Advocacy

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
This is one of two functions which comprise the Lord’s present work on high for His people—His priesthood and His advocacy. Both have to do with His “intercession” for us, but in different ways (Rom. 8:3434Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)).
•  His intercession as a Priest concerns the maintenance of His people in the path of faith so that they might not fail.
•  His intercession as an Advocate is for His people when they fail.
Sin interrupts the believer’s communion with God; repentance and confession restore him to communion with God (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). The problem is that if we fail and we get on a course away from the Lord, we have no power to restore ourselves—such is the effect of sin in the life of a believer. Left to ourselves we would never turn to God in repentance and confession. Hence comes the need of the work of Christ as our Advocate. There are four things involved in the Lord’s advocacy:
1) HE INTERCEDES FOR US (Luke 22:3131And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luke 22:31)). He goes to the Father and prays for our restoration. At the same time, He maintains our cause before God against the accusations of the devil regarding the sins involved with our failure (Rev. 12:1010And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)). He does this on the ground of Him having made “propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:22And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)). He, so to speak, points to the blood and says, “I’ve paid for those sins.” Hence, our restoration is founded on what Christ accomplished on the cross.
2) HE DIRECTS THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO BRING THE WORD OF GOD TO BEAR UPON OUR CONSCIENCE (Luke 22:6161And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:61)). The Spirit of God will address our state and our sinful course and will occupy us with our failure until we face it and repent. He will use the Word of God to break down our sin-hardened hearts (Jer. 23:2929Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)). He may bring a verse to mind—either by hearing, reading, or remembering it—that will speak to our conscience. Thus, God’s Word has a part in the restoration of our souls (Psa. 19:77The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7); Psa. 119:99BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)).
3) HE PROVIDENTIALLY EXERCISES HOLY DISCIPLINE IN OUR LIVES (1 Peter 3:1212For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1 Peter 3:12)). The Father will work to this end too (1 Peter 1:16-1716Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (1 Peter 1:16‑17)). All His actions toward us in this way are founded on His love for us (Heb. 12:5-115And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:5‑11)). His love is such that He will even use trouble of some kind (suffering, sickness, sorrow, etc.) to come into our lives to get our attention and correct us (Job 33:14-2214For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (Job 33:14‑22)).
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Far be the thought that a believer should ever be found sinning, for it is abnormal to Christianity. But if he does, 1 John 2:1-21My 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: 2And 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) tells us that Christ’s advocacy goes into action immediately. It says, “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” Note: it does not say, “If any man turns to God and confesses his sins, the Lord works for him as his Advocate.” This would mean that His advocacy begins functioning when the failing believer turns to God in repentance. However, the Lord does not wait for us to turn to God in repentance, because He knows that left to ourselves, this would never happen. The truth is, the failing believer turns back to God and confesses his sins because the work of Christ as our Advocate has been in operation.
J. N. Darby said, "Some say that we have got to use the advocacy of Christ, but it is not so. Christ uses it for us. Why do I turn to God when I have failed? It is because He uses His advocacy, and fresh grace is applied—fresh grace wrought in my mind. There is nothing in us that brings us back to God but fresh grace working in our conscience. Therefore, it is said, 'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.' It is not 'if any man repent''' (Nine Lectures on First John, p. 16). On another occasion Mr. Darby was asked, "Ques. When does the Lord act as an Advocate, is it when a saint sins? Ans. It does not say, if any man repent, and confess; but, if any man sin, we have an Advocate. Ques. Then does nothing begin with us? Ans. Nothing but sin that I know of. And confession is the effect of advocacy" (Notes and Jottings, p. 6).
Hence, Christ's advocacy does not function like the modern attorney, to which it has been erroneously compared. The modern lawyer goes to work for his client when his client solicits his help, but the advocacy of Christ goes into action before the failing believer solicits the Lord’s restoring help. All this points to the faithfulness of our God in restoring His erring people. He is jealous of our affections and will not let us continue in the paths of unrighteousness forever. He may allow us to taste the fruit of our ways for a while (Prov. 14:1414The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. (Proverbs 14:14)) because the will of the flesh needs to be broken down in the wayward believer—but cost what it may, He will bring the backslider back (Psa. 23:33He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:3)). Many times it is not until the person’s deathbed.
Christ’s intercession as our Advocate should not be confused with His intercession as our High Priest. Both refer to His present service on high, but they are different. Christ’s priesthood is to sustain the saint that he might not sin (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25-2614Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For 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. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14‑16)
25Wherefore 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. 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:25‑26)); His advocacy is to restore a saint—if need be—because he has sinned. Priesthood is with God (Heb. 2:17; 5:1; 7:2517Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)
1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: (Hebrews 5:1)
25Wherefore 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. (Hebrews 7:25); 1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)); advocacy is with the Father (1 John 2:11My 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: (1 John 2:1)). Christ’s priesthood has to do with continuous intercession; whereas His intercession as our Advocate is only in exercise when needed. (See The Priesthood of Christ.)