Today is the most significant day in the life of a follower of Christ. We commemorate His sacrificial death by crucifixion on the cross – the most agonising of all deaths.
Why did He do it?
We are so tarnished by sin that we cannot come before a pure and holy God. The penalty of our sin is death. Read Romans 6:23. By taking all our sins upon Himself, Christ Jesus paid for it by sacrificing His own life. He was blameless and without sin, an innocent man.
Why did He do it?
The love that God has for us is unfathomable. He saw our wretchedness and sent His only Son to be the propitiation (the act of appeasing God) for us. When we understand this and acknowledge its significance, we begin to comprehend the depths and heights of God’s great love for humanity.
What do we do?
That is the life and death question. Unless you have received pardon from a judge for your offence, you remain guilty. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to come before a holy God, except through having your sins washed clean by the blood sacrifice of Jesus.
Why is this so important?
Romans 6:23b assures us that we will receive eternal life. When we accept the atoning sacrifice that Good Friday commemorates, we die to our sins and are pardoned by God, through Jesus Christ. Then only can we rise up, like Jesus did on Easter Sunday. We rise from our old life and by following Him, walk in the new life that is cleansed and redeemed from sin.
Like Jesus, death does not keep us in the grave. He defeated death and promises us eternal life. Read John 17:3.
Linda Pearl
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