made for such a thing. The eternal security of such an one is not imperiled by this. It is impossible for him to fall overboard and be lost, though he should slip on deck and do himself harm. The Advocacy of Christ is not an emergency measure taken by Christ when the sinful act is done. Note the words “We have.” The provision is already made: it is always there. The ashes of the red heifer were laid up in a clean place and were ready for application with “living or running water” (type of the Spirit of God) as soon as the occasion arose (see Numbers 19). It covered defilement of all kinds whether incurred in the field, or in the tent, or whether it was a vessel. It typically was a provision made by God for every contingency of life. The Advocacy of Christ should be distinguished from His priestly work in heaven for His people. Priesthood depends on His likeness to His peo ple: He is man. Advocacy depends on His unlikeness to them: He is “Jesus Christ the righteous.” His priesthood is in respect of their weak nesses, though not exclusively so: His advocacy is in respect of their sins. His priesthood is des igned to strengthen them: His advocacy to re store them. Hebrews 2:17 and 4:14 show that the priesthood of the Lord Jesus has to do both with “the sins of the people” as well as with their weaknesses — infirmities. It is a mistake to limit His priesthood to the matter of the believers’ weakness. But the advocacy of the Lord is never spoken of in connection with our hu man informity, but only in relation to our sins. The ground of His plea and work is His own death on the cross. He is the propitiatory offering for our sins. He is not only the mercy- seat (Rom. 3 :25) but He is also the offering. His offering is eternally efficacious, for note, “He is” — not He was — “the propitiatory offering for our sins.” It is incredible that
impaired. Christ is Advocate in order to mend this impairment and to re store the lost joy. For this David prayed (Psa. 51:21). A son who has displeased his father does not cease to be his son, though through his own fault he is unhappy. But he need not despair. His sonship is not in jeopardy. It is open to him to own up: confession is the high road to recovery. Vine declares: “This advocacy is available to all the family. ‘If any man sin.' It is not the privilege only of those who are spiritual, nor is it restricted only to those who have reached a certain stage of develop ment. It is like every other office of the Lord Jesus, He holds them for all His people. So, too, His advocacy is for the benefit of all. It is well that this is so, for no matter how ad vanced one is in the spiritual life, snares are constantly laid for the feet and we dare not at any time regard the Advocacy of Christ as dispensable.” It is a provision of God in view of the possibility of His children’s sin ning. The tenses of John’s epistle are most important. The first occurrence of the verb "sin” in 2:1 is in the aorist tense suggesting the total ab sence of active sin as the goal in view. It should never happen at any time. Indeed, John later on points out that it is a moral impossibility for a born-again person habitually to live a life of sin. That we should not sin, says John, is why he has writ ten. But, he knows that believers do at times sin, and if anyone should sin unpresumptuously, unintentional ly, he need not despair. The aorist tense here implies an isolated act: not a habit of life. Provision has been 30 Don't' think it's the right road simply because it's a well beaten path.
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