If We Sin We Have An Advocate With The Father

1st John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

This is one of the most encouraging and powerful truths in the Holy Bible dear reader. The word “advocate” is the Greek word Paraclete and refers to one who runs to our side to help. The Greek word Paraclete appear 5 times in the New testament (4 times in the Gospel of John as “Comforter” and 1 time in the Epistle of 1st John as “Advocate”). Paraclete means Comforter, Advocate, Helper! I found this helpful information...

Greek, “{paraclete},” the same term as is applied to the Holy Ghost, as the “other Comforter”; showing the unity of the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity. Christ is the Intercessor for us above; and, in His absence, here below the Holy Ghost is the other Intercessor in us. Christ‘s advocacy is inseparable from the Holy Spirit‘s comfort and working in us, as the spirit of intercessory prayer. —Commentary Critical And Explanatory On The Whole Bible 

I love that truth! Jesus intercedes on our behalf in Heaven before the Father. I speak to redeemed saints (i.e., those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ). 1st John 2:1-2 is such a beautiful truth—whenever we sin (regardless of how awful it may be), the Bible says Jesus is our ADVOCATE (our helper, our comforter), Who INTERCEDES for us before the Father. The Holy Spirit teaches, guides and comforts us here on earth, in Christ's absence (John 16:7). These are beautiful privileges of being a child of God. So Jesus takes care of things up in Heaven, and the Holy Spirit takes care of things down here in earth. 

MEET THE HOLY SPIRIT (a helpful book by Pastor Jack Hyles)

What saith the Scripture? 1st Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” There is ONLY one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus! Since God is absolutely holy, and man is absolutely sinful, there can be no harmony without an intercessor to bridge the gap. That is why God sent His blessed only begotten Son into the world, to become our sacrificial LAMB upon the cross, and then Christ raised up three days later as our intercessory High Priest (our Mediator).

If Christ had only died as a mere mortal man, but never resurrected physically from the dead, then we would have a LAMB but no HIGH PRIEST to intercede on our behalf before God the Father in Heaven. 1st Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” Boy this is great stuff!!! 

Please notice that the Bible says if we sin, we have AN ADVOCATE with the Father—Jesus Christ THE RIGHTEOUS!!! That refers to the imputed righteousness of God, through faith in Christ Jesus! Literally, when a Christian sins, God sees Christ's righteousness instead of our sins. That is why the apostle Paul could say in Romans 4:6-8, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” 

Please don't miss this tremendous truth! God WILL NOT impute sin to any saint! David knew that truth better than anybody, because he was guilty of committing adultery, impregnating another man's wife, and then murdering her husband in an attempt to hide the evil David had done! What a horrible person! Yet, God would NOT impute those sins to David , because his trust was in the blessed Savior! Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” It was after hearing this very truth that Cornelius received Jesus as his personal Savior. Acts 10:44, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” There's that “BY THE HEARING OF FAITH” from Galatians 3:2, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Paul only wanted to know one thing of the Galatians—how did they get saved (i.e., indwelt with the Holy Spirit)—by works or the hearing of faith? Dear friend, it is that easy and simple to be saved. All you need to do is BELIEVE what you hear, when the Gospel is presented to you. 

“The Devil will make you guilty about your past... You're not worthy to serve God, but neither is anybody else worthy to serve God, and so God's gotta have unworthy people serving Him... That's one reason why we should do everything we can to salvage people.” —a beautiful quote from an MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles titled: “If Thou Should Mark Iniquities, Who Could Stand?”

Jesus Christ Saves To The Uttermost

What further saith the Scripture? Hebrews 7:22-25, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 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.” I love that precious word “UTTERMOST” in Hebrews 7:25! There were umpteen Tabernacle high priests throughout the Old Testament, who entered into the holy place each year with the blood of a slain lamb, to atone (cover) for the sins of the people for another year. This was a temporary Ceremonial Law instituted by God under the Old Covenant, awaiting the coming of “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29b). 

There where many faithful Old Testament high priests, but they were not able to continue their work atoning for the sins of the people, because THEY ALL EVENTUALLY DIED! The Bible tells us in Hebrews 7:22-25 that Jesus is the Author of a “BETTER” covenant, that is, the New Testament, because Jesus NEVER DIES! Christ is our High Priest in Heaven Who “EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION” for the saints! Oh listen friend, JESUS SAVES to the UTTERMOST—freely, immediately, permanently, irrevocably, unhesitatingly, completely, once and for all time, thoroughly and eternally!!! There ain't no goin' back dog!!! 

What a precious word: “UTTERMOST”! Unlike the many high priests under the Old Covenant given by Moses, who all died off and couldn't save anybody; Jesus Christ “IS ABLE ALSO TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM.” I love it! I love it! I love it! What a beautiful passage of Holy Scripture!!! Anybody who comes to God the Father through faith in God the Son, is saved! John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

I found this helpful Bible commentary on the word “UTTERMOST”...

Albert Barnes' Notes On The Whole Bible

To the uttermost - This does not mean simply “forever” - but that he has power to save them so that their salvation shall be “complete” - εἰς τὸ παντελὲς eis to panteles. He does not abandon the work midway; he does not begin a work which he is unable to finish. He can aid us as long as we need anything done for our salvation; he can save all who will entrust their salvation to his hands. SOURCE

Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” I agree with Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) in the Perseverance Of The Holy Spirit (or, the Preservation Of The Saints). As did Dr. Ironside, I also totally REJECT the false doctrine of Calvinism called: the Perseverance Of The Saints! In other words, if you are saved, you have the indwelling Holy Spirit by which God by which “ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13b-14). You can never lose the Holy Spirit! He has promised in Hebrews 13:5 “NEVER” to leave nor forsake you as a child of God! 

I hope you will remember this Bible truth—the important word: ADVOCATE! Jesus is our Advocate, the righteous one who intercedes for us in the presence of the Father, so that we are never at risk of losing our salvation. To lose one's salvation, Jesus would have to resign as our heavenly High Priest! Oh, but we have a great High Priest, who is faithful! Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Literally, the Bible is encouraging us to have confidence and boldness in the Lord, knowing that Jesus is in Heaven interceding on our behalf 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Jesus is our Advocate when we sin! Literally, the Bible is telling us that the Savior has our back! ...

Romans 5:20-21 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Thus, the Christian believer falls “IN GRACE” when we sin, never “FROM GRACE.” Only an unsaved person who rejects the Gospel has fallen “FROM GRACE!” Jesus is our faithful Advocate, and He will always be there to intercede for us when we sin. Jesus intercedes for us in Heaven; and the Holy Spirit intercedes down here on earth in Christ's stead, in His absence. John 16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

“We don't love people because of what they do, or don't do; we love them because God loves them, and God cares about them, and He wants us to help win them to the Lord!” —Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr. (a beautiful quote from the sermon titled: “Developing A Process of Evangelism To Reach The Lost With The Gospel”