Works of John Bunyan – The Greatness of The Soul, And Unspeakableness 0f the Loss Thereof; How Christ Manages The Office Of An Advocate.139

 

THE NECESSITY OF HAVING CHRIST FOR OUR ADVOCATE.

Sixth. The necessity of the advocateship of Jesus Christ for us further appears in this wit, for that our evidence, which declares that we have a right to the eternal inheritance, is often out of our own hand, yea, and also sometimes kept long from us, the which we come not at the sight or comfort of again but by our Advocate, especially when our evidence is taken from us, because of a present forfeiture of this inheritance to God by this or that most foul offense. Evidence, when they are thus taken away, as in David's case they were (Psa 51:12), why then they our God's hand, laid up, I say, from the sight of them to whom they belong, till they even forget the contents thereof (II Peter 1:5–9)? 30

Now when writings and evidence are out of the hands of the owners and laid up in the court, where in justice they ought to be kept, they are not ordinarily obtained again but by the help of a lawyer, an Advocate. Thus it is with the children of God. We do often forfeit our interest in eternal life, but the mercy is that the forfeit falls into the hand of God, not of the law nor of Satan, wherefore he taketh away also our evidence if not all, yet some of them, as he saith, I have taken away my peace from these people, even loving kindness and mercies" (Jer 16:5). This he took from David, and he entreats for the restoration of it, saying, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit" (I Chron 17:13; Psa 51:12). And, "Lord, turn us again, cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved" (Psa 80:3, 7, 19.)

Satan now also hath an opportunity to plead against us, and to help forward the affliction, as his servants did of old when God was but a little angry (Zech 1:15); but Jesus Christ, our Advocate is ready to appear against him, and to send us from heaven our old evidence again, or to signify to us that they are yet good and authentic and cannot be gainsaid. "Gabriel," saith he, "make this man understand the vision" (Dan 8:16). And again, saith he to another, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls" (Zech 2:4). Jerusalem had been in captivity, had lost many evidences of God's favor and love because of her sin, and her enemy stepped in to augment her sin and sorrow; but there was a man [the angel of the Lord] "among the myrtle trees" that were in the bottom that did prevail with God to say, I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies, and then commands it to be proclaimed that his "cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad" (Zech 1:11–17).

Thus, by our Advocate, we are either made to receive our old evidence for heaven again, or else are made to understand that they yet are good, and stand valid in the court of heaven; nor can they be made ineffectual, but shall abide the test at last, because our Advocate is also concerned with the inheritance of the saints in light. Christians know what it is to lose their evidence for heaven, and to receive them again, or to hear that they hold their title by them, but perhaps they know not how they come at this privilege; therefore the apostle tells them "They have an Advocate," and that by him, as Advocate, they enjoy all these manifest advantages because his Advocate's office is appointed for our help when we sin—that is, commit sins that are great and heinous-"If any man sin, we have an Advocate."

By him, the justice of God is vindicated, the law is answered, the threats taken off, the measure of affliction that we undergo for sin determined, our titles to eternal life preserved, and our comfort in them restored, notwithstanding the wit, rage, and envy of hell. So, then, Christ gave himself for us as a priest, died for us as a sacrifice, but pleaded justice and righteousness in a way of justice and righteousness; for such is his sacrifice, for our salvation from the death that is due to our foul or high transgressions—as an Advocate. Thus have I given you thus far an account of the nature, end, and necessity of the Advocateship of Jesus Christ, and should now come to the use and application, only I must first remove an objection or two.