1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,080 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,080 The book of Luke and chapter #23 is where we will be at in the 8 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,400 Word of God as we continue. Our series Christ is. 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,560 All and this morning we're going to look at the fact that. 10 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,720 Christ is. Forgiving and we'll be looking 11 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,960 at that from the cross here this morning. 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,680 And Luke chapter #23 here in just. 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,800 A few moments, no, I asked Google. 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:50,960 It's not a good place to start a message right there. 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,520 But I asked Google. What the? 16 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,480 Three hardest words for people to say could be and I I just 17 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,600 said give me a list of the three hardest words for people. 18 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,400 To say and I'm I'm telling you. This, and this isn't a sermon 19 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:06,720 illustration that's really happened. 20 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,920 OK, I Googled this. I looked this up and the first 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,120 was this. I was wrong. 22 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,800 I thought that was pretty good. You know that's hard for people. 23 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,680 To say I was wrong. The second I need help and I 24 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,160 think we'd have to agree with that would be 3 hard words to 25 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,920 say I need help. And the third was this 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,720 Worcestershire sauce for the life. 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,120 Of me. I don't know why Google thought 28 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,040 that was 1/3. Word. 29 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,080 You know it. Has that little AI panel that 30 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,000 pops. Up and it tells you and I 31 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,480 thought This is why we can't trust AI right there because. 32 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:38,520 I was wrong. I need help. 33 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,280 And Worcestershire sauce. So I don't know that's what it 34 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,320 is, but I would say to you that probably the. 3rd The three 35 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:46,840 hardest words. To say. 36 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,920 In the English language are not I was wrong. 37 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,120 Although that's hard, it's not. I need help that is hard too. 38 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:53,320 It's certainly not Worcestershire. 39 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,600 Sauce because it's not even 3. Words. 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,760 Not even 3 syllables, so that doesn't count either. 41 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:58,520 But I'd actually say it's probably. 42 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:03,760 This I forgive you. The three hardest words to be 43 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,360 able to say in the English language. 44 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,039 I forgive you. This morning we're going to look 45 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:12,720 as the shadow of the cross looms large upon the pages of our 46 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:13,640 Bible. Why? 47 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:16,160 Because Jesus is upon the cross, and he's going to. 48 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:20,000 Utter the first of seven phrases, 7 phrases upon which we 49 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,360 will reflect on this Friday night. 50 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,120 But. 7 phrases that Jesus utters. 51 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,560 There on the cross and the very first one, maybe one that is 52 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:30,880 surprising. To us, and that is. 53 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,520 This in the midst of the pain. In the midst of the. 54 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,360 Agony in the midst of carrying the sin of all mankind. 55 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:44,120 For all time, Father, forgive them, for they know not what 56 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:45,720 they do. Would you stand pleased? 57 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,040 For the reading of God's Word and. 58 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,000 I've already given you part of the text already, but we'll read 59 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:56,560 in Luke chapter 20. Three beginning in verse #32 And 60 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,880 it says, And there were also two other malefactors being 61 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:03,080 criminals. LED with him to be put to death, 62 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,400 and they were. Cutting to the place which is 63 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,240 called Calvary. There they crucified and the 64 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,960 malefactors one on the right hand and the. 65 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,680 Other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive 66 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,480 them for they know not what. They do, and in the midst of it, 67 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,160 what was taking place, they parted his raiment. 68 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,960 And cast lots literally while the soldiers were gambling. 69 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:32,200 At the foot of the cross, Jesus was forgiving mankind. 70 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,720 What does that mean to us today? Well, it means a lot, and we'll 71 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,120 look at it here over the next few minutes. 72 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:38,920 Will you please be seated as we pray together? 73 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,520 Or heavenly. Father, I do thank you for this 74 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,200 time, and I thank you for your word. 75 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,400 It's quick and it's powerful. Sharper than A2 edged sword. 76 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:51,120 Lord certainly can. Accomplish a whole. 77 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,280 Lot more than I can accomplish in my own feats and my own 78 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,000 thoughts. And so, Lord. 79 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,040 I pray that your word. Would be what matters today. 80 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:00,960 Your word would be what's uplifted. 81 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,680 And as we consider these great words and as we consider the 82 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,880 fact that Christ is forgiving, Lord, may it mean something to 83 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,880 us here as we walk away from this service here in just a few 84 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,640 moments and we ask it in Jesus name, Amen. 85 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,040 Well, as we consider. This fact this morning, as 86 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,800 Christ is forgiving, we have to ask ourselves what does it truly 87 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,440 mean to forgive? And we'll follow a similar 88 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:25,840 format that we have followed well. 89 00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:28,280 When I've been here on Sunday mornings over the last few 90 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:30,080 weeks, the. Fact that we're going to see 91 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,720 what this word means that we're focusing on on and then find out 92 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,440 why Jesus is speaking about that. 93 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,360 Word in the first place. And look at the broader context 94 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,440 of what's taking place. They finally want to find out, 95 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,160 well, what does that mean to us? If Christ is forgiving? 96 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,920 What is the meaning for that in my life here this morning? 97 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,600 And so as we look, first of all, at this word forgive, it comes 98 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,480 from the Greek word FMA. And the Greek word there means 99 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,080 this not just to pardon. I mean, I'm sure that we would 100 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:58,880 probably have the idea that forgiveness is. 101 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,680 A pardon of some sort and. Yes, there is truth to the fact 102 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,080 that forgiveness does mean to pardon, but it actually is a 103 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,960 deeper meaning than just simply that it means to set a. 104 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,040 It means to let. Go in fact in its. 105 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:14,720 Depths. If you look in the. 106 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,200 Dictionary and do the find. What exactly? 