THE ADVOCACY OF CHRIST
[p. 380] THE ADVOCACY OF CHRIST
It is often asked, ‘But what about sins committed after conversion? How are they dealt with?’ That this is a very important question no believer would deny, for “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1: 8); and practically “we all often offend” (James 3: 2). At the same time we must remember that there is no excuse for a Christian when he sins, for we read, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh’s lust” (Galatians 5: 16). It is our privilege and responsibility to walk in the Spirit, and if we always did so we should not sin.
In the first place let us recall the fact — so clearly and fully presented in Scripture — that there is but one efficacious sacrifice for sins. The Spirit of God draws a pointed contrast between the oft-repeated “sacrifices, which can never take away sins” and the “one sacrifice for sins” offered by Christ; and He asserts plainly that by God’s will “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once” and that “by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified” (Hebrews 10: 10 - 14). The Son of God has by Himself purged our sins (Hebrews 1: 3). The work was accomplished centuries before the sins were committed, and in due time, when we believed the gospel, its efficacy was made known to us that we might have purged consciences, and be assured that God will not impute sin to us. Any repetition of the sacrifice is impossible, nor is it ever suggested in Scripture that there can be a reapplication of its cleansing virtue to our souls. On the contrary the believer is “sanctified” — he is set apart for God in the unchanging value of the offering of Christ and is “perfected in perpetuity”. He is continually before God in the efficacy of an eternal redemption. All his sins, whether committed before conversion or after, were borne by Jesus. If so much as one of them had [p. 381] not been taken into account at Calvary he must perish, for there remains no more sacrifice for sins.
We do not wish to lessen in any Christian’s mind the sense of the evil of sin. That which cost Christ such untold agonies to put away cannot be lightly thought of. But it is deeply important for every believer to know that if he does sin, his standing in Christ remains unchanged, his relationship with God as one of His children is not thereby broken off, and he is not put back to the position which he occupied before he was converted.
What, then, is the consequence of a sin committed by a believer? His heart condemns him; his communion as a child with God is interrupted; and, consequently, he loses his spiritual joy; but he is still a child, though a naughty child. What he needs is to have his communion and joy restored, and for this there is a provision made, as we read in 1 John 2: 1, 2, “And if any one sin, we have a patron with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins”. The One who has made full atonement for our sins on the cross is now our Patron with the Father. The believer’s sin requires, and calls into exercise, this gracious activity of divine love. Nor does our blessed Patron delay His service until we repent and judge ourselves; His advocacy is rather the secret producing cause of every movement in our souls towards restoration. Consequent upon His advocacy up there, the Holy Spirit down here makes us feel the sorrow and shame of the sins we have committed, and we “judge ourselves”. Then, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1: 9). It is not a question of putting sin away before God — that was settled at the cross — but a Father forgiving a child, and communion being restored.