Cross | Pardon
The cross is God’s forgiveness for sinful people. The cross means substitution—his life for your life. It means justification—justice is attained by his sacrifice in your place and for your sins. It means forgiveness, that what you deserve for your offenses has been taken on by another.
The gospel as pardon is thrilling news for those who are overwhelmed with guilt. This is gospel for those who are tortured with shame. For those who are nagged by conviction. For those who feel dirty over their thoughts, words, or deeds. For those who feel that there is no way that a good God could love a bad person. For those who feel that every bad thing that happens is God punishing for the bad things they’ve done. The cross: God’s pardon for us.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you” (Psalm 143:8).
Jesus came that we might receive pardon and forgiveness. Our sins haunt us with guilt and shame. We confess that we too often cower in fear instead of living in joy. John writes, “There is no fear in love…for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (John 4:18).
Consider your sin and fear this day: Fear of the future.
Now consider the pardon of the cross of Christ: “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10). God’s love is proven to you in sacrifice. Wood and nails, sweat and blood, pain and a last breath. By the death and resurrection of Jesus, fear is confronted and cast out. With no conditions or strings attached, you are loved by God!
Word
“A voice says, ‘Cry!’ And I said, ‘what shall I cry?’” (Isaiah 40:6a)
Meditation
“I’m the Problem, It’s Me” by Anna Jacob
Guilt is a heavy thing to carry around. Even if we do not always take action, our sinful thoughts add to the already weighty burden we can carry. It is a sobering thought to stop and consider all the things that I am guilty of today, let alone from my past.
There are many ways in which I find myself reacting to and handling my guilt. At times, guilt feels small, like a tiny nagging thought, one I attempt to ignore and try to push aside. I do not act upon it, but even in my inaction, I am guilty nonetheless. Just as a tiny pebble in my shoe will not go away on its own, neither will my guilt.
When guilt creeps into my life, I look for a way to remove it. I become quick to blame someone else. Yet my attempts to find fault in others does nothing to minimize my guilt. I cannot truly pass the blame. My own guilt does not allow me to point my finger at anyone else. Instead, like lyrics from Taylor Swift, my guilt has no problem reminding me that “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.”
Once I have acknowledged my guilt as my own, I look for a way to fix it, wanting to right the wrong. And while there are many ways to do good and be better, this does not change the fact that my sin is my own. Some actions cannot be undone, harsh words cannot be unspoken, and hateful thoughts still creep in.
Guilt is a heavy thing.
But God does not leave us alone to fix it. He pulls us out of our guilt and shame and breathes new life into us. Through his blameless son, we have a new life and an inheritance free from the guilt of sin. His actions have already won, his words continue to be spoken, and his love remains true.
In worship, we are intentional about remembering this part of our relationship with God. As a congregation, we acknowledge our sin and ask forgiveness from our heavenly father. Yet this should not be merely a weekly practice. Daily we should strive to repent and turn to God, crying out to him. For we know that through Christ we have received forgiveness.
God’s grace frees us from the burden of guilt.
So remember today, and every day, that you have a God who is present. He is waiting for your cry. Go to him in prayer.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for your pardon. You sent your son to free us from our guilt and shame. Help us to return to you to receive daily forgiveness. Help us to call out to you when we feel alone. In your name we pray, Amen.