107 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:23,800 It means it means to send away, to send forth, to yield up, to 108 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,360 expire, to let go, to, let alone to let be. 109 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,560 I'd say there's enough there to give us some understanding of 110 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,080 what. Forgiveness is truly all about. 111 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,840 Imagine having a debt that could not be paid. 112 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,200 Imagine having accrued a debt over some time that it would 113 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:43,680 would not be able to be made-up. No matter how much you work, no 114 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,400 matter how much you tried to gather together, no matter how 115 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:50,200 many Gofundmes you put together, there would be no way to be able 116 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,960 to pay that debt. And there would be a creditor 117 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,760 who was owed that debt. And that creditor would have 118 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,000 every right to want that debt to be repaid. 119 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,480 But yet then that creditor, out of his own benevolence or for 120 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,960 whatever reason he might have, decides to forego that debt. 121 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:10,200 He decides to be able to. Forego his right. 122 00:06:10,280 --> 00:06:13,400 Right to collect. Instead, he takes the written 123 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:17,960 record of the debt. He looks at you and he tears it 124 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,440 up, Say. Pastor, isn't there a parable 125 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,880 somewhere along that line there? Is, and we'll consider it in 126 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,800 just a few moments, but the fact of the matter is that debt is 127 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,800 forgiven. You know, when it comes to being 128 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,680 forgiven, what are. We to be forgiven of. 129 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,880 Well, there's. A debt, you say, Pastor, Who do 130 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,760 I owe? How much money does it cost? 131 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,040 No, it has nothing. To do with money has nothing to 132 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,520 do with an earthly creditor. There was a debt of sin that you 133 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,240 could not expunge from your account. 134 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,400 There was a debt of sin of which. 135 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,720 There was not enough good works that you could do to. 136 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,000 Repay, you say? Well. 137 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,640 Pastor I've been a pretty good person. 138 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,280 Pastor I've, I've tried to keep my nose cleaner or pastor I I've 139 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:01,520 tried to do the religious thing as much as I possibly could. 140 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,720 And the fact of the matter is, no matter how good you are, no 141 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,560 matter how good you have been, no matter how good you promised 142 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,520 to be for the rest this life, no matter how long that life may 143 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,600 be, there is not enough good that you can do to wipe clean 144 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,800 that debt. But yet there is forgiveness. 145 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,640 There is forgiveness to be able to have the Savior to look at. 146 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:30,440 Us to recognize that debt and to tear it up and to say you have 147 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,280 been forgiven. What does that mean for those 148 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:38,280 who have been forgiven of their sins, specifically in reference 149 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:40,800 from God to man? Well, there's a lot that it 150 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,080 means. It means that your sin has been 151 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,640 sent away. It means your debt has been 152 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,480 fully canceled. Your guilt is no longer. 153 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,520 Rather, guilt itself is not. Held against you, your. 154 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,400 Separation from God has been removed. 155 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,120 There's no future claim on that sin. 156 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,320 It's not like a debt that might be able to come back to haunt 157 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,080 you someday, that you ought to know where you open up the mail 158 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:04,440 and there's a letter from a creditor. 159 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,720 You thought, I thought this was taken care of, Uh. 160 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,840 Oh, it wasn't taken. Care of I'm so glad that when 161 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:14,000 God Forgives us that the record of debt has been sent away. 162 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,400 The Bible says that it's as far as the east is from the West and 163 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,960 Psalm 103 verse 12. There is no future claim on that 164 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,960 sin, the bondage which you were held. 165 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,960 Under is now replaced with freedom, and judgment for sin 166 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,480 has been dismissed. Why? 167 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,360 Because you're a. Sinner and I'm a Sinner. 168 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:42,440 And our sins have been forgiven. We call upon Christ to save us. 169 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:48,360 That's why He was on that cross. That's why he was there, to pay 170 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:53,520 the debt that we couldn't pay. And it was paid through his own 171 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,520 precious blood, his perfect blood. 172 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,920 Never a sin, never a spot, never abstain. 173 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,320 Why? So that he could be the perfect 174 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,960 Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. 175 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:14,040 That's what forgiveness is. It's been sent away when you 176 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,680 have received. That forgiveness of which Christ 177 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,640 secured there on that. Cross. 178 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:24,440 But consider not just that. Word forgiveness. 179 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,760 That word Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do, 180 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,200 but what's actually taking place. 181 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,240 In this text, Charles Spurgeon called his prayer. 182 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,920 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 183 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,760 The crowning jewel and the Lord's crown of. 184 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,960 Love, I like that one. Commentator said In this moment, 185 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:50,920 the silence is broken not by the cry of anguish or a sigh of 186 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,440 passionate complaint, but by the words of tenderest. 187 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,720 Pity and intercession for forgiveness? 188 00:09:58,400 --> 00:09:58,960 I don't know. About you. 189 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,560 But when I'm sick, you know who I think of? 190 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,800 Me. You say, pastor, you're pretty 191 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:05,880 selfish. Well, you are too. 192 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,080 When you're sick. Let me tell you nothing. 193 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,800 And no, no. One's ever been as sick as a 194 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,240 man? With a cold, let me tell you we. 195 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:12,560 That's that's. Sickness. 196 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:14,640 See, if you've ever been a man with a cold, you know what real 197 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:15,560 sickness is. You know. 198 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:20,000 And we, we get sick and we think about ourselves because, well, 199 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,640 just when you're dealing with pain. 200 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:25,160 The focus is on yourself, and that's part of. 201 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,000 Dealing with the issues. Of the flesh. 202 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,080 Jesus in that moment could have very well focused on Himself. 203 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,760 He was beaten in a way that no one's been beaten. 204 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,720 He endured that which no one else has endured. 205 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,760 Both physically and spiritually. In that time, but in that moment 206 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,680 when no one could blame him for focusing on himself. 