Pastor Steve Massy- "Christ Made Sin For Us" Good Friday Service

Christian, how can you know your sins are forgiven? How can you be certain you're fully and gladly accepted by God, though your life is still imperfect and marked by sin? What anchors your hope to a future of perfect humanity, enjoying a perfect creation, forever in God's presence? "Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away," John 20:1. Mary and the other disciples struggled to make sense of what they saw: Jesus' empty tomb affirmed that He had done exactly what He promised—He has defeated sin and death for all who belong to Him. "... Go to My brothers and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God," John 20:17. What a wonder this is! Christ's Father is yours, believer. Through Christ, and Christ alone, you are brought into a restored relationship with God, inseparably united to Him—now and forever. How is this possible? Only because "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Corinthians 5:21. On Friday, we'll remember the cross: Christ, our Substitute, the One who was made "to be sin on our behalf." Then, this coming Lord's Day, we'll finish our three-part look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 and its powerful gospel summary. I hope you'll join us Friday at 6:30 pm and again on Resurrection Sunday as we rejoice in "The Risen King: Christ Our Righteousness." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on John 20:1-17, as well as 2 Corinthians 5:21. How is the empty tomb described? Why does John include these details? What helped Mary recognize Jesus? What, spe