Dr. Gary VanDeWalker
Dr. Gary VanDeWalker
Evangelical Free Church of
Seven Quotes of
Famous Last Words
(3) “Flames? Not Yet, I think.” --- Henry Labouchere
(4) “I see it, I see it.” ---Solomon Foot
(5) “Did I not tell you I was writing the Requiem for myself.” Mozart
(6) “I am about to—or I am going to—die:
either expression is correct.” --- Dominique Bouhours
(7) “And now I am officially dead.”—Abram Hewitt
Seven Last Sayings of
Jesus from the Cross
(1) Matthew 27:46 On about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
(2) “Father, forgive
them; for they know not what they do” (Luke
(3) “Truly, I say to
you, today you will be with me in
(4) “Father, into
Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke
(5) “Woman, behold your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
(6) “I thirst”
(John
(7) “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
1. “John Rodgers did.” --John
Holmes
2. Jesus is about _________________________________
--Jesus fulfills the ritual, but He offers ________________________
--He doesn’t ignore your sin, He ___________________ for it
--Forgiveness is ____________________ bought at a great price
3. We are ignorant of what are __________________ really does.
--Sin ____________________ you to God’s truth
--Sin ____________________ you, into someone you are not meant to be
--Sin keeps you from what God has ____________________
4. Jesus sets the example to forgive as you have been __________________
--Forgiveness is a principle more easily discussed than ___________________
--Forgiveness require you to pay a ____________________ price
5. This week:
--Is there an area in your life where you need to accept Christ’s forgiveness? Read 1 John 1:9 and ask how forgiveness applies to this area.
--Where has sin warped you and you need to see Christ change you and restore you?
--Take a piece of paper and pray, asking the Holy Spirit where you need
to extend forgiveness and write down how you will go about it
(2) “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
1. “John Rodgers did.” --John
Holmes
In 1555, John Rodgers was burned as a heretic.
2. Jesus is about grace and mercy
--Jesus fulfills the ritual, but He offers relationship (James 2:23)
…You can’t manipulate God
…No two relationships with God are the same
--He doesn’t ignore your sin, He pays for it (Romans 8:3)
…He takes your sin and identifies with it
…He removes your sin as far as the East is from the West
--Forgiveness is freedom bought at a great price (2 Corinthians 3:17)He bends his ear to hear your prayers, Ps. 4:3,10,11
He is waiting for you to call for deliverance. II Chronicles. 20:9
4. Jesus sets the example to forgive as you have been forgiven
…You were a slave
…You cost the life of God
3. We are ignorant of what are sin really does.
--Sin blinds you to God’s truth (Ephesians 1:18)
…Spiritual things are understood by our spiritual nature
…Sin puts a lens in front of your eyes that distorts your view of the world
--Sin warps you, into someone you are not meant to beHe bends his ear to hear your prayers, Ps. 4:3,10,11
He is waiting for you to call for deliverance. II Chronicles. 20:9
4. Jesus sets the example to forgive as you have been forgiven
…You are meant to glory God (Matthew 5:16)
…You are meant to enjoy God (Psalm 95:1)
--Sin keeps you from what God has for you (Romans 5:12)
…Righteousness is not as much about rules as it is about what is best for you
…You were meant for life with God
You are given a future and a hope, in I Chronicles. 29:14
He knew you before you were formed, in your mother’s womb. Ps. 139
He bends his ear to hear your prayers, Ps. 4:3
He is waiting for you to call for deliverance. II Chronicles. 20:9
4. Jesus sets the example to forgive as you have been forgiven
--Forgiveness is a principle more easily discussed than practiced (Luke 17:4)
…Consider how often you have an unforgiving attitude
…Challenge yourself to extend forgiveness
--Forgiveness require you to pay a personal price
…It means letting Christ handle your pride
…Forgiveness comes sometimes with consequences
5. This week:
--Is there an area in your life where you need to accept Christ’s forgiveness? Read 1 John 1:9 and ask how forgiveness applies to this area.
--Where has sin warped you and you need to see Christ change you and restore you?
--Take a piece of paper and pray, asking the Holy Spirit where you need
to extend forgiveness and write down how you will go about it
(2) “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
1. Who is the most forgiving person you know? Can you give an example of how they forgive?
2. What would be something you would have a hard time forgiving someone for, besides a heinous crime?
3. Read Luke 23:33-39.
4. What scene does vs. 33 set up? What thoughts do you have as you envision it?
5. In vs. 34,
the Greek implies that Jesus said this over and over again. The
Scripture doesn’t tell us, but why might he continue to repeat it?
6. Jesus often speaks aloud to let other know what he
is thinking. How do you see this in his healing of the paralytic
in Mark 2:5-7? What insights might this passage give you to Luke 23?
7. What does the Jesus action of forgiveness of those crucifying him teach you about forgiveness?
8. What do these verses teach about forgiveness:
--Colossians 3:13
--Matthew 18:21-22
--Luke 6:37
--Mark 11:25
9. Should forgiveness ever be withheld? Is forgiveness conditional?
10. Our relationship with God is two-fold, our
position because of the Cross in which Christ has bought our
forgiveness and relational in which we can be distant from Him.
How do you see the two relationship in terms of the above verses and
forgiveness?
11. Read 1 John 1:9, what else do you learn about God’s forgiveness?
12. Take a piece of paper and write down something you need to be forgiven for.
13. In a time of silent prayer, asked God to help you with this…then write 1 John 1:9 across the page.