207 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,920 He was thinking about you. We wasn't thinking about me, 208 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,520 Father. Forgive them, for they know not 209 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,640 what they do. Surely he was talking about the 210 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,080 Roman soldiers. And he was. 211 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,240 Surely he was talking pastor about the Jewish leadership. 212 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,120 And he was. Surely, Pastor, he was talking 213 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,040 about the crowd that was there that was mocking him and and 214 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,040 casting those awful words into his teeth. 215 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,320 And he was, but he was also talking about you. 216 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:23,560 He's also talking about me. Whose sin do you think he was 217 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:26,480 carrying on the cross? Just the Roman soldiers. 218 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,520 No, just the Jewish leadership. No. 219 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,960 Just the crowd who had amassed there for the spectacle? 220 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:38,240 Hardly. Though He was carrying the sin 221 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:44,280 for all mankind for all time. And there in the midst of that 222 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,840 spectacle, there in the midst of that great agony of which He was 223 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,440 enduring again, both physically and spiritually, His mind was 224 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,800 not in himself. His mind was on you. 225 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,360 And listen, his mind is still on you today. 226 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,280 He still cares for you today, and forgiveness is still 227 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,160 available to you today. That's why He was on that cross, 228 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,200 and that's why we're here today. We're not here because of 229 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,600 anything we have. We're not here because of 230 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,520 anything that's good within. US Well, we're here because the 231 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:17,720 forgiveness of sin has canceled the debt of which. 232 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,600 We could not. Cancel ourselves and we can't 233 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,360 help but assemble. We can't help but worship. 234 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,040 We can't help but praise Him. Why? 235 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:31,040 Because what He has done for us. Yes, He was Speaking of you. 236 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,200 On that day, go back. Up to verse #27. 237 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:35,880 I know you're familiar with this text. 238 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:38,880 It does bear us looking at it and it says in there followed 239 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,520 him a great. Company of people and of women, 240 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,160 which also be wailed and lamented him but. 241 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,080 Jesus, turning unto them, said. Daughters of. 242 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,480 Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your 243 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:50,800 children. Again, his mind was not on. 244 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,400 Himself, but was on others for behold the days. 245 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,280 Are coming in which they shall say, blessed are the. 246 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,000 Barren and the. Wombs that never bear. 247 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,880 And the paps which never get sucked, you know, it's the 248 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,480 opposite of what we would say today. 249 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,160 We say today that Baroness is not a blessing and that 250 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,200 fertility is greatly blessed. But yet he says there's going to 251 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,040 be a time when that will be reversed. 252 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:17,080 And I think of the year 8070, when Jerusalem was overthrown. 253 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:18,520 Certainly that would be part of that. 254 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,440 But you consider prophecy as well as that which is to come in 255 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,960 the future. It says in verse #30 Then shall 256 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,320 they begin to say to the mountains fallen us into the 257 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:30,080 hills cover us? For if they do these. 258 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:31,920 Things in a green. Tree what shall be done to the 259 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:33,720 dry? Jesus says if they'll do this to 260 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:35,880 me while I'm here, what do you think will happen when I'm? 261 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:41,480 Gone verse #32. And there were also. 262 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:45,400 Two others, those malefactors led to be with him there to be 263 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,480 put to death, and they were come to the place which is called 264 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,560 Calvary. They crucified him, the 265 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:52,840 malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 266 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:58,160 Then said Jesus Father, forgive them for they know not what they 267 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,600 do and a part is the raiment. Cast lots again. 268 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,480 That that was foretold and Psalm. 269 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,760 Chapter #22 That the soldiers would literally gamble, that's 270 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,000 what. Casting lots is they were 271 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,120 gambling they're taking that special garment of which he had 272 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,320 it was a special particular. Garment of which the Bible talks 273 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,120 about. And he had that garment, and 274 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,280 they literally were. Ripping it up and they were 275 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:20,880 gambling. Who could take home a piece as a 276 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,840 souvenir? And verse 35 says. 277 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,480 And the people stood beholding, and the rulers also with them 278 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,960 derided him. They were mocking him saying. 279 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:34,280 He saved others. Let him save himself, if he be 280 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,360 the Christ. The chosen of God. 281 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,480 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering 282 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:43,400 him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save 283 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:49,600 thyself those wicked. People stood that cross. 284 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,240 And said, if you're Jesus and you are the person who you say 285 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,280 you are, the Christ, then save yourself. 286 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,880 The irony was. That he was in the process, not 287 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,840 of saving himself. But He was in the process of 288 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,440 securing our salvation in that very moment, and part of that 289 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,800 process was this Father forgive them, for they know not what 290 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,440 they do. In no single act is the love of 291 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:21,640 God more clearly displayed. Every attribute of God converges 292 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,040 here. His justice, His mercy, His 293 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,360 sovereignty, and His grace all come together within that one 294 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,080 phrase. Father forgive them, for they 295 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,040 know not what they. Do in fact, we could. 296 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,840 Even say the gospel could be. Summarized in three words, 297 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:43,240 Father forgive them. Father, forgive them. 298 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:49,600 The forgiveness Jesus prayed for is grounded in the Atonement. 299 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,200 Of which he's accomplishing. He was there on the cross as 300 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,160 the. Atonement for mankind, say 301 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:57,760 pastor. What are you talking about? 302 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,320 I want you to turn your Bibles. Please a Romans chapter #5 I 303 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:02,640 really want us to. Look at a couple different 304 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,280 places in the scripture. That I think you should have 305 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:06,600 marked in your Bible and I think that you should know and be 306 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,920 aware of Romans chapter #5. Some of you will be very 307 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,880 familiar with the beginning of this text verse #8. 308 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,160 But often times we read before verse #8 and stop at verse #8. 