The New Testament word “parakletos” means “one who undertakes the cause of another” (John 14:16,26;15:26;16:17). There are three general uses of the word “advocate”: A legal advocate, Who Jesus is now in heaven; and intercession agent, which Jesus and the Holy Spirit are now; and a general helper, which Jesus was while on earth and which the Spirit is to us throughout the Church Age.

Two persons of the Trinity are recognized as advocates: the Son and the Spirit. Jesus in His earthly ministry was an advocate for His own in the world. Before He left, He promised that another would come. By the use of the word “another” (of the same kind), He implied that His own ministry on earth had been that of an advocate (John 14:16).

As a legal representative in the court of heaven, Jesus now functions as the believer’s advocate (1 John 2:1). This present work of Jesus is His unfinished work. The advocacy of the Holy Spirit is on earth, and is one of intercession and direct aid for our weaknesses (Romans 8:26, 27).

Why do we as believers, need an advocate? We have the nature of the flesh, and, as such, commit sins. Satan accumulates a sin file on every believer and periodically accuses the believer in heaven. The information is collected through demons (Job 1:6-11; Zechariah 3:1,2; Revelation 12:9, 10). Jesus Christ is retained as the believer’s defense attorney (advocate) in the court of heaven, and He defends every case.

The basis for our Lord’s defense is the fact that all of our sins were judged at the cross in Him by God the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). God the Father judged our sins on the cross (Psalm 22:1-6;1 Peter 3:18). Under the law of double jeopardy, those sins cannot be judged again (Romans 6:10). Therefore, the believer is defended in heaven from Satan. Each and every case against the believer is thrown out of court by God the Father (Zechariah 3:1, 2). The sins of the believer are no longer a court matter, but a family matter for forgiveness (1 John 1:9), or divine discipline (Hebrews 12:6).

Bob Yandian

Copyright 2009 by Bob Yandian Ministries.
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