Good Friday 2025

A ONE-TIME SUBSTITUTE BURIES ALL-TIME GUILT 

GOAL: This sermon aims to guide the congregation to understand Christ's sacrifice as the substitutionary atonement for our sins and the profound hope it brings.

There is a dual nature to our Good Friday gathering. First, as we reflect upon Jesus’ crucifixion it strikes us a deeply sad event. Here perfect love and righteousness is murdered upon a Roman cross for crimes He did not commit. The stark, bare nature of our Chancel and Altar area bear witness to this deep sorrow.

The song, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” has a line, “It was my sin that nailed Him there, until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.” Over the years the death of Christ Jesus has become a bit sanitized to the point that sometimes we lose touch with the fact that it was my sin, and your sin that nailed him to the cross. That unkind word spoken to your spouse and children, those times when we neglect the hearing of God’s Word and the gathering together as believers. All these things, and so many more are what nailed Jesus to the cross.

At the same time, amidst this profound sorrow, there emerges a glint of joy that we cannot overlook. This is not a superficial joy, but one deeply rooted in an incredible promise that transcends the agony of the cross.

Today we stand on the cusp of transformation because we know how the story ends—not in despair, but in victory. The pending resurrection, just three days later, signifies not just life for Christ but a new beginning for all of humanity. It is the dawn of redemption where death is conquered, and the chasm between God and humanity is bridged.

While today we gather in solemn reflection, we also hold in our hearts the joy of what Christ's sacrifice means for us—freedom from sin's binding grip and the promise of eternal salvation. It is this duality of Good Friday—sorrow interwoven with impending triumph—that invites us into a deeper understanding of God's unfathomable love and grace.

This evening is part 3 of our Holy Week series, “Dead and Buried,” with tonight's theme as “One-Time Substitute Buries All-Time Guilt.” And so we will be exploring how Jesus is our substitute who takes our sin and eternal guilt upon Himself to the cross and ultimately into the grave. I pray that in our time together, you will gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice when He stood in our place as our substitute to receive the full force of God’s wrath, because as our text declares “Cursed is everyone who does not abide all the things written in the book of the Law to preform them.” The truth is, WE are guilty of not keeping the law, but Jesus stepped in and took our place and suffered under the burden of the law and human guilt.

I. The Burden of the Law and Human Guilt

*Galatians 3:10* reminds us that relying on the works of the law places us under a curse, as it demands perfection, a standard impossible for us to meet. Many people still live deluded lives in thinking that they can be good enough to merit God’s love and favor. Yet, Romans 3:20 underscores that no one can be justified by the law, for the Law only reveals our sins.

Our failure is not merely in sinful acts but is rooted in a sinful nature inherited from Adam. This systemic sin is like an ever-present "white noise," driving us to self-love above our love for God and others. Luther described it as being “curved in upon oneself”. This affects every aspect of our lives. It reminds me of what St. Paul said in Romans 7 when he wrote, I don’t understand what I’m doing. I am not doing what I want, rather, what I hate. We become trapped, much like a never-ending to-do list that overwhelms and exhausts us.

The law exposes our sinfulness and highlights our inability to achieve righteousness by our own deeds. Even when near perfection, as illustrated by the story of the wealthy young man in *Mark 10:21*, we fall short of the kingdom. You recall the story, One day a man came to Jesus desiring to follow him, claiming that he has kept the law perfectly. Jesus response to him was, Mark 10:21 “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” The man had great wealth and walked away very sad and full of grief. He just couldn’t do it.

And this is what the Law does. It is constantly pointing out where we fall short so that we may seek God’s forgiveness in repentance. The Law does serve us as a guide for life, and to curb our behavior, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that we can ultimately keep the Law. We cannot. We will only end up frustrated and discover as St. Paul did in Romans 7, when he was lamenting that he isn’t doing the things that we wants, but the things he hates.

The consequence of this guilt is separation from God and being placed under Divine condemnation, exposed to God’s wrath and facing the threat of eternal destruction. This is due to being unable to meet the law's demands, but more-so it is about the relational rupture with God. This explains why our Lord Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Recognizing our role of guilt under the Law sets the stage for appreciating the universal grace offered through Christ. This leads us to our triumph over this Guilt that we now enjoy because “You were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new live…” (Col 2:12 NLT). This passage from Colossians goes on to say that “God canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it the cross.” (Col 2:14 NLT).