309 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,040 But I want us to read verse #8 and continue on. 310 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,080 But God commendeth. His love toward us. 311 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,840 And that while we were yet. Sinners Christ died for. 312 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,520 Us remember we talked about a few weeks ago the fact that 313 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,640 before we loved God, He loved us, but we were unlovable if. 314 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,240 You're not sure about that just. Go read the verses before that. 315 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,240 I mean, not right now, but go do that later, OK? 316 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:45,760 But verse #9 more, much more than being now justified by His 317 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,200 blood. There's the blood of Christ 318 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,760 again. We shall be saved from wrath 319 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,880 through him. There is a wrath to come. 320 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,280 There is a judgment. You need to be saved from that 321 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,520 judgment. The lake of fire is real. 322 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,560 The blood of Christ is also real. 323 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,680 And that blood of Christ was shed on the cross. 324 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,119 That you can be saved from judgment. 325 00:17:06,319 --> 00:17:08,160 You say, pastor, there's a lot of. 326 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,560 Churches today that don't talk about the judgment of Christ. 327 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,800 And my answer is that's correct and they're in error. 328 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,640 Because the Bible clearly talks about the fact that there is a 329 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,160 judgment been appointed on demand once to die, and after 330 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:25,960 this the judgment verse #10 For if when we were enemies we were 331 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:30,760 reconciled to God, how? By the death of his Son, much 332 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,840 more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 333 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,240 What is reconciliation? There are. 334 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,120 People that were at odds that now have come together. 335 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,680 What does it mean if? You reconcile books, you know, 336 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,080 if you have a business or when you balanced A checkbook. 337 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,040 Well, I mean back in the days when we balanced checkbooks, you 338 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:49,800 know what I mean? But the idea was this. 339 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:55,080 The numbers have to match up. They have to go together. 340 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,280 Could we even put it this way? They have to be brought into 341 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,480 harmony that whatever the bank says has to be harmony. 342 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,480 With what's in your checkbook. Because if you forgot that you 343 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,280 wrote a check for $50.00 to somebody and it took them a 344 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,120 couple months to be able to take it out and you forgot about it, 345 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:13,400 and all of a sudden the bank says something that you don't 346 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,720 have. They're not reconciled. 347 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,600 They're not in harmony. Before you got saved, you were 348 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,560 not in. Harmony with God you were at 349 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:24,000 odds with. God, but we were reconciled to. 350 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,800 Him through his precious blood. Verse #11 says not only so. 351 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,080 But we. Also joy in God. 352 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,000 Through our Lord Jesus. Christ, by whom we have now 353 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,880 received the atonement. Now. 354 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:36,960 There's that word. Atonement. 355 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,640 This is what Jesus is doing at the cross. 356 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,040 And the word atonement isn't a word that should scare you. 357 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,680 The word atonement is not a word that you should hear and say. 358 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,280 Well, I don't know that I'll ever understand what that means 359 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,360 in the Word of God, but the word atonement simply means this 360 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:56,120 being at one with God. It's literally at one event, the 361 00:18:56,120 --> 00:19:00,120 act of God making us at one with Him again, being in harmony with 362 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:01,320 Him. We were at odds, we were going 363 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,360 in opposite directions, The holiness of God and the 364 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:07,560 sinfulness of man. But yet what Jesus Christ did on 365 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,200 the cross, particularly when He said those words, Father forgive 366 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:14,600 them, for they know not what they do, brought atonement as He 367 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,040 was paying. For those sins with his precious 368 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,800 blood. So that we could be. 369 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:25,040 At 1:00 again, Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the 370 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:31,240 world and death by sin, so death passed upon all men for that all 371 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:35,160 have sinned, all are in this predicament. 372 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,080 Everybody's here today. You're a Sinner. 373 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:41,560 You stand in the face of judgment. 374 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,440 You need the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. 375 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,000 There's no way around it. There's no way to try to say 376 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,720 that you're the special exception to the rule. 377 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,360 There's no way to say that you. Have a side deal with God. 378 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,480 You know, here's the deal. The Word of God says you're a 379 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,280 Sinner in need of a Savior. Say pastor, that doesn't make. 380 00:19:58,280 --> 00:19:59,600 Me comfortable. It shouldn't. 381 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,040 In fact, woe to me. If I try to make that truth. 382 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,680 Comfortable to you today. It ought to sting. 383 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:13,760 It ought to Pierce the soul. But if that was all I had. 384 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,920 To say to you today and left you pierced to the soul. 385 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:18,760 I'll be a pretty miserable church service. 386 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,880 But the good news is Christ died on the cross and secured 387 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,640 salvation so that we can call upon him and be saved. 388 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,800 How great. Was this act of forgiveness? 389 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,720 Well, it came at the cost greater than anything this world 390 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:39,520 has ever seen. You think of money today, the 391 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,760 numbers that they talk about with money almost seem like 392 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,440 pretend it's it's hard to even fathom. 393 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:48,320 Pretty soon we'll have our first trillion dollar company, could 394 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,880 be Apple, it could be one of those other companies as their 395 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:53,880 stock valuations continue to go. Higher and higher you. 396 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,240 Don't have a hard time imagining what $1,000,000 is. 397 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,040 Maybe some of you can't. I don't know. 398 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,440 If you can tell me about it after church, I'd love to know 399 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,960 more about it. But a billion dollars? 400 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:08,320 I don't know. I understand that a trillion 401 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:14,080 dollars boggles the mind. That's why when Washington keeps 402 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,880 spending money and spending money, they're just hoping, 403 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:17,840 well, we don't even understand how much that money is. 404 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,000 Who cares? No, that's not political, I'm 405 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:28,720 just making a point. But the cost is far greater than 406 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,760 any monetary value you could assign. 