The intercession of Christ is a continual application of his death for our salvation. That God then does not impute to us our sins, this comes to us, because he has regard to Christ as intercessor. But the two names, by which he afterwards signalizes Christ, properly belong to the subject of this passage. He calls him just and a propitiation . For we are excluded from access to him, because no one is pure and free from sin.
Propitiation is added, because no one is fit to be a high priest without a sacrifice.
It hence follows, that all the saints who have ever been and shall be, have need of an advocate, and that no one except Christ is equal to undertake this office. And doubtless John ascribed these two things to Christ, to shew that he is the only true advocate. But we know that under the Papacy this office is ascribed indiscriminately to the saints. For though brethren pray for brethren, yet they all, without exception, look to one advocate. There is, then, no doubt but the Papists set up against Christ so many idols as the patrons or advocates they devise for themselves.