Christ Our Advocate

(Heidelberg Q&A 49) How does Christ's Ascension into heaven benefit us? 

First he is our Advocate in heaven before the Father. Second we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, our Head will also take us, his members up to himself. Third he sends us his Spirit as a counter pledge by whose power we seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and not the things that are on earth

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1st John 2: 1-2)

Advocate: a person who pleads for or in behalf of another, intercessor. 


Have you ever felt exhausted and weighed down by the condemnation that can come from your own heart? Is your mind an endless list of evaluations of motives and sins? Weary one, are you close to despairing in your wavering? Some of us have been duped into thinking that we can achieve a false victory by looking to our own ability to obey God. The more we look to the law to sanctify us, the more the law does what it was meant to do: to show that we are utterly hopeless and in desperate need of a perfect law keeper. I've been there. I've felt like I was running on a treadmill that got me nowhere but exhausted. I've wanted to give up and walk away completely, with no hope of perseverance. 

Oh weary, restless, wanderer there is a perfect rest purchased for you in Christ. The Holy God has called you to reconciliation through His righteousness. You can freely say that you are weak, but your Savior is sufficient. You may fail frequently, but His love is sure and unwavering. As Spurgeon says, "You are safe in the wounds that constantly plead for you!" When you are overwhelmed with the fear of falling away, see Christ seated at the right hand of God praying that your faith would not fail.  

He is faithful to preserve you and present you blameless before the Father's presence with great joy! (Jude 1:24)Come and rest! Cease the meaningless striving for what has already been freely given to you and come and exult in Christ your great treasure. Behold the Christ, whose striving and perfect obedience is now freely imputed to you as righteousness.  Look to the Lamb of God, slain to satisfy divine justice for the sins of His people.  Fix your eyes upward to Him who advocates for you constantly before the throne. Exhale deeply, knowing that the Spirit also prays for you in your weakness. The greatest consolation for your despair is to know that God is the just and justifier of the ungodly. (Romans 3:26)  No longer despair in your wavering, but rejoice in His faithfulness. 


"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly at heart and you will find rest for your souls" Matthew 11:28-29

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