Sermon for Good Friday 2007
Sermon for Good Friday 2007
Trinity/Watertown
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Galatians 3:10-14 (NKJV)
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In the Name of Jesus Christ,
Behold, the Lamb of God,
Who takes away the sin of the world --
What would your sign have said on it? When they led Jesus of Nazareth from the Judgment Seat to Calvary to be crucified, there was probably a man who went before him carrying a sign, a title, the accusation brought against Him that resulted in the death sentence. Pontius Pilate himself wrote the bitter, mocking accusation that was bound to be nailed over Jesus’ head on his cross, it read: The King of the Jews. This, some historians say, was common practice. It may be that there were two other signs, one for each of the criminals put to death with Jesus that read: “Robbery.” If you had been led to Calvary bearing your own cross that day…What would your sign have said on it?
Now perhaps you are thinking, “I’m not guilty of a capital offense worthy of the Death Penalty.” It’s true, we have not been found guilty of any heinous crime in a human court, by a human judge. Does that mean we are innocent? What if you were judged according to God’s Law, by God’s righteous standard? God’s Law reveals that without exception, we are all deserving of death, eternal death. What would your sign say? This person is condemned to death for: Idolatry (putting other things before God), cursing, lying, disobedience to parents, hatred, lust, stealing, gossip, covetousness. I think I would need a bigger sign, how about you?
In order that we may better appreciate what the Savior has done for us, we consider the words of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.
These words reveal both the Curse of the Law and the Blessing of the Gospel. May God open our eyes to our guilt, close them to tears and open them again to see His Cross, our one hope. Amen.
What’s the damage? How bad is it? When making an important purchase, or paying for repairs that must be done, we steel ourselves at the cash register and ask, “What’s the damage.” If we expect a large amount, we will likely be pleased if the bill be any less. If we hope for a small debt, we will be disappointed with anything greater.
If we ask, where do I stand with God…we really don’t want our answer to come from the God’s Law. If we ask, what is the damage, what is the verdict according to God’s Law, be prepared there is only one: “Guilty.” There is no exception, for we are all, without exception, sinful. The Apostle Paul cuts to the chase and doesn’t candy-coat it when he says:
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
If you don’t think God’s Law applies to you, you can get up and leave now…don’t anyone leave. We are all subject to the Law, because God didn’t give the 10 Commandments to the angels, nor was there a need, for they are holy, without sin. All those who measure their lives by the Law are under the curse, that is to say, they are condemned. This wasn’t Paul’s idea, in point of fact, he’s quoting God’s Word, it is written:
The Righteous Verdict is given here in one word: CURSED.
Cursed (Condemned) is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.
Let’s make it personal, shall we?
Children: If you don’t perfectly obey your parents, you are condemned. If you don’t perfectly hold your tongue and use the Name of God for good, you are condemned. If you throw a fit and want something after you’ve been given a no by your parents: you are condemned by God’s Law.
Adults: If you look upon someone to lust or with hate in your heart ONCE, you are condemned. If you put anything or anyone before the LORD and His Word, you are condemned. If you gossip and use your tongue to hurt another’s reputation, you are condemned.
Good intentions mean nothing. There are no points awarded for doing your best. God will not grade on a curve. It doesn’t matter if you fancy yourself a first-time offender or imagine that you have only transgressed a few of God’s Commandments! One transgression, one broken decree, one disobedient act results guilt, as it is written (James 2:10):
For whoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
My sign should say, ‘cursed’ and so should yours. We’d like it to say: “Not as bad as most.” “I’m trying my best here, give me a break.” “I’m hoping God grades on a curve.” The fact is quite different. The Law curses, it condemns sinner for not having perfectly, every single time, from the heart done what God demands.
What does this all mean? It means that we are cursed and there is nothing we can do about it. We can’t start over and attempt to be declared innocent by living according to God’s Law. There is only one right conclusion:
But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
We are cursed for breaking God’s Law, condemned to eternal death. God Himself declares that no human being will be declared innocent by keeping the Law. Why? God’s Word declares: “The Just shall live by Faith.” Human beings are justified – not by doing, but by trusting in the One who did.
If a man would be pardoned and live, it will only be by faith, faith in Jesus Christ. The Law demands action, not trust. We have sinned, and had God only given us His Law, would be without hope, like death row inmates, merely waiting the final call.
But it’s Good Friday. It was on this day that the curse was removed, pardon gained for all.
Let’s go back to Calvary. For most of the bystanders on Golgotha, it must have appeared that Jesus was getting what He deserved. Anyone not familiar with the facts of the case against Jesus probably assumed that He was being punished for His wrongs. Innocent men don’t get executed with robbers, do they?
He was innocent. He took upon Himself our sin, our guilt, our curse, our debt. He got what we deserved – God’s unbridled wrath. When Christ died and the darkness broke, the facts were revealed:
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Christ has paid the price to release us from the Righteous Curse and Condemnation of the Law. He did so by being cursed for us. Only He could do so, having perfectly kept every commandment. Only He could offer upon the altar of the cross a perfect sacrifice.
Christ did this, so that the blessing promised to Abraham – might also come to you through faith in Him. Thus, by faith, you are God’s children, heirs of eternal life. This is the blessing of the Gospel, the Good News of what Christ’s Death really accomplished.
Hold up your sign. It should say: condemned to eternal death. Except that the accusation brought against you has been nailed to His Cross, the punishment meted to Him. As it is written (Colossians 2:13-14):
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And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
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He suffers for you, the Just for the unjust, to bring you to God.
Thou hast suffered great affliction and hast borne it patiently,
Even death by crucifixion fully to atone for me;
Thou didst choose to be tormented that my doom should be prevented.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.
Amen.