Our Advocate

Good Morning,

1 John 2:1-2 (NIV)
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2 (NKJV)
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Imagine for a moment that you have been charged with some crime or other. Secondly, think about the fact that you know very well that you've broken the law you've been accused of. And, last envision in your mind that the tribunal who is charged with putting you on trial and then proclaiming the sentence for your crime knows, beyond any shadow of doubt, that you have, indeed, broken the law you've been charged with.

Pretty scary, isn't it? Especially if the punishment that fits the crime is one that will last for all time...for eternity.

Now, what if you had someone who would stand up before this Judge and be your total and complete Advocate? What if, and this goes beyond all understanding here, this person is not JUST your Advocate, but also will stand in to pay the ultimate atoning payment for your crime?

That's EXACTLY what we have, my friends. We, every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of their life, has Him, Jesus, as our Advocate to speak in our defense for the crime (read sin here) that we've committed in our lives. Jesus will stand before the Father, the ultimate Judge of all mankind, to defend us...even though we're indefensible because we are, truly, guilty as charged. But, as we read in today's Scripture verses, He is more than our Advocate. He is also the payment, the one who has already served out our sentence...paid the price...been the propitiation...is the atoning sacrifice...for our sinful lives.

And not only that. You see, Jesus can be, will be, and is the same defender, advocate, propitiation, and sacrifice for the sins of the entire world for all mankind...IF people will only accept Him for Who He is and for what He offers freely to them.

I guess that makes US, each of us, Jesus' "assistant" defence attorneys, doesn't it? Well, maybe not attorneys, but, in a worldly way, we DO assist Him by simply making Him known to those who need Him in their lives. How will we do our jobs? Will we be able to say, at that final day, "Well, Lord, I sure gave it my all to get them to take You on as their Advocate." Or, will we have to say, "I'm sorry, Lord, but I sort of fell down on the job and really didn't do as I know I should have done."

Which will we be? Dependable helpers to the Lord? Or, those who have been somewhat less than dependable?

Yes, another choice that we have to make.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David