The Prayer For Forgiveness
Sermon Outlines Based On Those Seven Words Uttered From The Cross
Warning: These Maybe Denominational In Origin, but are provided based only on their Educational Merit!
Sermon Outlines Based On Those Seven Words Uttered From The Cross
Warning: These Maybe Denominational In Origin, but are provided based only on their Educational Merit!
The Prayer for Forgiveness "And Jesus said: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...."-- Luke 23:34
How truly noble Jesus here appears! How truly Divine! When men arc dying they pray for personal forgiveness, but the Son of Man has no need of this and is absorbed in prayer for others—even His crucifiers. May we examine this sublime yet simple prayer? Yes, but it must be with great reverence. It will teach us, if we drink of its spirit, how to suffer, pray, forgive, and die. As we listen to this prayer, we are reminded of--
I. MAN'S GREAT SIN
A. At the cross all sin seems focussed.
Those who gathered there were typical sinners—soldiers, acting under others; the populace wrongly influenced; the ruling class, using their power against Christ; the priests, the very ringleaders in this great wrong. All were sinning against God, by trying to rid themselves of Christ.
In this they acted--
1. Hastily
2. With prejudice and passion
3. Unjustly
4. Harshly These are the characteristics of all sin.
B. Their ignorance was no excuse.
It made the sin worse, for they were blinded by pride and self-will. "We must account at the day of judgment [says Matthew Henry], not only for the knowledge we had and used not, but for the knowledge we might have had, and would not."
C. What need, then had they for forgiveness?
A need unseen, unfelt, and as yet, unknown; but nonetheless great and real. Their need, then, is akin to ours now.
II. GOD'S GREAT PREROGATIVE
A. He only can forgive against whom the sin is committed.
What erroneous ideas are often entertained concerning God's attitude towards sinners. Yet the Scriptures assure us:
1. He is faithful to forgive (I John 1:9)
2. He is just to forgive (I John 1:9)
3. He is ready to forgive (Ps. 86:5)
4. He is even eager to forgive (Isa. 1:18; 55:7)
Christ's prayer stamps all this on our hearts, for He would not have prayed for an impossibility. If there is one thing more certain than another about God, it is that He is not vindictive, harsh, and hard to move. On the contrary, He is good, gracious, and generous.
B. The prerogative of forgiveness is not often exercised by an earthly monarch.
God has made provision to exercise it constantly and safely. Sometimes on the accession of a king, forgiveness is granted to a certain number of prisoners. It was from His cross-throne that the dying, yet living, lips of Jesus emphasized in His prayer-proclamation the royal prerogative of forgiveness.
C. God's forgiveness is complete and conditional.
It is followed by momentous consequences.
III. CHRIST'S GREAT INTERCESSION
In this prayer Christ appears as the Great High Priest. He presents Himself before God—not without blood—on our behalf. Those around the cross little knew what communications were going on between earth and heaven for them.
A. To what a height this prayer rises.
How far from mortal thought and human habit! How sublime it is in its tenderness and self-abnegation! How Godlike! "Was ever love like this?"
B. To what a depth it descends.
Even to murder. What depths of condescension, patience, submission, gentleness, and pity, are in this prayer. We must feel them to fathom them. This intercession dives beneath all sin, its arms are underneath all sinners. Who need despair? None.
C. To what a length it reaches.
It was not exhausted when it included those who took part in the actual crucifixion. It comes down all the ages. At the cross it was dropped like a stone in the ocean, but its ripples of love will widen till they touch every shore. And it is "as mighty at its farthest point as at its center."
D. To what a breadth it extends.
Forgiveness is the essence of all true blessing. He who has this, has peace with God—rest in Christ—comfort in the Holy Ghost. Forgiveness is the breath of life, the seal of love, the secret of service, the spring of devotion, the antidote of fear, the sunlight of the heart, the flower that wafts its fragrance along the valley of the shadow of death, and the passport to the home of the many resting places above. Are you forgiven? The thought of being the subject of the prayers of loved ones, has often arrested the careless, reclaimed the erring, and comforted the desponding. Remember this great prayer of the dying Saviour, and resist not its potent instruction and tender pleading.