407 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:36,520 Our salvation was secured through Jesus Christ, who, as 408 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,000 the Creator of the world, gave Himself on the cross to that 409 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,840 very same wicked creation so that we could be saved. 410 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,240 So nobody cares about me, Pastor. 411 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,360 Jesus cares. Nobody's ever given any regard 412 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:54,640 to me, Pastor Jesus has. Nobody's ever given me nothing. 413 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:59,720 Pastor Jesus has oh what a friend we have in Jesus. 414 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:05,960 All our sins and griefs to bear. What a glorious message that 415 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,880 Jesus Christ would save us and forgive us. 416 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,200 But what was Jesus? Doing on that cross well, I 417 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,160 think we've explained. That but Romans chapter 5 gives 418 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:17,800 us an explanation. There's another place I want us 419 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,280 to look at this morning and I want you to be familiar with in 420 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,720 your Bible. We turn to Isaiah chapter 53. 421 00:22:24,760 --> 00:22:26,960 I hope that some of these places that we've looked at on Sunday 422 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,600 mornings will help familiarize with you with your Bibles. 423 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:32,640 Not sure Isaiah 53 is just go to the middle of your Bible. 424 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:33,960 You're going to be pretty close there. 425 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:37,600 If you're in the Psalms, just go a few books ahead and you'll be 426 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,600 in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah. 427 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,600 Chapter 53. Now I'm going to read this 428 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,720 whole. Chapter for us and as I 429 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:46,000 mentioned. Before when I read longer 430 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,160 sections of scripture. It's easy to let your mind blank 431 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,920 out. Yeah, that apparently is more 432 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,800 true than I realized. OK, it's easy to. 433 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,440 Let the mind wander there. But. 434 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,480 Lock into what the Word of God is telling us here in Isaiah 53, 435 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,280 because this is one of the most powerful portions of Scriptures 436 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:04,800 you'll find. How powerful is it? 437 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:06,280 Well, there's going to be an Ethiopian. 438 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,560 Eunuch in Acts chapter 8, Who's going to be reading the same 439 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,320 chapter and he's going to be confused about what it means. 440 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:16,280 But then there's going to be a man named Philip who gets up in 441 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,800 the chariot with him and explains to him that every word 442 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,520 in this chapter deals with Jesus Christ, and that man gets saved 443 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:25,560 and so. We're going to read this right 444 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,920 now ourselves. Who had believed our report and. 445 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:29,560 To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 446 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,280 For he shall grow up. Before him as a tender plant and 447 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,160 as a root out of a dry. Ground he had no form nor 448 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,840 comeliness, and when we shall see him there is no. 449 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,320 Beauty that we should. Desire him. 450 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,280 He is despised and rejected. Of men a man of. 451 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:43,800 Sorrows and acquainted with grief. 452 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:46,280 And we hid his it were faces from him. 453 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,120 He was despised, and we have seen him not. 454 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:50,280 Now stop right there a minute. Who's this Speaking of? 455 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,080 Jesus, you see that? Jesus did not really. 456 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:55,720 Receive a royal reception. Did he? 457 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,240 Certainly there were those, as our brother Charles just read a 458 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,560 few moments ago, who said hosanna and laid down those palm 459 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,320 branches. There was an element there that 460 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,400 day that thought they were ushering in their earthly king, 461 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,160 But yet when they came to the reckoning place that this was 462 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,760 not simply an earthly king, but this was the King of kings and 463 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,720 the Lord of Lords, that same crowd for the most part rejected 464 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:21,120 him. And we're going to see how far 465 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:23,960 they rejected him. Here are the following verses. 466 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:30,520 Surely He had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we 467 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:32,160 did. Esteem him smicken, stricken, 468 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,680 stricken. Smitten of God and afflicted. 469 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,400 He was wounded for our transgressions. 470 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:39,480 He was bruised for our iniquities. 471 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,840 You see why He was on the cross. The chastisement of our peace is 472 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,320 upon him. Boy, these words are good. 473 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:50,080 With His stripes we are healed. What flowed out of those stripes 474 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,080 that were upon him? The stripes of the catanine 475 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:55,680 tails His blood. All we have, like sheep, have 476 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,240 gone. Astray we've turned everyone to 477 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,200 his own way. The Lord has laid on him the 478 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:06,680 iniquity of how many us all. You know what you are. 479 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,560 This morning His iniquity was laid upon you. 480 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,960 That day He was oppressed, He was afflicted. 481 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,440 He opened not his mouth. He has brought us a lamb to the 482 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,760 slaughter. There's a sheep before sheerers 483 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,920 is dumb. So He opened not his mouth. 484 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,960 He was taken from prison and from judgment. 485 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:27,800 Who shall declare his generation? 486 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:30,120 For he was cut off out of the land of the living. 487 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,520 For the transgression of my people was he stricken, And He 488 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,600 made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, 489 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:39,920 because He had done no violence, neither was a deceit in his 490 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,480 mouth. Now you could take the rest of 491 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,440 your life to consider verse #10 and never get to the end of it. 492 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,640 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him He had put into 493 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,240 grief. When thou shalt make his soul an 494 00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:00,280 offering for sin, he shall see his seed, He shall prolong his 495 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,720 days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 496 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,280 Look at what it says to the Father. 497 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,840 He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. 498 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,560 Now that satisfaction is not the same way. 499 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,800 I believe that we would use the term satisfaction. 500 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,600 You know you have a good meal and you feel satisfied. 501 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,480 That top button of the of the pants kind of after Thanksgiving 502 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,000 says, well, I'm satisfied. That's good. 503 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:28,760 That's not the kind of satisfaction is talking about 504 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,680 here. There was a debt that was 505 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,280 satisfied. You see how it all goes 506 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:37,160 together. By his knowledge shall my 507 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:41,280 righteous servant justify many, for you shall bear their 508 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:43,960 iniquities. Look at verse 12. 