Because of Good Friday We Can Escape Death

There has been an unfortunate rash of airplane tragedies in the news lately. Last year there were two involving Malaysian Airlines. One, MH 17, was shot down over Ukraine in July 2014 and the other, MH 370, disappeared on March 8, 2014. Incredibly, there was a man, Maarten de Jonge, who was scheduled to be on both flights. In both cases he changed his ticket at the last minute. How would you feel if you knew you actually escaped death? Thankful? Lucky? (For those of you who think lucky, please click here to read my post on why luck had nothing to do with it.) The truth is that many of us have escaped death. I’m not talking about physical death. Unfortunately none of us are getting out of here alive! I’m talking about spiritual death. The Bible says sin came into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Along with sin came two kinds of death, physical and spiritual Romans 5:12. [Tweet "Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn it. It was already condemned because of sin John 3:17."] Jesus came into the world to deliver us from spiritual death. This is where Good Friday comes into the picture. It was on this day, the day we call Good Friday, that Jesus died on a cross that was meant for you and me. In some mysterious way God put the penalty for our sin on Jesus.

For our sake [God the Father] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

[Tweet "Knowing the Gospel and believing the Gospel aren't the same thing."] The Apostle Paul writes

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. . . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Everyone who believes this is saved “unless you believed in vain”? What does it mean to believe in vain? It means you know it or believe with no point to it. Why do you believe Jesus died, was buried and rose again? Because you were taught to believe it? Because every Christian believes it? That is believing in vain. If you say “I believe in Jesus because if I don’t I’ll perish for my sins” then your belief has a point to it. It’s not in vain. Good Friday is good because Jesus paid for your sins. If you have believed that because you know you would perish if you didn’t, you are saved. Throughout this day thank Jesus for your salvation. If you haven’t yet believed, would you do so right now? If you want to know more, click here to email me and we can talk. Or here is a website with more information. I pray that God blesses you richly this Good Friday!