And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1
I filed my taxes not too long ago, and my tax software said we were at a higher risk than most for an audit. I have business income. We had expenses from a failed adoption. And we’ve never been audited before.
Now I keep pretty good records, and I don’t intentionally try to cheat, but I made a mistake on my taxes once before and got a very official looking letter as a result. I have absolutely no desire to be audited. However, for a fee, I can enlist a go-between. Then if we get audited, the go-between will take our case and deal with the IRS on our behalf.
This is not an original idea.
The penalties I owe a holy, righteous God go far beyond unpaid taxes. It is a debt I cannot comprehend, let alone pay. Jesus stepped in and fully paid that debt as Savior. Now He stands as my Advocate, affirming to God that every last sin is covered by His blood. He crushes every accusation Satan can throw. He erases every sin I commit. He restores my relationship with God when my disobedience severs it.
This is the gospel today.
We tend to think of the gospel in past terms or in future ones, but all of its amazing power is necessary and active in our lives today, now, this very moment. Jesus’s work on our behalf didn’t end with the resurrection. Not only that, we know that our sin can never undo the work He did on the cross because He is our Advocate.
Now that’s good news.