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No other advocate will do as Puritan theologian John Owen (1616-1683) reminds us:

The oblation and intercession of any other would not have saved us. Hence, for the security of our faith, we are minded that ‘God… hath purchased with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28). He did so who was God, as he was manifested in the flesh. His blood alone could purge our consciences from dead works, who did offer himself unto God, through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14). And when the apostle— for our relief against the guilt of sin— calleth us unto the consideration of intercession and propitiation, he mindeth us peculiarly of his person by whom they are performed: ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins’ (1 John 2:1, 2). And we may briefly consider the order of these things…

We are told in scripture that “the wages of sin is death” that is what we earn because of transgressions.  Fortunately Romans 6:23 doesn’t end that way as it has a wonderful conjunction “but.”  But, what?  “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”  How was this accomplished?  It is accomplished through Christ’s shed blood offered in His vicarious death on a Roman cross.  His propitiation is unique, sufficient and effectual.  He is the only one who can accomplish this as there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to satisfy God’s righteous wrath for our sin.

So flee to Jesus.

HT: Justification By Grace

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