—Walter J. Mayers
How truly noble Jesus here appears! How truly Divine! When men arc dying they pray for personal forgiveness, but the Son of Man has no need of this and is absorbed in prayer for others—even His crucifiers. May we examine this sublime yet simple prayer? Yes, but it must be with great reverence. It will teach us, if we drink of its spirit, how to suffer, pray, forgive, and die. As we listen to this prayer, we are reminded of--
I. MAN'S GREAT SIN
A. At the cross all sin seems focussed.
Those who gathered there were typical sinners—soldiers, acting under others; the populace wrongly influenced; the ruling class, using their power against Christ; the priests, the very ringleaders in this great wrong. All were sinning against God, by trying to rid themselves of Christ.
In this they acted--
1. Hastily
2. With prejudice and passion
3. Unjustly
4. Harshly These are the characteristics of all sin.
B. Their ignorance was no excuse.
It made the sin worse, for they were blinded by pride and self-will. "We must account at the day of judgment [says Matthew Henry], not only for the knowledge we had and used not, but for the knowledge we might have had, and would not."
C. What need, then had they for forgiveness?
A need unseen, unfelt, and as yet, unknown; but nonetheless great and real. Their need, then, is akin to ours now.
II. GOD'S GREAT PREROGATIVE
A. He only can forgive against whom the sin is committed.
What erroneous ideas are often entertained concerning God's attitude towards sinners. Yet the Scriptures assure us:
1. He is faithful to forgive (I John 1:9)
2. He is just to forgive (I John 1:9)
3. He is ready to forgive (Ps. 86:5)
4. He is even eager to forgive (Isa. 1:18; 55:7)
Christ's prayer stamps all this on our hearts, for He would not have prayed for an impossibility. If there is one thing more certain than another about God, it is that He is not vindictive, harsh, and hard to move. On the contrary, He is good, gracious, and generous.
B. The prerogative of forgiveness is not often exercised by an earthly monarch.
God has made provision to exercise it constantly and safely. Sometimes on the accession of a king, forgiveness is granted to a certain number of prisoners. It was from His cross-throne that the dying, yet living, lips of Jesus emphasized in His prayer-proclamation the royal prerogative of forgiveness.
C. God's forgiveness is complete and conditional.
It is followed by momentous consequences.
III. CHRIST'S GREAT INTERCESSION
In this prayer Christ appears as the Great High Priest. He presents Himself before God—not without blood—on our behalf. Those around the cross little knew what communications were going on between earth and heaven for them.
A. To what a height this prayer rises.
How far from mortal thought and human habit! How sublime it is in its tenderness and self-abnegation! How Godlike! "Was ever love like this?"
B. To what a depth it descends.
Even to murder. What depths of condescension, patience, submission, gentleness, and pity, are in this prayer. We must feel them to fathom them. This intercession dives beneath all sin, its arms are underneath all sinners. Who need despair? None.
C. To what a length it reaches.
It was not exhausted when it included those who took part in the actual crucifixion. It comes down all the ages. At the cross it was dropped like a stone in the ocean, but its ripples of love will widen till they touch every shore. And it is "as mighty at its farthest point as at its center."
D. To what a breadth it extends.
Forgiveness is the essence of all true blessing. He who has this, has peace with God—rest in Christ—comfort in the Holy Ghost. Forgiveness is the breath of life, the seal of love, the secret of service, the spring of devotion, the antidote of fear, the sunlight of the heart, the flower that wafts its fragrance along the valley of the shadow of death, and the passport to the home of the many resting places above. Are you forgiven? The thought of being the subject of the prayers of loved ones, has often arrested the careless, reclaimed the erring, and comforted the desponding. Remember this great prayer of the dying Saviour, and resist not its potent instruction and tender pleading.
—Walter J. Mayers
