Forgiveness Makes You Whole And Saves Your Soul Series

This month we are considering together the Supernatural Stream of Healing & Wholeness and my title for this mornings sermon is:

Forgiveness makes you whole and saves your soul!

Easter is rapidly approaching,

the celebration of Jesus paying the price for our sin,

His suffering and death on the Cross for you and I,

His triumphant Resurrection - bringing Forgiveness, Healing and Wholeness to all who know Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.

We know that at the Cross, Jesus won victory over death & the grave.

But do we really understand what Christ accomplished or fully grasp what God offers to those who trust in Jesus for their salvation?

The preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “A view of Christ on Calvary is always beneficial to a Christian.”

So, this morning we are going to revisit Calvary,

the place where Jesus suffered and bled and died for you and for me.

Calvary, the place where God demonstrated just how much He so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son.

Calvary, where Christ was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

Calvary, where Jesus bore the penalty for our own sins on the cross.

Calvary, where God confirmed his love for us and where Christ died for us.

===============================

If we had been there that day on Calvary, we would have seen and heard many things.

There was a large crowd of people at Calvary on the day when Jesus the sinless, spotless Lamb of God was crucified.

Within the crowd there were indifferent onlookers,

there were some of the Jewish leaders who had rejected Jesus because he did not fit their idea of who the messiah would be.

There were also Roman soldiers there, Soldiers unconcerned about the suffering of Jesus, the agony of the cross, or the truth about who Jesus was.

Perhaps, further back in the crowd were the distressed, the desolate friends and loved ones of Jesus, standing there weeping, broken hearted, indescribably crushed by what they could see.

If we had been there that day, and listened we would have heard Jesus speak.

We would have heard his heart’s concern for sinners.

In Luke 23:32-38 we read these words:

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:32 – 38)

On the cross, despite the pain, despite the anguish, Jesus spoke from his heart’s and asked God the Father to forgive.

Maybe it was Jesus’ plea for forgiveness for those who crucified him was the catalyst that changed the attitude of one of the thieves who was also being crucified.

Matthew’s gospel records that at first both of the thieves ridiculed him and mocked him (Matt. 27:38 – 44).

Then something changed: Luke 23:40 – 42

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40 – 42

The thief’s curses and insults were changed into a prayer for mercy as he heard Christ pray, “Father, forgive them”.

===============================

Forgiveness makes you whole and saves your soul!

There are 4 things I want us to consider about forgiveness this morning:

The complete need for forgiveness.

The context of forgiveness.

The consequences of forgiveness.

The conditions for receiving forgiveness.

1st - The complete need for forgiveness.

“Father, forgive them.”

Romans 3:23 says “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

God is Holy, perfect, righteous.

Simply put, we are not.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 says “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

We are sinful by nature, we all sin, we all fall short.

None of us can really fully comprehend the enormity of our sin, nor could those in the crowd at Calvary.