Finding Confidence in God's Goodness Through the Cross
Good Friday reminds us of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. While this day can sometimes feel somber, it's actually called "Good Friday" because we celebrate the power of what Jesus accomplished for us. Today is about remembering that Jesus gave His life so we could experience God's goodness in our lives.
When We Struggle to See God's Goodness
King David wrote in Psalm 27:13, "I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." This verse often becomes our go-to encouragement during difficult times. But what could cause us to struggle believing we'll see God's goodness in our lives?
The answer is sin. Sin is the one thing that can make us doubt we'll experience God's goodness. It was what separated us from our heavenly Father, creating a barrier between us and His love.
Jesus: Our Faithful and Just Saviour
What Scripture Says About Forgiveness
First John 1:9-2:2 tells us: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 1:9-2:2 KJV).
Jesus bore the weight of guilt and shame for everyone who ever was or ever will be. He was the final sacrifice that permanently dealt with sin, setting people free from its burden.
Understanding Jesus' Character
Scripture describes Jesus with three important characteristics:
Faithful - Jesus is trustworthy. What He accomplished at the cross is completely reliable, and we can place our full confidence in His work.
Just - Jesus is fair and reasonable. He considers the needs of others and looks at us from a place of unbiased innocence. He doesn't have unconscious prejudices or consider one person more worthy of salvation than another.
Advocate - Jesus serves as our counselor, comforter, and intercessor. He stands in the gap to intervene on our behalf. When Satan comes to accuse, Jesus defends us because our sins are forgiven through Him.
Two Stages of Salvation
Stage One: Confession and Cleansing
When we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This confession brings forgiveness and washing clean. Though our sins were as scarlet, He makes us white as snow.
Stage Two: Restored Favor
Jesus is also the propitiation for our sins - a word meaning the regaining of favor and goodwill. Many people live only in stage one, believing they're forgiven but never entering stage two. They live cut off from God's goodness, accepting hardships as their lot in life.
We need both stages: forgiveness of sin AND the regaining of favor and goodwill with God. When we know we have God's favor, we can be confident that His promises are for us, not just for others.
Having Confidence in Jesus
What Does Confidence Look Like?
We need confidence in:
- Who Jesus is and what He's done
- The power of the cross and shed blood
- The promises in God's Word
- That as we draw near to Him, He draws near to us
- That He never leaves or forsakes us
- That He is our healer
The Example of the Boy with Five Loaves and Two Fish
The feeding of the 5,000 appears in all four Gospels, showing its importance. A young boy gave his entire lunch - five loaves and two fish - to Jesus. He didn't keep some for himself; he gave everything, trusting that Jesus would take care of him.
This boy had tremendous confidence in Jesus. He trusted that in giving Jesus everything, he wouldn't go without. We need this same faith and confidence - to give Jesus everything and trust Him with everything, knowing He'll make sure we're okay.
Evidence of God's Love
Do You Love Jesus?
Sometimes we question whether God actually loves us, especially during difficult times. But here's the evidence: if you can say you love Jesus, that's proof God loves you.
First John 4:19 says, "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19 KJV). The only way we can love Jesus is because He first loved us. So whenever you doubt God's love, remember that your love for Him is evidence of His love for you.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to live in both stages of salvation. Don't just accept forgiveness - embrace the truth that you have God's favor and goodwill. Stop accepting hardships as "just your lot in life" and start believing you will see God's goodness.
Like the young boy with the loaves and fish, give Jesus everything. Trust Him completely with your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Have confidence that He will take care of you because He already proved His love at the cross.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I living only in stage one (forgiveness) or also in stage two (God's favor)?
- What areas of my life am I holding back from Jesus instead of giving Him everything?
- When I doubt God's love, do I remember that my love for Him proves His love for me?
- How can I demonstrate greater confidence in Jesus this week?
Remember, Jesus didn't just die to forgive your sins - He died to restore you to complete favor with God. You can confidently expect to see His goodness in your life because you are His beloved child.