None of us are innocent. We have all gone astray and there is none righteous, not one.

“If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” 1 Sam 2:25.

Before the court of men, we might escape judgment even when guilty. But not when we stand before God.

Anyone can take up his case against God, but still he will lose. We can cry out and declare our innocence, but in the face of God all we can do is be silent.

“2 In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God? 3 “If one wished to
dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.” Job 9:2-3

“He makes counselors walk barefoot, And makes fools of judges.” Job 12:17.

The Gospel is called Good News because through Christ we have the very best person to stand beside us in the judgment. Jesus Christ is the Advocate, the counselor, who wins every case He takes up.

“1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 Jn 2:1-2.

People of faith know their utter depravity in the sight of God. We are all guilty before the Almighty God. We cannot have a hope in heaven unless we believe in Jesus Christ and trust only in His righteousness. But if we are resistant, and choose to practice sin, then there will be none to take up our case at the judgment.

Once God had spoken to Job, the man who wished to make his case before God, now said, “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.” Job 40:4.

We are all sinners and as correct as we feel we might be, still before God we are undone. Habakkuk might think he knows best, but when standing before God, says rightly, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Hab 2:1.  See, God is always right.  And before God on judgment day we will all be found undone if we stand there without a really good Advocate.

So believe, confess your sins, repent and turn to the path of righteousness, and be immersed in the waters of baptism, calling on His name, and God will make you clean and pure because of Christ. Jesus Christ will ably defend those who by faith obey His will. Jesus doesn’t defend the perfect, they don’t need a defender, Rom. 4:4. That’s the ideal that’s only been practiced by one person.  And that one person is our Advocate if we honestly come to Him for help.