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If We Sin, He Pleads Our Case in Heaven, January 16
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous.
1 John 2:1
.
The Lord Jehovah did not deem the plan of salvation complete while
invested only with His own love. By His appointment He has placed at
His altar an Advocate clothed with our nature. As our Intercessor, Christ’s
office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters.
Christ has pledged Himself to be our substitute and surety, and He
neglects no one. There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience
accruing from His obedience. In heaven His merits, His self-denial and
self-sacrifice, are treasured as incense to be offered up with the prayers of
His people. As the sinner’s sincere, humble prayers ascend to the throne
of God, Christ mingles with them the merits of His own life of perfect
obedience. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. Christ has
pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf, and the Father always hears
the Son.
This is the mystery of godliness. That Christ should take human nature,
and by a life of humiliation elevate man in the scale of moral worth with
God: that He should carry His adopted nature to the throne of God, and
there present His children to the Father, to have conferred upon them an
honor exceeding that conferred upon the angels,—this is the marvel of the
heavenly universe, the mystery into which angels desire to look. This is
love that melts the sinner’s heart
He who could not see human beings exposed to destruction without
pouring out His soul unto death to save them from eternal ruin, will look
with pity and compassion upon every soul who realizes that he can not
save himself
Christ is your Advocate. In this powerful, hearty recognition of God’s
love, take the hand of Christ, and hold it fast. His hand holds you much
firmer than you can hold His hand
[23]
49
Ellen G. White
Manuscript 21, 1900
.
50
The General Conference Bulletin, October 1, 1899
.
51
Letter 182, 1901
.
21