there is no need to be despondent and live defeated. We have the perfect advocate to plead our case. This should be a great encouragement to us to strive to be like the one who loves us this much.
He is the only one who could be our advocate because He is the only man that was perfectly sinless. It is important for us to remember that Jesus was free of sin because it was an absolute necessity for an advocate in the court of Heaven. In Habakkuk 1:13 the prophet teaches us that God is so pure He cannot be in the presence of sin. All sin is hateful in His eyes and His purity abhors it. Peter tells us in I Peter 2:22 that our perfect advocate never sinned. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” In Him was found no deceit, hypocrisy, or insincerity. He was and is perfect.
Habakkuk 1:13a “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.”
One day we will have the opportunity to thank the one face-to-face who made it possible for us to be made right with the Father. This Lamb of God that John identifies in John 1:29 is the Lamb that paid the price so that we could be forgiven. He was the perfect sacrifice, and He is the perfect advocate. One day those that are His will sing with the multitudes in Heaven the words of Revelation 5:12 He is Worthy of all the power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessings.
John 1:29 “The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Revelation 5:12 “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”
