17/08/2025
Jesus, Our Advocate
🔹 1 John 2:1–2 (KJV)
> "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."
Key truths:
John encourages believers not to sin, but recognizes human weakness.
When we fail, we are not left condemned—we have an advocate (lawyer/intercessor) with the Father: Jesus Christ the Righteous.
His advocacy is not based on sentiment but on His finished work on the cross: He is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for sin.
Thus, forgiveness is not a mere emotional pardon; it is legal, righteous, and grounded in Christ’s death and resurrection. God forgives us because Christ already bore the penalty.
🔹 Romans 8:1–17 (Selected highlights)
1. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (v.1)
– Because Christ took our place, the verdict over the believer is justified (acquitted).
2. “For what the law could not do… God sending his own Son… condemned sin in the flesh.” (v.3)
– Christ fulfilled the law’s demands, broke sin’s power, and gave us the Spirit.
3. “For ye have not received the spirit of bo***ge again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (v.15)
– The cross didn’t just forgive sin; it restored our relationship with God, making us sons and heirs.
🔹 Collaboration of Both Scriptures
1 John 2 shows Christ’s advocacy and atonement, while Romans 8 shows the effect of that work in the believer’s life:
Advocacy: Christ continually represents us before the Father (1 John 2:1).
No condemnation: Because of Christ’s advocacy, we walk free from guilt and judgment (Rom. 8:1).
Forgiveness secured: His propitiation satisfies God’s justice (1 John 2:2), bringing peace with God.
New life in the Spirit: Romans 8:2–17 explains how believers, now forgiven, walk in newness of life, empowered by the Spirit.
Together, they emphasize that salvation is not just a past event (the cross) but an ongoing reality (Christ’s advocacy and the Spirit’s indwelling).
🔹 Finished Work of Christ (How it ties together)
Death: He bore our sins and took our judgment (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24).
Burial: He carried away sin, symbolizing its final removal (Rom. 6:4).
Resurrection: He rose to justify us (Rom. 4:25) and now lives to intercede for us (Rom. 8:34).
This means forgiveness is not temporary or fragile—it is eternal, secure, and grounded in Christ’s finished work.
🔹 Benefits of Christ’s Advocacy & Finished Work (From 1 John 2 & Romans 8)
1. No condemnation – The believer is justified once for all (Rom. 8:1).
2. Continual advocacy – Even when we stumble, Christ pleads our case (1 John 2:1).
3. Forgiveness of sins – Past, present, and future sins are covered by His propitiation (1 John 2:2).
4. Freedom from the law of sin and death – The Spirit of life now empowers us (Rom. 8:2).
5. Adoption into God’s family – We cry Abba, Father as sons and daughters (Rom. 8:15).
6. Indwelling of the Spirit – Assurance, guidance, and empowerment (Rom. 8:9–11).
7. Victory over the flesh – By the Spirit, we mortify sin (Rom. 8:13).
8. Heirs with Christ – Sharing in His suffering now and glory later (Rom. 8:17).
✅ In summary:
1 John 2:1–2 assures us that when we sin, we are not abandoned—Christ stands as our advocate, pointing to His finished work as the basis for forgiveness. Romans 8:1–17 shows the practical outworking of that forgiveness—we live without condemnation, in the power of the Spirit, as children of God and heirs with Christ.
Christ’s death removed sin, His resurrection secured our justification, and His advocacy guarantees our ongoing standing before God.
