A Really Good Friday

The Apostle Paul didn’t let his circumstances deter him from proclaiming the gospel. In fact, he says that his circumstances has actually resulted in the greater progress of the gospel. As a prisoner, chained to a Roman soldier, Paul was in a bad situation. To add insult to injury, many of his contemporary pastors were actually causing him distress because of their self-seeking motives (1:15-18).

Now I want you to know, brethern, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel. Philppians 1:12

He uses the word gospel nine times in his letter to the church at Philippi, five times in the introductory chapter alone. In its general sense, the word ‘gospel’ means ‘glad tidings’. But as we study this word in scriptural context, we discover what a most beautiful word it really is. The glad tidings that the Bible speaks of is the amazing news of what has been done on our behalf to fix our fractured relationship with our Creator, restoring us back to a right relationship to Him.

We are part of a broken world. We’re broken ourselves. Our sin has distanced us from God and as a result we’ve chosen a path that leads to destruction (Romans 3:23). Indeed, we are literally on the Highway to Hell as those seventies Rock and Roll philosophers once sang about. But far from the party that many people think is happening in hell, it is a place of outer darkeness, pain and lonely suffering without end (Matthew 13:42, John 3:36).

Our personal sin must be dealt with. It is something needs to be paid for. Since sin is infinitely offensive to a holy God, we must pay for it with infinite consequence in that real place called hell, where real people go to suffer an eternal conscious punishment. It is what a just Judge does: serving up justice when a crime is committed.

But that beautiful word ‘gospel’ comes into view here: Jesus came to be our acceptable substitute. The wrath of God was poured out on Him. On that Good Friday all those years ago, God laid upon His One and only Son the sins of the whole world, so that those who would believe in Him might be saved from this sure destruction in hell. This is not just good news. This is the most awesome news that mankind has ever been told! When we put our hope and trust in the finished work that Jesus did on the cross on our behalf, we are saved from the wrath that belonged to us. And not only that, God credits Christ’s righteousness to our account so that we become as pure and spotless and blameless as Christ Himself (an astounding assertion from Romans 4:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:21!). This is the only way to escape hell and gain heaven (Acts 4:12). Faith alone in Christ alone ensures us a place in heaven forever… and that never came from anything good in ourselves, it is purely a gift from God to those who accept (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is what brought joy to Paul and what will bring joy to us.

Proclaim the gospel no matter what the situation or circumstance. Watch God work through your words and example.