Good Friday Is Good News

2Cor 5:19 .that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

• "God was in Christ...." This simply means that Jesus Christ is both God and man. On the cross, He represented you and I, but since he was totally sinless, His judgment and punishment were unjustified. In Christ, God took the initiative to come into our world and personally pay sin's penalty. That's amazing grace!
  
  
• "Reconciling the world unto Himself...." To reconcile means to make things right. On the cross, Jesus made things right between God and mankind.
  
  Not imputing their trespasses unto them...." Again, because justice was satisfied on the cross, you need not be condemned for your sins. When Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished," He was saying that God was satisfied and sin's penalty was paid in full.
  
  
• "And has committed to us the word of reconciliation." God is not mad at the world! Faith to receive forgiveness comes by hearing this simple yet profound message. By accepting Christ and the merits of His work on the cross, you can begin a new and exciting relationship with God. Your sins are forgiven on legal grounds and you can live with the assurance that you now have eternal life!
  
  The law has a procedural defense known as double jeopardy, which simply means that a person cannot be judged twice for the same crime. Since Christ was judged and condemned for your sins, you stand acquitted when, by faith, you accept Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf.