In furtherance of our study on forgiveness of sin, we will be expounding the foolproof advocacy of Jesus. By fool proof, i mean an advocacy that is infallible.
As a believer, you must understand you have two advocates, one in heaven and one right here with you on earth.While Jesus advocates or plead your cause in heaven, the Holy Spirit advocates or pleads your cause here on earth. Today, we will be x-raying Jesus Advocacy.
1 John 2:1 says “…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.”
The Greek word translated Advocate is parakletous. It means ‘one called or sent for to assist or help another; an advocate, one who pleads the cause of another,’ or ‘one present to render various beneficial services.’
You see, when Jesus rose from the death, He rose as your advocate or your lawyer. But unlike our earthly lawyers who only take on cases that serves their interests or wallets, Jesus is a lawyer whose only is interest is your happiness and well-being.
However, Scriptures informs us that we have an adversary called the accuser of the brethren. “…Then I heard a great voice in Heaven cry: ‘Now the salvation and the power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ have come! For the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down from this place, where he stood before our God accusing them day and night.'”( Revelation 12:10 )
Watch this:
When you are accused of an offence and appear before a judge to preside over a case, there are two possibilities, you are either acquitted and discharged, or condemned and punished. In your case Jesus was condemned for your offences, He served the punishment that you deserve and was raised so you can be justified or put in right relations with God. Now you stand acquitted, free from guilt, discharged from prosecution. A verdict of not guilty is upon you.
So when your accuser, the devil, comes along and says, “You have done this wrong and you have not done that right,” Jesus says, “Father, the devil is right, but My blood has paid for what the devil is accusing him of.”
Then the devil adds, “You have also not been reading the Bible or praying enough. And this morning, you told a lie.”
Again, Jesus will say, “Father, the devil has indeed reported correctly, but My blood has paid for all these failures.”
Then, God the Father will then slam the gavel and say, “Case dismissed! Next!”
As your Advocate today, Jesus ensures that what He died and suffered to give you, you get!
In heaven today, He defends and represents you to ensure that the healing, wholeness, protection and other blessings that He died to give you are enforced in your life.
You must have confidence in and rest in the ability of your Advocate!
Now, let`s examine the Amplified Rendering of our opening text: “…My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—[it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father’s will in every purpose, thought, and action].
Notice that it says “if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (one who will intercede for us) with the Father” … meaning the moment a child of God sins, straightaway, his Advocate, Jesus Christ, goes into action to pray for and protect him.
Romans 8:33-34 says “…. Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with himself.34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in heaven.”(TLB)
Notice that it says God has forgiven you and given you right standing with him or made you righteous. It`s a done deal.
Now, you have a helper in the presence of the Father, pleading for you, so no one can accuse or condemn you. No one can say you are guilty or pronounce punishment on you.
You see, to pronounce punishment on you means God is holding sin against you . So He will not heal you, He will not prosper you or He will not answer your prayers.
For years, religion and wrong church attitudes told people whom Jesus purchased with his blood and is continuously cleansing their sins with his blood, that the reason they fall sick is because God is punishing them, The reason their prayers are not answered is because God is punishing them. The reason things are not working out well for them is because God is punishing them.
While the advocacy of He who died in your place, rose so you can be made right with God, and now sitting at the right of hand of the father, a place of highest honour interceding for you was relegated to the background or completely ignored.
Beloved brethren, the time to stop living in condemnation is now, you must take advantage of the advocacy of JESUS.
He died and rose for you. Now he pleads for you to ensure that all the victories he won for you at the cross becomes a reality in your life. His advocacy is foolproof.
To learn more, you can call or write me to order my teachings on righteousness.
Pastor Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe, Joint Heirs International, #441 Cresecent, Brockton MA 02302 : Worship Hours: Sunday 10a.m, Wednesday 7p.m, Saturday 6a.m : Email: info@jointheirsint.org