509 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:48,720 Therefore I divide him a portion with the great, He shall divide 510 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,640 the spoil with the strong. Because He'd poured out his soul 511 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:57,360 unto death, He was numbered with the transgressors many, and He 512 00:26:57,360 --> 00:26:59,080 made intercession for the transgressors. 513 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:06,360 What was that intercession that He made Father forgive them for? 514 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:12,520 They know not what prophesied in the Old Testament, realized in 515 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,800 the New Testament, the intercession, the intercessor 516 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,160 who came. Like in Job the days man, he 517 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:21,040 says I wish there was a days man that would come and speak 518 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,800 between me and the Lord. And here is the intercessor 519 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,680 Jesus Christ, who comes between God and man, being God himself, 520 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,080 and says, Father, forgive. Them for they know not what they 521 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:32,040 do. What does that mean? 522 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:36,680 The debt was satisfied. So it's 2 questions. 523 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:40,560 We have to ask today. You have to ask yourself both of 524 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:42,080 them now. I'm going to ask. 525 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:43,440 Them, but you have to ask them to yourself. 526 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:45,280 You have to apply them to your own life. 527 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:47,760 And this is where the rubber meets the road. 528 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,240 We're not talking about Worcestershire sauce now, all 529 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,120 right. We're talking about forgiveness. 530 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:54,160 That's where the rubber meets the road. 531 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,160 And it may be the last time you laughed this morning. 532 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:01,960 That got awkward, didn't it? But it's going to get real. 533 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:05,200 Not that it hasn't been real all this time, but it's one thing to 534 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,680 talk about the abstract issues of forgiveness as it deals with 535 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,520 mankind. But now you've got to wrestle 536 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,640 with the fact of how forgiveness deals with you, just as I've had 537 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,920 to wrestle with this last few days what forgiveness means to 538 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,120 me. The first question is this. 539 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,440 When it comes the issue forgiveness, have you received 540 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:27,080 this forgiveness? Have you received this 541 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,120 forgiveness? Psalm 32 verse one said. 542 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:33,960 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose 543 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,800 sin is covered, Hebrews 7, verse 25. 544 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,880 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the. 545 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:44,080 Uttermost that come unto. God, by him seeing he ever 546 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:45,680 liveth to make intercession for them. 547 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,360 It's not just the fact that he interceded on that cross. 548 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,200 He ever liveth to make intercession for us. 549 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,040 It's not that just that Jesus was the intercessor. 550 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,800 Jesus is the intercessor, and Jesus will always be the 551 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,760 intercessor on our behalf. And his intercession is this 552 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,760 first and foremost. That you might be saved. 553 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,280 Say, well, pastor, am I already forgiven because he said Father 554 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,400 forgive them for. They know not. 555 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,280 What they do? So I'm already forgiven? 556 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,960 Well, can I maybe explain? It to you in a way that we would 557 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:21,520 understand using an illustration. 558 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:27,360 Imagine a Doctor Who discovers a cure for a deadly disease. 559 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:33,040 It comes at great cost to himself, but yet he freely 560 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,280 distributed it to every hospital, to every doctor's 561 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:41,120 office. And he says you take this and 562 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,680 you use it. There's no side effects. 563 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,560 You take it and you will be free. 564 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:52,440 You'll be clean. Well, has forgiveness been 565 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,280 secured? Or rather, has the cure been 566 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:55,640 secured? Yes. 567 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,680 But does that mean everyone will receive the cure? 568 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:04,200 No. You've got to decide for 569 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,360 yourself. Will I accept that cure? 570 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:10,200 Has forgiveness been secured for you? 571 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:16,560 Yes. For you and you and you and them 572 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,000 and all. Because of the Bible, All means 573 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,680 all. It's secured for all. 574 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:26,480 But it's required that you do what? 575 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:31,080 Accept it? The pastor, I mean, is there an 576 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,720 example of this? And the best example I can find 577 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,880 when it comes to this issue of Father forgive them for they 578 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:40,920 know not what they do, is those two malefactors, those two 579 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,960 criminals. Father forgive them. 580 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:47,000 Does that them cover the two criminals? 581 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,400 Yes. But yet 1 criminal continued to 582 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:58,240 mock Jesus, 1 criminal continued to call him horrific names, not 583 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:00,840 recognizing what own state he was in. 584 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:09,120 And somewhere along that time, as a sky turns black, as if the 585 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,080 father is turning his back on mankind for those hours, 586 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,080 somewhere along that line, that other criminal looks at the 587 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:20,560 other and says, man, don't you realize what a state we're in? 588 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,480 Said we're here because we belong here. 589 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:28,800 This man's done nothing wrong. Somewhere his heart changed as 590 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,840 he saw Jesus on that cross. And he says to the father, what 591 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,800 Well. Back in Luke chapter #23 you 592 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,520 don't have to turn there, but Luke chapter 23, he says, verse 593 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:43,280 42, he said unto Jesus, Lord, Remember Me when thou comest 594 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,200 into thy Kingdom. And Jesus said, verily I say 595 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:50,240 unto you, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. 596 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:52,880 Was forgiveness available to both? 597 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,680 Yes, but one availed himself of it and the other did not. 598 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:00,840 Would it be a shame if you've come to Liberty Baptist Church 599 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:02,800 this morning? Would it be a shame if you come 600 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,200 to Liberty Baptist Church for weeks or months or years, and 601 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,720 every time the Word of God was preached, the answer was 602 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:12,440 extended to you? Not because of me, not because 603 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,800 I'm a Baptist, but because of the Word of God and what Jesus 604 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:20,240 Christ did, and that you did not accept that which Jesus secured 605 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:23,280 on the cross? Have you received forgiveness? 