God’s Provision for the Times When We Sin

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 2:1

An advocate is one who is called alongside to help. The word is used for a lawyer defending a client in court. Jesus is our advocate. He speaks in our defence. He advocates for us.

What could our defence be?

Jesus cannot plead that we have not sinned—clearly, we have. He cannot plead mitigating circumstances. God calls us to confess our sins, and a large part of confession is to admit that we are without excuse. If you say, “Lord, I admit that I lost my temper, but You know that I was provoked,” you are not making a confession, you are making an excuse.

God has given us His Holy Spirit. He has blessed us with every blessing in Christ. After all that God has done for us, after all that we have received from His hand, what excuse do we have? None whatsoever.

So, what case can Jesus make for our defence?

The defence Jesus offers is not that we are innocent. It is not that there were mitigating circumstances that excuse our sin. It is that the price for our sins has already been paid.

If anyone sins, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (2:1). As this old hymn reminds us,

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea;
A great high priest whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.

Prayerfully consider the words of this hymn, thanking God for providing an advocate for the times when you sin.