Jesus Christ Our Advocate With The Father

Sin is a universal pollutant and uncleanness in this world. God has provided the blood of His Son as a remedy for the guilt and filth of sin. The removal of sin is referred to as a cleansing, because of the pollution and filth of our sins in the sight of God. The blood of Christ can remove “all” sin. Christ is not a partial Savior, he saves to the uttermost. The privilege in having fellowship with God is “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

A perfect freedom from all sin is unattainable in this human life. The apostle Paul said, "There is none righteous, not even one.…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23). Man through the frailty of our human nature is always subject to sin.

John says that “if we say, that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). This passage does not refer to the past sinful life before an individual became a child of God, but to the present state wherein children of God have the opportunity to commit sin. Men who think they are without sin and need no forgiveness are deceived. When a child of God claims that he has no guilt, no sinfulness, and consequently has no need of the atoning sacrifice of Christ; this is the most dreadful of all deceptions because it leaves the soul under all the guilt and pollution of sin. We at all times, and in all circumstances, need to admit the painful and humiliating truth, that we are all transgressors of the will of God, and that we need the continual forgiveness of God. John says to deny this fact is to make God a liar, and we have failed to understand the truth of God’s word.

How does the child of God properly cover his sins and transgressions? John says we have “an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). The word “advocate” contains the idea of one who makes intercession for another, a comforter, defender, counselor, one who would advise and assist in a court of law. The child of God can approach the throne of God with a penitent heart and know that the righteous Son of God will plead our case before God. The Hebrew writer says that we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” because of Jesus Christ. The result of this approach before God is that we can find grace to help our sinful condition and obtain God’s mercy, because of our willing confession of our sins.

The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the practice of wickedness. John says, “My little children…sin not” (1 John 2:1). The believer hates, confesses, and longs to be delivered from all sin, which is darkness. The gospel of Christ also gives blessed relief to the child of God with a wounded conscience because of their sinful transgression of God’s word. What is the process of forgiveness for the child of God?

1. A contrite heart of repentance (Sorrow for our sins)

2) Must confess our sin openly to God. .

The Christian life is a life of continued repentance, humiliation for sin, faith in God’s grace and mercy, and thankfulness and love for our Redeemer. God is gracious and will forgive the contrite confessor of all his sins, and cleanse him from the guilt of all unrighteousness.