606 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:26,920 I didn't ask if you've done enough to absolve your sin. 607 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:28,440 We saw that you can't do that on your own. 608 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,640 But have you asked Christ to forgive you in your life? 609 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,320 Revelation 2217 When the last verses in the Bible, the Spirit 610 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:44,680 and the Bride say come, let him that heareth say come, let him 611 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:48,680 that is a thirst come, And whosoever will let him take the 612 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,800 water of life freely. Do you know whosoever is 613 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:57,400 yousoever, whosoever's yousoever that God is calling to you to 614 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:01,000 come and receive that forgiveness, to know that you 615 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:04,400 have a home in heaven, call upon Him today, Be saved from 616 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,440 judgment, be saved from the wrath to come? 617 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:12,760 Have you received forgiveness? But I also want to ask you this 618 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:15,240 as a second question for us this morning. 619 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:20,600 Have you received forgiveness, but also have you given 620 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:26,600 forgiveness? Receiving Christ forgiveness 621 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,920 compels us to extend forgiveness to others. 622 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:35,160 This prayer, Father, forgive them for they know what they do, 623 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:39,240 was the model for other believers to also extend a 624 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,600 similar prayer. Stephen, as was mentioned last 625 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:49,560 week in Acts Chapter 7 verse 60, forgave those who are consenting 626 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:53,360 unto his death. As his lifeblood drained from 627 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:57,640 his body, he forgave those who killed him in a similar way to 628 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:02,480 what Jesus did. Paul taught this manner of 629 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:06,400 forgiveness. Romans 12 verse 14. 630 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:11,000 But don't turn there verses 17 through 20 Jesus. 631 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,679 Taught. This forgiveness. 632 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:16,080 The Lord's Prayer. Teaches this forgiveness. 633 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:21,400 Now this is the forgiveness that we are to have a test of genuine 634 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,920 Christianity is not merely receiving forgiveness, but 635 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,880 extending it to others and even to enemies. 636 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,719 You know, the world was at odds with God and he forgave them. 637 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,120 But then we receive the forgiveness and we don't want to 638 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,159 extend it. Remember that parable I 639 00:34:39,159 --> 00:34:43,560 mentioned a few moments ago? There's a parable of two men who 640 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:46,760 owed a great debt. Well, one owed a great debt and 641 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:47,920 the master forgave him that debt. 642 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:51,080 He could never pay it. But as he's leaving, from 643 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,159 talking with the master, he sees a man who owed him a debt, and 644 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:55,280 that debt was small in comparison. 645 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,880 They grabbed him by the collar. He shook him. 646 00:34:59,720 --> 00:35:01,520 So I want my money. He says, well, give me some 647 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,480 time, echoing the same words that the other man had used just 648 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:08,320 a few moments ago. And he threw him to the prison. 649 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,640 And he says, until you pay me back, you could stay at the 650 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,960 debtors prison. That master called him back and 651 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:17,440 he says, do you not understand what just happened to you and 652 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:21,760 you're not willing to offer a much lighter forgiveness? 653 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,080 I don't know what you've gone through in your life. 654 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,640 I don't. I don't. 655 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,320 But you haven't had done to you, nor have I had done to me what 656 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,960 Jesus had done to him. You know, I'm not belittling 657 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:46,680 what you've been through. I'm not. 658 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,840 Heaven knows that I'm not doing that this morning, but neither 659 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:53,000 you nor I have gone through what Jesus went through on that 660 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:57,240 cross. And if Christ could look at 661 00:35:57,240 --> 00:36:01,960 those people and look through His eyes at those of all time, 662 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:08,440 as He would know because He is omniscient, omnipresent, and he 663 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,320 could say, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, 664 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:14,120 then we have to be people of forgiveness as well. 665 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,440 And this is where I struggled this week. 666 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:22,040 I wish AI could just write my sermons and I just talk them to 667 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,000 be honest with you because it'd be a lot easier. 668 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:29,920 But it doesn't work like that because in the study, the sermon 669 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,360 has to go through the preacher to get to you. 670 00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:37,360 And there's a lot. And I talked with my wife last 671 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:39,040 night about this for a while. I didn't even know I want to 672 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:40,160 preach this message this morning. 673 00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:43,040 You say, pastor, what are you saying? 674 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:50,080 It's a big ask to forgive people that hurt you. 675 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,440 People have slandered you. People have hurt those you love. 676 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:58,360 You know, I can deal with a lot if you do it to me. 677 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:02,360 You do it to the people I love. I have a hard time with that. 678 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:04,160 I think a lot of us are that way. 679 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:07,200 Hard to forgive. So, pastor, you have to forgive. 680 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,880 You're a pastor. Well, that just solves 681 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,520 everything, doesn't it? I wish I'd thought of that 13 682 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:18,080 years ago. No, I'm I'm like you and I deal 683 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:22,040 with these things, but forgiveness is all about this. 684 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:24,760 And I've said this before. Forgiveness is setting the 685 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,800 captive free and coming to realize that you're the one 686 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:31,240 that's captive. Let's say it one more time. 687 00:37:31,240 --> 00:37:34,280 Forgiveness is about setting the captive free and realizing 688 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:38,920 you're the one that's captive. Forgiveness is setting those 689 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,400 things aside. Say they don't deserve 690 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,400 forgiveness. Neither did you, but we forgive. 691 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:50,760 Now, I understand there's people that might have hurt you and you 692 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,040 can forgive them and you still need to have boundaries. 693 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:56,440 I recognize that. Don't mistake what I'm saying 694 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,120 right now. People may have hurt you, may 695 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:01,240 have hurt someone you love, and you still have boundaries even 696 00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,400 though you've forgiven them. But there's something that has 697 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:08,360 to be done in the heart because bitterness is what the Bible is. 698 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:11,040 The Bible calls a root that goes inside of us. 699 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:15,360 It goes so deep and it's so hard. 700 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:22,200 Forgiveness is needed. I don't know what you're 701 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:24,680 struggling with today, who you're struggling to forgive. 