Our Advocate

1 John 2. Yesterday we saw that fellowship with God cannot exist apart from confession and cleansing of sin. Today we read that fellowship with God is impossible apart from the advocacy of Christ. Verses one and two are our verses to meditate on today. Notice that John says, "...I write to you, so that you may not sin..." This is a statement of purpose. John's purpose for his readers and you and I is for us to lead holy lives. The verb tense implies committing specific acts of sin rather than living in a pattern of sin. Those in the habit of sinning are walking in the darkness and have no relationship with God. True believers are in relationship with God, but we still sin. We still mess up.
What happens when we, as believers, do sin? What happens when we blow it? John tells us that "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." And note, he says "with the Father" not "with God". This reminds us that even though sin in a believer's life breaks fellowship with God the Father, it DOES NOT break the relationship. When a person is born again, he becomes a child of God. God is henceforth his Father, and nothing can ever affect that relationship. A birth is something that cannot be undone. A son may disgrace his father, but he is still a son by the fact of birth.
So when we blow it, we have an Advocate. Our attorney is Christ. He is our "Parakletos" (in the Greek). Parakletos (para/klay/tos) means 1) summoned, called to one's side, especially called to one's aid. One who pleads another's cause [or case] before a judge; a counsel for defense; a legal assistant, an advocate. 2) An intercessor.
That's who Jesus is. He's our heavenly attorney before the Judge of all creation. He's the best Advocate you can have. For you see, our heavenly attorney is the Son of the Judge. Thus, through Him I can have fellowship with God. Amen!