Advocate, “someone who speaks for, supports, or represents a person or group of people who may need extra help or protection.” Cambridge
“And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: “1John 2:1b
An Advocate speaks on behalf of another. Christ’ advocacy is the foundation for our confession spoken of in 1John 1:9. Miles Stanford.
What does it mean? Well, in John 14:16, John 14:26; John 15:26; and John 16:7, the same Greek word translated “Advocate” is there translated “Comforter.”
“the Holy Ghost should teach them all that truth which was needful for their salvation. Peace I leave with you — Peace in general, peace with God, and with your own consciences.” Benson
“The Holy Spirit is God’s Advocate on earth with men, while Christ is man’s Advocate with the Father.” AT Robertson
Christ is not a mere suppliant petitioner. One making a plea for us.
No, but He pleads for us on the ground of justice, or righteousness, as well as mercy. It is His righteousness, or obedience to the law, and endurance of its full penalty for us, on which He grounds His claim for our acquittal. He was “made under the Law.” Galatians 4:4, and through it became dead to the Law. 2:19. Matthew 5:19 Speaks of Christ fulfilling the Law (unto righteousness.)
Hebrews 5:8-9 teaches us, ” Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ” ” And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; “
The sense therefore is, “in that He is righteous”, in contrast to our sin. The Father, by raising Him from the dead, and setting Him at His own right (hand), has once for all accepted Christ’s claim for us (all of mankind). “The righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God’s righteousness is, in Jesus Christ, ours” [Luther]. ! Corinthians 1:30 He is our Righteousness
and ” …by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Now, “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26
The Spirit maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:27 ,and Rom_8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
We can rest in the fact that his work of atonement is never repeated. M. Stanford. Hebrews 8 and 10 teach us our sins and offenses He will remember no more. We depend on the fact that His work as Advocate is never interrupted, “seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
We Now simply confess our sins as directed to in 1John 1:9. We discover again that God is faithful and operating in complete Justice to enact our forgiveness as His cleansing is an ongoing reality.
“We are to consider ourselves dead to sin, thus giving the Holy Spirit freedom to apply the finished work of the cross to indwelling sin, so that it may be progressively held inoperative.” Stanford.
This brings us to Romans 8:31-33,
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:31-34
Beloved, “the chasm between our perfect position and our imperfect condition is bridged by His advocacy and cleansing. The accusations of Satan Revelation 12:10 etc. are unfounded.
In closing, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? love ya
