The Work of the Advocate (Part 1)

Beloved, I hope these weekly letters give some inspiration and restoration to your lives. This Sunday I feel led to write unto you from a new theme entitled, “The Work of the Advocate.” The word “advocate” means helper or arbitrator (one who pleads on our behalf), or assistant (from the Greek “parakletos”). The Apostle John writes, “My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT. And if any man sin [who has been declared redeemed by Jesus’ blood], WE have an ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, Jesus Christ the righteous: And HE is the propitiation [reconciler] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:1-2).

Precious Ones, notice firstly that we must acknowledge that John’s motive and purpose for writing is with the intent “THAT WE SIN NOT,” not to give us a reason to feel comfortable in sin!!! So it is completely within God’s purpose that we live holy and sin-free lives. However, failures do happen. When a redeemed, blood-bought child of God does fail, he/she then needs restoration. How, you may ask, is this obtained. The scripture teaches that “WE,” meaning the saints - the believers who have been baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost - have an “advocate” (helper, arbitrator, assistant) to come when necessary and to assist us to be restored to our proper relationship with our God. That is why he also said “ours.” Secondly, the advocate is only obtained for the sinner when he/she believes in his/her heart that Jesus Christ is the only true “righteous” one who can “propitiate“ or reconcile him/her to God. Therefore, the sinner must come to God through the saint who has “the advocate,” so that the saint can obtain the necessary help for an erring brother or sister in Christ.

Chosen Ones, let us understand John’s usage of pronouns as he begins this epistle. “That which was from the beginning, which WE have heard, which WE have seen with OUR eyes, which WE have looked upon, and OUR hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and WE have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto YOU that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto US;) That which WE have seen and heard declare WE unto YOU, that YE also may have fellowship with US: and truly OUR fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write WE unto YOU, that YOUR joy may be full” (I John 1:1-4). Beloved, these pronouns are emphasized to teach us that the saints have the answers to this dying world for reconciliation back to God. God only listens to the righteous’ request when sin occurs in the heart of someone who knows better.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy