In the last “Winding Down with the Word,” I mentioned the advocacy of Christ in connection with the grace of God.  Let’s look a little deeper into this.

Jesus died for us on the cross, but that was not the end of the story.  Thank God for that, for if it had been, we would be without a Savior.  Jesus was right, however, when He said that the gates of Hades would not prevail against Him (Matthew 16:18).  By the power of God, He was raised from the dead, and as a result, mankind has the potential to be saved.

Romans 5:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Paul’s reference to the life of Christ could have simply been referring to His resurrection since He was, after all, raised for our justification (Romans 4:25).  However, while we were saved by His life, that is, by the fact that He has risen, Paul seems to be referring to something that followed our original justification.  In other words, our Lord’s life does something for us after we are reconciled to God.  To know what that is, we simply need to know what Jesus does for us now that He has been resurrected.  The book of Hebrews tells us what that is.  

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)
²⁵  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

When we break God’s law and end up in heaven’s court before the throne of God, we do not do so alone.  We have Jesus standing right by our side, interceding for us, and the good news is that He has never lost a case.  Read the words of John.

1 John 2:1 (ESV)
¹  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The Greek word for advocate is paracletos.  “There is no one word that can adequately translate paracletos. The word that probably comes closest is simply helper…Sin separates the believer from God, making him guilty of transgression and worthy of condemnation and punishment.  But Jesus Christ is the believer’s Helper—his Advocate, the one who speaks in our defense.  Jesus Christ stands before God to plead the case of the believer” (Practical Word Studies in The New Testament).

No, we do not have a license to sin just because we have a perfect advocate on our side.  John wrote what he did to inspire us not to sin.  But, when we do stumble and sin, it is nice to know that all is not lost.  If we are willing to repent (Acts 8:22), and pray to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9), He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.

Why is our hope so strong and unshakable?  It is because the one who can condemn us—Jesus, the Christ, is on our side, giving us the best defense possible.

Romans 8:34 (ESV)
³⁴  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.   

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.