Year A, Good Friday
Given by Deacon Sherry Black on March 21, 2008

Here we are on Good Friday, commemorating the day when Jesus died on the Cross, dying for our sins. In his death, Jesus was a sin offering, and he died in order to restore our relationship to God. The blood sacrifice of Christ’s body, which we remember today especially, was one sacrifice, offered once for all time. This perfect sacrifice cleanses us completely and permanently. So as Christians, why do we still sin? And when we sin, we feel guilty. Is this wrong? And how do we get rid of feelings of guilt—how do we get past those nagging memories of what we have done wrong? Our reading from Hebrews supplies some answers.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to a primarily Jewish congregation. The author’s purpose is to prevent his readers from falling back into their pre- Christian state, which was predominantly the Jewish system of sacrifices. He also is writing to encourage them in their faith, helping them to grow into a fuller understanding of the person and work of Christ as a superior priest, and as a superior sacrifice.

In today’s text, the author is comparing Christ as a superior priest to the law’s sacrificial system. The old system was only a shadow, an imperfect copy of the new system through Christ. We need to remember that the reason for the sacrificial system was sin. Original sin. As a seminary friend used to say, all of our blood is original sin positive. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. No one is righteous, no not one. And God’s holiness requires our holiness, our perfection, our sinlessness, and we cannot accomplish this on our own. The old covenant provided for this reconciliation to God through blood sacrifice which had to be offered repeatedly. Multiple sacrifices were offered again and again, day after day, year after year. And in actuality, all of those sacrifices never could take away sins. We still have this problem called sin, inbred into us. We can’t recover on our own. This is a part of our being, and its a terminal disease. Rituals alone cannot place us in right relationship with God and cleanse our consciences from Guilt.

In contrast to the old system, and to perfect and fulfill it, God’s will was expressed in the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all, by which all believers are made holy. The blood sacrifice of Christ’s body, which we remember today especially, was one sacrifice, offered once for all time. This one perfect sacrifice accomplishes our perfection. It was completely satisfactory to God, and never has to be repeated. Our cleansing by the sacrifice of Christ is the means by which we are made perfect. This action has been completed, and we are made holy, totally acceptable God.

The new covenant is written on the hearts and minds of God’s people, as a means for our sanctification, our perfection. The problem of sin has been dealt with once for all in the person and work of Christ. Our sins are forgiven and God will remember our sins and our lawless deed no more. Christ’s work is decisive and complete. It is a final reckoning with sin by which we are made perfect forever. It is finished. Our awareness of our sin is no longer a factor determining our standing before God.

As Christians, of course, we do still sin, but we are not cut off from our relationship with God. Christ has already died for each and every sin we have committed or will commit. When we do sin, our guilty feelings, our conscience burden our hearts because we recognize that our actions are incompatible with Christ’s work. When we sin, we need to confess our sins to God, and to those involved, and there may be consequences for our sins, but as Christians our relationship with God is never in doubt. If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins to God, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Even more, God forgets our sins. He literally cannot remember them, as if they never happened. He stamps our sins as having been dealt with. It is finished. We are made free.

However, it is extremely difficult to live with a sense that Christ has broken the power and penalty of sin in us, if sin seems to win the day, most days. But we can be assured of our salvation, even when we struggle with what seem to be endless battles with sin in our lives. We need to take our struggles to the cross, offer them to Christ. If we are committed to a relationship with God through the work of Jesus Christ, and if we depend on his sacrificial death Alone for the forgiveness of sins, we can recognize the comprehensive nature and decisiveness of Christ’s sacrifice. His work covers all our sins, past and future, and covers them completely and for all time. No sin is too great or too long in duration for Christ to forgive. Our stumbling does not negate his work.

Even if we are genuinely committed to a relationship with God through our trust in Jesus, there may be sins in our lives that cause us to doubt. Spiritual growth is a key to overcoming our doubts. We should cultivate lives in which we practice the daily presence of God through prayer and bible reading. Because of all he has done for us, we will yearn to know him and will set aside times of fellowship with God, praying as needs arise throughout the day. It takes time to keep our lives focused on the right things. We are called to draw near to God on the basis of the work of Christ. And we can do this with confidence and with boldness.

We have a firm assurance, a trust in God, who has shown himself to be faithful. We need to hold fast to our hope which is firmly grounded in the person and work of Christ. This unwavering hope and faith is not moved by changing circumstances. We are to live lives of mutual encouragement, riveting our attention on the need to consciously encourage those in our Christian community. Meeting together in community is not to be abandoned, because fellowship is an essential part of the life of faith. Encouragement does not take place in isolation.

Brothers and sisters, trust in the sufficiency of Christ’s work. Persevere in your struggles. The blood sacrifice of Christ’s body, which we remember today especially, was one sacrifice, offered once for all time. It is our only true basis for assurance. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. That’s you, and that’s me. Thanks be to God. Amen.