Imagine for a moment the immense relief of a debtor finding their slate wiped clean, not through their ability to pay, but through the generosity of a benefactor. This is the gift that Christ extends to us. It is precisely in acknowledging our guilt—that we are, by our own actions, incapable of reaching God—that we open our hearts to His grace.

Galatians 3:13 tells us, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." Here lies our hope: the very law that condemns us drives us into the arms of grace. Christ steps into our place, bearing the curse so that we can step into the light of His redemption. The awareness of our guilt underlines the profound greatness of His grace. And the best part is Jesus took our guilt to the grave with Himself, and He left it there. This victory reshapes our identity, freeing us from the bondage of sin and releasing us into a life marked by His peace.

So, let's delve into this triumph over guilt, a triumph made possible by the immeasurable sacrifice and love of Jesus, leading us into the newness of life and the joy of salvation.

II. The Triumph Over Guilt (Galatians 3:13)

*Galatians 3:13* celebrates Christ’s redemptive victory as He redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse Himself. This "wonderful exchange" involved Jesus taking on our sins and offering His righteousness.

As we reflect on our personal struggles and the weight of guilt that often burdens us, Christ's victory enables us to lay these burdens at the foot of the cross, where He willingly became the curse to grant us freedom.

In this sacrificial act, Jesus experienced the full weight of God's wrath, willingly stepping into our place. His obedience and love for us satisfied the law’s demands for punishment, freeing us from its curse and gifting us His righteousness. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid the debt we could never repay, paving the way for us to be reconciled with God.

This divine exchange can be likened to a courtroom scenario where a debt, impossible for us to pay, is settled by a generous benefactor—Jesus, our advocate. Before Christ, the Law stood as an insurmountable obstacle, highlighting every flaw and shortcoming. But now, in Christ, this obstacle is transformed into a pathway to God's grace.

Our all-time guilt was buried with Christ in one decisive act. His death on the cross served as a final atonement, comprehensively covering all sin, both original and personal. It is an act of divine victory, a demonstration of God's love breaking through wrath. Christ's resurrection is the confirmation of our release from sin's dominion and His eternal reign over all. This act is considered complete and final, with Christ's reign extending "forever" and over "all creation.” You see, Jesus’ completed work provides an unshakable assurance that our guilt is no longer our identity, but rather, His righteousness now clothes us.

Through Holy Baptism, God saves you, and in the Lord’s Supper, He offers Himself to you. These gifts show how His grace is real and available to everyone through Jesus Christ.

For you see, God connects us to Christ through baptism, thereby applying His death and resurrection to us, as if we went through it them ourselves. Not only that, baptism helps us when the devil is putting us through a time of temptation; all we need is to remember, “I am baptized into Christ.” Being baptized into Christ gives us a whole new identity.

The Lord’s Supper, on the other hand, we receive it often knowing two things: First, our sins are forgiven as Jesus promised, and two, it is a tangible way in which God shares His holiness with us, conforming us more into His image.

These two Sacraments connect us to the body of Christ: like many grains of wheat make one loaf of bread, and several grapes are turned into a single wine, we who are many individuals are one body. And not just us here in this congregation, these gifts connect us to the entire Christian church. It is here within the Church, where we are able to encourage one another in life, as we journey to our Father’s kingdom.

Frequent use of the Lord’s Supper is a crucial source of ongoing spiritual renewal and nourishment. Each time we partake, we confront the reality of sin—our own and that of the world—while receiving the grace that transforms and sustains us. This sacrament also invites us into reflection, providing a moment to examine our lives and renew our commitment to living under God’s grace. It reassures us of God’s continuous work in us, offering peace and strength as we face life's challenges until the Lord calls us home.

Jesus is the one-time substitute who buries our all-time guilt. When He emerged from the tomb, He left behind all the ugliness of our sins. We now live in freedom, and now His desire is that this reality transform how we face each day and relate to others. Through Christ, our identity shifts from guilt-ridden to righteousness-clad, allowing us to reflect His love and grace in a world yearning for redemption.

Jesus victory over our sin isn't just a big idea—it's something real that changes how we live every day. Now, we can move forward without being held back by our past mistakes, knowing we have the promise of eternal life with God.

As we wrap up, think about how this amazing truth changes our lives. We used to feel stuck and guilty because of our mistakes, but now, because of Jesus, we're free. We can stand confidently with God, knowing we're forgiven and renewed. Living in this freedom, Christ enables us to show His love and mercy to others, while inviting them to experience this incredible relationship with Him.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.