702 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:30,920 People may have hurt you, disappointed you, your 703 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:34,640 expectations were upended, you thought your life would be in a 704 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:36,760 different place, but someone messed you over. 705 00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:41,560 Life's not fair. It's hard. 706 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,920 At some point forgiveness has to be extended, even if it's within 707 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,600 your own heart. If you can't contact that person 708 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:51,760 themselves because of distance, they might not even be on this 709 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,800 earth anymore. But somewhere forgiveness has to 710 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:59,360 take place in the heart because it will eat you alive. 711 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,360 And what God can do with someone who's willing to extend 712 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:06,280 forgiveness, it's hard to even put into words. 713 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,800 I'm going to give you this illustration and we're done. 714 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:13,080 This is a tough one, I know it is a deep one. 715 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:19,440 There's a man in World War 2 named Louis Zamperini. 716 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,320 Some of you, I've read his story, very interesting story. 717 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:26,920 A man who was shot down over the Pacific Ocean and over an 718 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:31,040 extended period of time, over a month survived out on the open 719 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:34,720 ocean. A miracle to even be alive, but 720 00:39:34,720 --> 00:39:36,840 it was out of the frying pan into the oven because guess who 721 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:39,400 found him? World War 2, the Pacific Ocean, 722 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,800 The Japanese, He was taken into captivity. 723 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:48,000 He was treated very poorly. There was a man who was 724 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:53,920 nicknamed the Bird, and the Bird made it his mission to make 725 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:59,280 Louis's life, as well as some others, a living nightmare. 726 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:03,760 And Louis was transferred from prison camp to prison camp over 727 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:08,560 over a year's length of time. And everywhere he went, the bird 728 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:13,680 followed him. To beat him mercilessly, broke 729 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:19,680 him down in body and mentally. World War 2 is over. 730 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:22,840 The prison camps are empty. Louis goes home. 731 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,080 He goes home a broken man. In the days before anyone knew 732 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:32,360 what PTSD was, he went home and coped with his difficulty the 733 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:36,960 only way he knew how to. He drank and drank and drank and 734 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:40,840 drank. He had a bride and that young 735 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:44,280 bride immediately became at odds with him that he wasn't right. 736 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:46,920 He was what they would have called shell shocked. 737 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:50,160 They had PTSD. He's he's drunken and and that 738 00:40:50,160 --> 00:40:52,960 marriage is awful and the last ditch effort. 739 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:57,920 About year 1950, she went to a Billy Graham crusade. 740 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:01,640 It was there that she came to trust Christ as her savior. 741 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:05,960 She begged Louie to go. Louie wouldn't go at first, but 742 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:09,160 eventually in a last ditch effort to save his marriage, he 743 00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,080 went down what they would have called in those days, the old 744 00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:15,840 sawdust trail and trusted Christ as his savior. 745 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:20,800 Now the story ended there. That's a great story. 746 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:24,120 Louis's life was changed. He's no longer drunk. 747 00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:30,160 He got himself right, sobered up both with his drinking and 748 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:32,680 mentally. He started to love the Lord. 749 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:36,200 They came to the place where he realized the people that held me 750 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:41,240 captive need to hear the message of Jesus and particularly one 751 00:41:41,240 --> 00:41:45,280 man named the bird who needed to hear the message. 752 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:49,160 I'm going to bring this down here and read it because believe 753 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:50,440 it or not, I don't have it memorized. 754 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:58,840 He writes to the man and says as a result of my prisoner war 755 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:01,080 experience under your unwarranted and unreasonable 756 00:42:01,080 --> 00:42:04,200 punishment, my post war life became a nightmare. 757 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,640 It was not so much due to the pain and suffering as it was the 758 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,040 tension of stress and humiliation that caused me to 759 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:15,360 hate with a vengeance. Under your discipline, my rights 760 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:17,880 not only as a prisoner of war but also as a human being were 761 00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:20,520 stripped from me. It was a struggle to maintain 762 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:22,840 enough dignity and hope to live until the war's end. 763 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:27,960 The post war nightmares caused my life to crumble but thanks to 764 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:31,680 a confrontation with God through the evangelist Billy Graham, I 765 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:38,680 committed my life to Christ. Love has replaced the hate I had 766 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:42,360 for you. Christ said forgive your enemies 767 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:47,200 and pray for them. As you probably know, I returned 768 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:51,080 to Japan in 1952 and was graciously allowed to address 769 00:42:51,080 --> 00:42:54,200 all the Japanese war criminals at the prison. 770 00:42:55,560 --> 00:42:58,680 I asked then about you and was told you had probably committed 771 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:03,320 Harakiri, which is a ritual form of suicide, which I was sad to 772 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:08,120 hear at that moment. Like the others, I also forgave 773 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:12,160 you and now would hope that you would also become a Christian, 774 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:17,360 Louie Zamperini. Over the course of the next 30 775 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:20,720 years, the Bird would never meet with Louie Zamperini, but the 776 00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:25,120 message was always there. And Louie Zamperini realized I 777 00:43:25,120 --> 00:43:28,480 don't need to meet with him to forgive him, because forgiving 778 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:32,320 him is setting the captive free and realizing the captive is me. 779 00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:40,400 This one's tough, folks. But either this Bible is real or 780 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:43,280 it's not. Either we're here just because 781 00:43:43,280 --> 00:43:47,560 we say we're here, or we're here because we need to do business 782 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:49,360 with him. It's tough. 783 00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:52,760 It is. I don't know your situation, and 784 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:56,040 I'm not going to ask you what your situation is, but I do know 785 00:43:56,040 --> 00:44:01,080 this. Freely received, freely given. 786 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:06,040 You've received much from Christ and forgiveness, and we should 787 00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:09,280 give it as well. Some of you, some of you can't 788 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:12,640 move ahead because of where you're at through Christ. 789 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:17,040 You can if you forgive them and allow Christ to do what only He 790 00:44:17,040 --> 00:44:19,040 can do in your life. If you don't know Jesus Christ, 791 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:20,200 you're saved. You need to get saved today. 792 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:23,680 But if you are saved, you need to make sure that those accounts 793 00:44:23,720 --> 00:44:28,120 are in order and that those who have harmed you no longer have 794 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:31,240 power over you. Listen, those who have harmed 795 00:44:31,240 --> 00:44:34,640 you no longer have power over you because you have offered 796 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:38,040 them the forgiveness that can only come supernaturally through 797 00:44:38,040 --> 00:44:41,280 a supernatural God. Thank you for listening to the 798 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:43,880 sermon from the pulpit of Liberty Baptist Church. 799 00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:47,480 If this message was a blessing to you, or if there's any way we 800 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:50,640 can serve you, please let us know by contacting us at 801 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:55,520 info@mylibertybaptist.org. Or you can visit us this Sunday 802 00:44:55,720 --> 00:44:59,400 at 800 Washington St. in Easton, MA. 803 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:02,480 May the Lord bless you as you grow in His Word.