Good Friday 2018
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16 [ESV]
The Cross causes us to confront our sin
- You are a sinner – Romans 3:23
- The wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23
- God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. – 1 John 4:9-10 [NLT]
- Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. – 1 Peter 3:18 [NLT]
The Cross frees us from the slavery of our sin
- Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. – John 8:34 [NLT]
- Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. – Hebrews 2:14-15 [NIV]
- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1:7 [ESV]
The Cross beckons a response
- To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.– 1 Peter 2:21-25 [NIV]
- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. – 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 [NASB]
- We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:42-43 [CSB]
Tania Gutekunst 