Hopeless without my Advocate!
Posted by thinkpoint on May 16, 2008
by Steve Cornell
A truth that has become increasingly real and special to me is found in the New Testament letter titled First John. I am sure you’ll find immediate application because of the opening line. Here it is: “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). The goal of life was mentioned in the prior verse. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin” (I John 2:1). Another verse in the New Testament, describes the Christian life as a “struggle against sin” (Hebrews 12:4).
For many people, sin is an unclear and undesirable subject. Yet we all recognize that we do wrong things for which we feel guilty. If sin is understood as an offense against another, we all sin. Therefore, the need for forgiveness is real to all honest people. Some, of course, limit this to a horizontal experience. Human forgiveness is all they trouble over. But, deep inside, I believe most people feel a need for forgiveness that is greater than human forgiveness. If we were created to be in a reconciled relationship with our Creator, we need His forgiveness when we sin against Him. And, I suggest that sin is more than violation of the Creator’s Law. It is equally offense against the Creator on a personal level. My confession of each sin could always be started with the admission, “I have sinned against you, my Creator.” Jesus pictured the prodigal son saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son (Luke 15:21). Sin is always a relational issue.
This takes me back to my opening reflection. “…if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (I John 2:1). Another translation renders it, “…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father…” (NASB). The New Living Translation opens up the meaning further with the rendering, “if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous” (I John 2:1). And the next verse is crucial to the matter: “He (Jesus Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).
The idea of an atoning sacrifice for sin (or, as older translations say, “propitiation”) is common to religion. But there is a major difference between the Christian understanding and all the other religious concepts of it. In religion, the sinner brings something to offer to the deity hoping to pacify the angry god/s. In Christianity, God’s righteous anger toward our willful rebellion and sin is withdrawn from us because the punishment it deserves has been placed on our willing Savior, Jesus Christ (See: John 10:17-18). In this way, the satisfaction of the wrath of God toward sin has been accomplished by the love of God through the gift of God. From our end, the hymn writer paints the right picture, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” God is both the propitiator and the propitiated.
As I walk with God in this life, I have an increased awareness that I would be doomed if I did not have an advocate with God the Father. I would like to say that I don’t sin anymore but the truth is the more I learn about God and His will, the more I realize that I do not measure up to His glorious being and purpose. Yes, I desperately need the one who pleads our case before the Father. And, with profound gratitude, I know that God has provided for my need. And, not for mine only, but for the whole world! Reflecting on this truth, the apostle broke out in a line of praise:
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ (II Corinthians 5:18-21, NLT).
This draws me to three passages from the New Testament book of Hebrews. Let these truths settle deep within your heart. Here you’ll find peace that passes human understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Jesus.
“Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself (Hebrews 7:26-27).
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:24-28).
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[e] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Closing with a great hymn seems appropriate. Reflect on these words, or hit the link below and sing it!
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill the law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let me hide myself in Thee.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NLT).
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