The
advocacy of the Lord Jesus in our behalf, however, is wholly different from
this, though the same general object is pursued and sought, the good of those
for whom he becomes an advocate. The nature of his advocacy may be stated in
the following particulars:
(1.) He
admits the guilt of those for whom he becomes the advocate, to the full extent
charged on them by the law of God, and by their own consciences. He does not
attempt to hide or conceal it. He makes no apology for it. He neither attempts
to deny the fact, nor to show that they had a right to do as they
have done. He could not do this, for it would not be true; and any plea before
the throne of God which should be based on a denial of our guilt would be fatal
to our cause.
(2.) As
our advocate, he undertakes to be security that no
wrong shall be done to the universe if we are not punished as we deserve; that
is, if we are pardoned, and treated as if we had not sinned. This he does by
pleading what he has done in behalf of men; that is, by the plea that his
sufferings and death in behalf of sinners have done as much to honour the law,
and to maintain the truth and justice of God, and to prevent the extension of
apostasy, as if the offenders themselves had suffered the full penalty of the
law. If sinners are punished in hell, there will be some object to be
accomplished by it; and the simple account of the atonement by Christ is, that
his death will secure all the good results to the universe which would be
secured by the punishment of the offender himself. It has done as much to
maintain the honour of the law, and to impress the universe with the truth that
sin cannot be committed with impunity. If all the good results can be secured
by substituted sufferings which there would be by the punishment of the
offender himself, then it is clear that the guilty may be acquitted and saved.
Why should they not be? The Saviour, as our advocate, undertakes to be security
that this shall be.
Christ, the heavenly Advocate, will
plead the cases of all who have given Him their sins. He says, "I, even I,
am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for My own sake, and will not
remember thy sins." The life
record, scarlet with sins and wretchedness, the Saviour covers with the
spotless robe of His righteousness; and the judge, looking upon it, sees only
the sacrifice of His Son, and the record is, "Accepted in the
Beloved." Who can reject such infinite love? {1914 SNH, CIS 231.1}
(3.) As
our advocate, he becomes a surety for our good behaviour; gives a pledge
to justice that we will obey the laws of God, and that he will keep us in the
paths of obedience and truth; that, if pardoned, we will not continue to rebel.
This pledge or surety can be given in no human court of justice. No man, advocate
or friend, can give security when one is pardoned who has been convicted of
stealing a horse, that he will not steal a horse again; when one who has been
guilty of murder is pardoned, that he will never be guilty of it again; when
one who has been guilty of forgery is pardoned, that he will not be guilty of
it again. If he could do this, the subject of pardon would be attended
with much fewer difficulties than it is now. But the Lord Jesus becomes such a
pledge or surety for us, (Heb 7:22,) and hence he becomes
such an advocate with the Father as we need.
Jesus
Christ the righteous. One who
is eminently righteous himself, and who possesses the means of rendering others
righteous. It is an appropriate feeling when we come before God in his name,
that we come pleading the merits of one who is eminently righteous, and on
account of whose righteousness we may be justified and saved.
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