One of the most significant and profound misunderstandings of Christianity, is that it is for “good and decent people”. But we need to note that the heart of genuine Christian belief is the idea that we all sin. Even as Christians, we are not good and decent ALL the time, just sometimes. It is a belief that offends people – often church people, that too often, we are not ‘good and decent’. We can and do at times say and we do things that hurt and wound and damage others. This is me, and you too if you are honest with yourself. This is different to the humanist idea that we are all good, we just need better culture or better training or better education. However, thankfully Jesus has given us what we need – he provided the only solution when God, in the person of Jesus, took the punishment for our sin.

Does God really exist? Most people in the world believe that there has to be a god. It seems obvious when you observe the intricate finely balanced creation all around us – micro and macro. In reality there are a thousand different ideas. A thousand different beliefs & religions. The simple point is that God has given us compelling evidence in history that he does exist and that he is who he is. The God we know who will judge, but judge justly. The Bible clearly shows that he cannot abide those who ignore him or go other ways. The Bible teaches what God is like – our God who also demonstrated this through the sacrificial death of Jesus, the king. When Jesus became the sacrifice to pay for things that we have done wrong. All this was predicted in the Bible Old Testament writings, especially in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53. Good Friday each year reminds us of what God has done for us. What are you doing about it?