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It is quite typical for us to consider kind and generous people to be “Good people.” While we might also consider those who are engaged in immoral or illegal behavior as “Bad people.” But Jesus said that there is no one good, but God alone. Jesus was right. In James chapter 2 verse 10, the Bible tells us that if we perfectly keep every requirement of God’s law and yet stumble at just one point, we are considered guilty of breaking all of it. Have you ever envied someone who had more than you. Have you ever lusted for someone who wasn’t yours. Have you ever not told the whole truth. Have you ever gotten angry and said or thought something that you shouldn’t. In fact if we think we are good enough to be accepted by God, even our self-righteousness condemns us. I know I have, so in God’s sight I am guilty. I am a sinner. I need to be forgiven.

According to the Bible, there is a penalty for my sin and that penalty is death. God’s just character cannot permit sin to go unpunished, and that is what we celebrate on Good Friday. The extraordinary truth that Jesus Christ, God-made flesh the only righteous one who ever lived. The only one deserving of God’s favor, came under the judgement of God’s wrath toward sin when He was crucified on a Roman cross 2,000 years ago. Jesus was punished not for His sins, He had no sin. He was crucified and bore the penalty for our sins. For the sins of all of humanity who would ever believe that Christ died for them. Good Friday was unspeakable horrific for our perfect Savior, but the testimony of the cross reveals the punishment that our sins deserve, and love of our Savior who would be punished in our place.

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Fortunately, like the thief on the cross who was also crucified next to Jesus, we don’t have to be perfect to be welcomed into the Kingdom of God. Actually, we simply need to admit that we could never be good enough to be accepted by God, admit our guilt and believe in Jesus, the only perfect one. Then, when we breath our last, we can confidently say, “Today, I will be with Jesus in paradise!”

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.