Expert: Rev Philip Dacre - 7/25/2008

Question
hi Rev.Philip.Paul presents Jesus Christ as an advocate /lawyer for christians before the Father.John says he is Judge who would judge the world in the end.How then can he be both a n advocate and a judge.

Answer
Dear Derrick,



I think it actually says that God the Father will judge the world through Him (Jesus)

Meaning that Jesus is the standard by which He will judge the world...Whoever accepts Him, is accepted by God and whoever rejects Jesus properly rejects him not out of prejudice or misunderstanding, will also be rejected by God the Father, who is the judge.

Jesus is the advocate for the believers. He is the defense counsel. He brings in mitigating circumstances etc etc.  Paul says he got mercy because what he did against God's people he did through ignorance.

So Jesus is only the defense counsel for those who are believers (or would be believers if they had been given a fair chance to hear the gospel)

He does not defend the unbeliever because the unbeliever rejects his counsel and does not want His advocacy. So then Jesus does not go where he is not wanted. Its a free choice. Even now Jesus stands before the Father on behalf of the believer when they do something wrong, or fall away and make mistakes...like the prodigal son.


Jesus is the saviour and the Father is the real judge. Although at this stage Jesus has all authority in heaven, earth and under the earth so to speak. AT the end of time for planet earth, it is the Father that makes a new heaven and new earth. When Jesus is finished he hands the planet earth to Go the Father to judge it.

"1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[a] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

So then the Father has His ministry and the Son has His ministry towards planet earth.

Hope this helps you Derrick?

God bless