Christ’s Advocacy
The same thing is true in regard to His advocacy in virtue of the propitiation. Christ exercises His advocacy for us. If there is failure God sees it; but Jesus comes in and intercedes for us. Some say that we have to use the advocacy of Christ, but it is not so. Christ uses it for us. Why do I turn to God when I have failed? It is because He uses advocacy, and fresh grace is applied; fresh grace is wrought in my mind. There is nothing in us that brings us back to God but fresh grace working in our consciences. Therefore it is said, “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father.” It is not, “If any man repent.”
It is just as much pure grace as at first looked Upon us when we were in our sins. In the case of Peter, the Lord foretold him what would take place. “Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” We all need sifting; “but I have prayed for thee.” Before Peter got into the danger the Lord had prayed for him, and His grace is in exercise, and at the moment when it is needed. “He looked at Peter,” and his weeping was an avowal of Christ’s intercession.
The grace and intercession of Jesus is towards us in all the grace and wisdom of God. coming in with more grace. The righteousness is not called in question; it is not touched. It is through the intercession of Christ that I can get to God about my evil thoughts.
—J. N. Darby.