We Find Acceptance

At The Cross

We Find Acceptance

Matthew 27:45-49

How can a human being find acceptance from a Holy God?

This was a cry of Distress not of Distrust

This was a break of Fellowship not a breach of the fundamental Unity of the Father and the Son

On the cross Jesus became my Substitute

“He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2, ESV)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

What Do These Words Teach Us?

1. The Holiness of God

“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”” (Revelation 4:8, ESV)

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong,” (Habakkuk 1:13a, ESV)

2. The Destructiveness of sin

• Sin Separates

“but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2, ESV)

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might," (2 Thessalonians 1:9, ESV)

• Sin Damages and Destroys

“For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.” (Psalm 38:4, ESV)

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah” (Psalm 32:3–4, ESV)

• Sin Condemns

“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.” (Psalm 7:11, ESV)

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5, ESV)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, ESV)

3. The High Cost of Salvation

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6, ESV)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—” (Galatians 3:13, ESV)

Jesus suffered Hell for me so that I could enjoy Heaven with Him

Jesus was Forsaken by God so that I could be Accepted by God

What Do I Do In Response?

1. Turn from sin and Trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” (Acts 3:19, ESV)

“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:” (Romans 3:22, ESV)

2. Live with Humility and Gratitude

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV)

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV)

3. Walk in Holiness

“but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15–16, ESV)

“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18–19, ESV)

4. Tell others about the Good News

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18–20, ESV) 

“and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19–20, ESV)

Making it Personal

• What are you relying on for your acceptance before our Holy God? How is that impacting your life day by day?

• Which of the truths that these words teach us do you most need to meditate on this week?

• What is your next step in response to these truths? What specifically will you do to live out your personal response to the acceptance found only in Jesus Christ?

• Who can you share these truths with?