"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" v18
Today is Good Friday
It may seem strange it is 'good'
For believers - it is good, as found in v18
Creation was good but sin entered the world
Sin is a terrible reality that has spoilt the world
There is a cause behind sin - the evil one
Christ faced the forces of darkness on the cross
His sacrifice on the cross was unparalleled
For Christ also suffered once for sins
Christ came to do something decisive about sin
He has appeared to deal with sin
He is one like no other
We cannot measure our sin, let alone pay for it
Only Jesus could pay for our sins
Christ is fully God and yet fully man
Something decisive happened at the cross - never to be repeated
He offers a great sacrifice for sin
Not continual sacrifice as in the Old Testament
Hence this Friday is a 'Good Friday'
The righteous for the unrighteous (or the just for the unjust)
There is no-one righteous [because of sin]
But we can inherit a righteousness from God
Christ came to live a righteous life - He fulfilled all righteousness
He laid down His righteous life on the cross for us
Paul makes clear that there is no-one that is righteous expect for Jesus Christ
Rom 3:10, 21-22
Christ's righteousness is transferred to the believer
When the sinner comes to Christ - looking to Him alone
We are justified
We cannot change our justification - we cannot increase or decrease it
We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ
We have peace with God through justification
Personal example
Jesus' gift to us is complete - "it is finished"
Are you clothed in the righteousness of Christ?
That He might bring us to God
This is the primary objective
That we might be acquitted
That sinners might be brought back to God - not just to be told about or given directions to God
The barrier of sin has been removed so that we can be right with God
The Old Testament sacrifices
The principle of representation
Christ represents us
The principle of substitution
Christ is our substitute
The veil is torn in two - there is a way back to God
Have you come to Christ?
Christ the mediator is amenable, kind and approachable
