Pastor Dan Southern 2/15/04 a.m.

Centreville Community Church

Title: Words From the Cross #1

Sub Title: Forgiveness

Text: Luke 23: 34

Romans 3:19

“This was the most unusual pulpit” “His last words were impressive”

-J. Oswald Chambers

A. The seven sayings from the cross are:

A DOCTRINAL EMPHASIS A SPIRITUAL DUTY

1. The word of Forgiveness 1. Forgive others

(Luke 23:34) “Father, forgive them”

2. The word of Salvation 2. Help others

(John 19:26, 27) “Today, you will be with me in paradise”

3. The word of Love 3. Care for others

(John 19:26, 27) “Woman behold your son…. Behold your mother”

4. The word of Spiritual suffering 4. Ask God

(Mark 15:34) “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

5. The word of Physical suffering 5. Admit your need

(John 19:28) “I thirst”

6. The word of Triumph 6. Be Assured

(John 19:30) “It is finished”

7. The word of Committal 7. Let it go

(Luke 23:46) “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”

-Full Life Study Bible, Zondervan

- Jack Hayford, How to Live Through A Bad Day, Nelson

B. The sayings of a dying person reveals a great deal about them.

“How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?”

P. T. Barnum 1891 Circus Entrepreneur

“I should have never switched from Scotch to Martinins”

Humphrey Bogart 1957

“I am bored with it all”

Sir Winston Churchhill 1965

Luke 17:3, 4 Matthew 18:21, 22

Mark 11:25, 26

C. Scriptures about forgiveness.

“Blotted out” – Isaiah 43:25

“Remission” – Matthew 26:28

“Pardon” – Isaiah 55:7

“No longer Remembered” – Jeremiah 31:34

“Healing” – 2 Chronicles 30:18 – 20

l. THE PEOPLE NEEDING FORGIVENESS Luke 23:34

A. The Individuals

B. Those who are Ignorant

1 Timothy 1:13 Romans 7:5

“Even when sin is calculated, planned thoroughly, conceived carefully, and executed efficiently, no one really understands the depth or dimension of sin’s destructiveness or the degree of its horrible damage to people. In a real sense all sin is a sin of ignorance.”

-Jack Hayford, How to Live Through A Bad Day

1. It is the message of the Cross. Luke 23:34

2. It is the message of Christ. Matthew 9:2

3. It is the message of the Church. John 20:23

ll. THE PLACE OF FORGIVENESS

A. It was the place of Calvary. Luke 23:33

Calvary ‘Latin’ means place of the skull.

“It was a hill not far from Jerusalem. It is said that the hill resembled a skull” - Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan

Be Courageous, Warren Wiersbe, Luke vol. 2

“Calvary was the place where the contrast between the Savior’s heart of grace and man’s heart of rebellion is most striking. Calvary is the focal point of revelation and history and experience. There God did his best and man did his worst. There faith is justified, hope assured and love conquers”. Gold from Golgotha, Russell B. Jones

B. It was a place of Cursing.

Matthew 27:39 Deuteronomy 21:23

Galatians 3:13 Mark 15:32

Luke 23:39

C. It was a place of Compassion.

Luke 23:27, 28 Colossians 1:14

lll. THE PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS Luke 23:34

A. It was a Plea. “Father, forgive them!”

Luke 23:39 Luke 23:42

Luke 23:34 Hebrews 7:25

Hebrews 4:14

B. It was a Proclamation. “For they know not what they do”

“Sin always takes you farther then you want to stray,

Keep you longer than you want to stay,

And cost you more than you are able to pay.”

C. There was Pardon. “Forgive them”

God’s Math:

3 Nails

+ 1 Cross

= 4-given