“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” (1 John 2:1-2).

A Divine Word Picture

1 John 2 opens with a vivid word picture – the believer standing in the Eternal Court of Heaven. He has confessed to sinning. Yet, as a believer in Christ, an Advocate is “called in” to plead his cause; a Friend of the accused person, called to speak on their behalf.

The Advocate leaves the side of the Judge and comes to the defendant’s side. He reminds the court that He hung alone on the Cross to bear the weight, to pay the price for the believer’s sin on the Cross, and not only for this believer, but for all. The Advocate pleads His own character, sacrifice, and blood as the perfect payment made for the cleansing of sin. 

Our Advocate 

The Book of 1 John was written to scattered Jewish believers. These early Christians struggled to comprehend the eternal nature of their salvation. They wrestled with this question: if we are saved, what happens to our sin? The Holy Spirit guided the Apostle John to pen this letter. God’s Word always brings clarity and assurance. (Click HERE for Scott’s verse-by-verse study of 1 John). As the book opens, John deals with the sin of believers. Scripture records:

 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

It is in this context that we are introduced to our Advocate – Jesus Christ. A wonderful promise and clear command are presented: we should not sin. Yet, when we sin, Jesus Christ is our Advocate. This word for “advocate” comes from the Greek word parakletos. It is an amazing term that describes a person (often a friend) who comes alongside a defendant to plead their cause or to make intercession. Generally, it was used in the legal sense.

The Person: Jesus Christ the Righteous

This is the only time the term ‘advocate’ is attributed to Christ; every other occasion speaks of the Holy Spirit. While God is omnipresent, a great truth is taught here: just as the Holy Spirit is working on our behalf on Earth, so the Lord Jesus is standing on our behalf in Heaven. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us from Earth (Romans 8:25-27) and the Son intercedes for us to the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 7:25). In this, we find the perfect tri-unity of our great God!

The sinless Son of God is the Advocate for us. Scripture reminds us that “we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

The forsaken Son of God now stands beside us. 

• Christ was forsaken by the crowds — John 6:66
• Christ was forsaken by His disciples – Mark 14:50
• Christ was forsaken by the Father – Matthew 27:46

He suffered this “for the joy that was set before him.” It was for our sakes that He “endured the cross, despising the shame.” And even now, our Savior is “set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And even though His redeeming work is complete, He is interceding for us. He comes to our side to plead with the Father on our behalf. 

The Position: With the Father

1 John 2:1 says that, “…we have an advocate with the Father…”. The word ‘with’ in this verse is the Greek word ‘pros’, referring to His position of ‘facing’ the Father. The One who redeems us leaves His seat at the side of The Father and now faces the Father with us to plead our cause. This is what will keep us from sin – just consider all our Advocate has done! He becomes parakletos (the One who stands beside us). 

It is essential to note that He is not the ‘kletos’, but rather the ‘parakletos’. The word ‘kletos’ means “one who is called to some office, or divinely selected and appointed to some office.” And it is true that through the Father’s plan, Jesus was appointed to die in our place. But He is in this instance the ‘parakletos.’ He does not defend us from where He is, seated at the right hand of the Father. No, in the illustration presented in this passage, He comes to our side and pleads for us to His us, facing His Father. 

Note also that our Advocate “… does not maintain our innocence but confesses our guilt. The enters his plea before the Father on our behalf as one who has made ‘atoning sacrifice for our sins’” (The Expositors Bible Commentary). In the court of Heaven today, the Advocate is interceding for every believer. 

The Plea: Guilty but Atoned

The plea before the Father is not of our innocence but of atonement. Our Advocate does not plead any merit of our own; rather, His own. The advocate is “one called in” to support, hence “advocate,” “pleader,” “a friend of the accused person, called to speak to his character, or otherwise enlist the sympathy of the judges’’ (The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament). Our advocate is also our Redeemer.

He pleads His record. This is found in the descriptive title of Christ: “…Jesus Christ the righteous.” He is the advocate of those who have already confessed their sin (1 John 1:9). The Advocate reminds the court of Heaven that He hung alone on the Cross to bear the weight, to pay the price for our sin on the Cross. He pleads His own character, sacrifice, and blood as the perfect, “finished” payment for sin.

Note a parallel passage in the Old Testament. In Micah 7:7-9 and 18-19, we read of what the Lord does for His people:

• 1. 1. He is the One against whom we sin.
     2. He pleads our cause.
     3. He executes judgment for us. 
     4. He subdues our iniquities.
     5. He will remove all our sins.

Our Advocate is always available to intercede for us to His Father, as we read in Hebrews 7:25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” 

The Personal Application: “That Ye Sin Not.”

The use of the word ‘advocate’ is key since it gives the rationale of why the believer is not to sin, “...that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate…” Recall, the Advocate is a friend to the one for whom He is pleading. We understand just how great our Savior is when we recognize that God longs for fellowship with mankind; a fresh love will excite the same desire to fellowship with the Father. How can we abide in sin as we consider all God has done and continues to do to give us access to Himself?

Do not miss another reality from this passage: He is our Advocate, but He can be the Advocate for others. Notice the continuation of the paragraph, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Yes! Rejoice that Christ intercedes for you. Then intercede on behalf of another. Use the access you have to the Father to plead for a lost soul today. Use every opportunity you have to speak for Christ!

Notice the same truth borne out in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“

Ask God to keep you from sin and carry His truth today!

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About Micah Hendry

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Study 1 John verse by verse with Scott Pauley and download the accompanying”23 Birthmarks of the Believer” reference guide HERE.

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