What does it mean that Christ is our advocate?

The term 'advocate' refers to someone who pleads the case of another. In 1 John 2:1, we see that Christ is depicted as our advocate with the Father, meaning He stands in our place and represents us. His advocacy is grounded in His sacrificial death, described as the propitiation for our sins. This means that His righteousness is credited to us, allowing God to see us as justified. Therefore, Christ's role as our advocate assures us that our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with God is restored and secure.