Jesus Our Advocate and Propitiation

This morning I am continuing my reading from John's first letter.  He is continuing to address sin and forgiveness.

1 John 2:1-2 NIV:

[1] "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father---Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. [2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

John describes Jesus as our advocate with the Father.  The word translated advocate is the Greek word Parakletos, and is defined as:

1.summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid
   a.one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate
   b. one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor
2. of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins
   a. in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
3. of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

John also describes Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  The Greek word used by him, here translated atoning sacrifice, is Hilasmos and its meaning is better translated propitiation.  Webster's dictionary defines this as "to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of".

In both of these definitions I noticed something interesting, if we sin, whose side (if you imagined a courtroom) is Jesus on?  He is our advocate, our intercessor pleading OUR cause, for OUR pardon.  He is the one who helps us gain or regain the Father's favor.  We know that sin causes relational separation, and yet when we sin, Jesus is our advocate, effectively right there by our side, on our side.   It is clear that the relational separation is on our part, not on God's.  He does not take away His help when we sin, leaving us to justify or defend ourselves, no he provides us the best advocate possible, Christ Jesus.

Paul writes that once we are saved we are hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3).  As one who is hidden in Christ, our actions are always viewed by God the Father in that context. If we are hidden in Christ, it would make sense that He is our propitiation, the reason we gain and regain the Father's favor.  He is perfect in obedience to the Father, does exactly what the Father wills always, so how could the Father ever look with anything other than favor.  If we are hidden in Jesus, His favor (and righteousness) is extended to us as well.

No where in these two sentences, or in the Greek language used by John, is there any mention of penance, paying God back through some works, etc.  That makes perfect sense if from God's side there was never any separation or loss of favor cause by our sin.

Wow!  Thank You Lord for Your never-ending mercy and grace.  Thank You for allowing me to be hidden in You.