Free lawyer

Saturday August 7, 2021

My grandchildren, I am writing this to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone sins, we have a defender with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 John 2.1

Free lawyer

At the remand center, prisoners talk to the chaplain on biblical subjects. They comment on the verse : "But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." An inmate remarks that Jesus is a free lawyer, while the one who takes care of him on earth costs him dearly !

It is the privilege of believers to have Jesus in heaven who takes their cause in hand. Before being our advocate, he was our Savior. On the cross of Calvary he bore our sins and suffered in our place the judgment of the holy God. All those who believe in him obtain forgiveness and eternal life free of charge and permanently.

So why do we still need a lawyer ? Note that in today's verse, Jesus is our advocate "with the Father", it is not said : "with God". The emphasis is on our relationship with the one who is now our Father. But we still sin, and every sin grieves our Heavenly Father and interrupts our close relationship with Him. This is where Jesus comes in as a lawyer. His presence before his Father, with the nail marks on his hands and feet, reminds us that everything is settled. And at the same time, Jesus leads us to confess our faults to Him, and allows us to rediscover the joy of our relationship with the Father.

We will no longer need this lawyer service when we are in heaven, because sin will be banished from there. In perfect communion with the Father, our hearts will be centered on the Lord Jesus to worship him.

Source (The Good Seed)