What Made This Friday a Good Friday? (Romans 5:6-11)

What Made This Friday a Good Friday? (Romans 5:6-11)
Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison

First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/

What Made This Friday a Good Friday?
Romans 5:6-11

For some, perhaps every Friday is an occasion to yell, “TGIF! Thank God, It’s Friday!” But there is something very special took place in history when Jesus gave His life on the cross and shed His blood for our salvation. Many refer to that day as Good Friday.

It was a good Friday in Australia when James Harrison gave blood through the Australian Red Cross on Friday, May 11, 2018. What was so significant about this 81-year old man giving blood? Well, he had given blood like this over 1100 times during the past 60 years of his life! The Red Cross warned him that this should be his last gift due to his age. He actually stated that he wanted to give again but was cautioned about continuing to donate blood. His blood contained an extremely rare antibody called Anti-D. The Red Cross estimated that his blood saved over 2.4 million newborn babies. Without it, some would have perished due to being still born from HDN (Rhesus D Hemocytic Disease). So, it must have been a good day each time that this dear man donated blood, but it must have been extra sweet that day as he gave blood to save lives of little babies one last time. Sweet!

Jesus did something similar when He died on the cross, only His blood saved countless lives in countries all over the world. Romans 5:6-11 gives us some truths related to our spiritual condition before the cross and the amazing results after He shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. I think these verses can make any day and every day a “good” day!

This passage fits really well into a gospel presentation known as the Bridge Illustration. Picture, if you will, two mountains separated by a deep ravine or gully. On top of one mountain, we could write the name of God. He is holy, and no one is like Him. Then, picture on top of the other mountain the entire human race. We, of course, are sinful and broken. So, once again, we are distant from the God who is holy but who loves us so much.

Now, let’s see what difference this passage about the cross of Christ can make in that hopeless looking scenario. If His cross formed a perfect bridge between the two mountains.

Burdens before the Cross of Christ
·      Weak (powerless, helpless)
·      Sinners (missing the mark of perfection)
·      Enemies (rebelling against God’s standards)

Bridge of the Cross of Christ
·      Christ died
·      Christ died for us
·      By His blood
·      By Him
·      By the death of His Son
·      By His life
·      Through our Lord Jesus Christ
·      Through Whom

Benefits through the Cross of Christ
·      Justification (declared innocent by God)
·      Salvation (rescued from the wrath of God)
·      Reconciliation (made friends with the Father through the payment of our sin debt)