A. INTRODUCTION
1. Good Friday is good because of salvation. It is the crossroads of eternity.
2. The cross was not an accident; nothing happened that didn’t fulfill the plan of God. “All things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28).
3. The last words of a person before they die are important.
B. THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST
1. Words of Forgiveness. “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
a. Soldiers were obeying orders.
b. They hadn’t personally condemned Jesus.
c. Most think they were all eventually saved. Why? Because the Father would answer the prayer of the Son.
d. Jesus had power to forgive, but not here; He asked the Father to forgive; because Jesus was becoming sin for us and the soldiers.
2. Words of Salvation. The repentant thief said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:42-43).
a. Why did Jesus die between two thieves? They are representatives of all humanity, i.e., those who reject and those who repent.
b. Clear view of victorious faith.
c. Must come to the end of self before salvation.
(1) He saw life beyond death, “Thy kingdom.”
(2) He saw his own sin. “We justify.”
(3) He saw Christ is sinlessness. “Done nothing wrong.”
(4) He saw salvation. “Lord, save me.”
3. Words of Obligation. “Woman behold thy son . . . behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27).
a. The perfect man gives us an example of honoring a parent.
b. Example of Jesus’ wisdom, “Woman.”
c. An example of fulfilling responsibility.
d. Jesus did the expected among the unexpected.
4. Words of Substitution. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’. . . ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matt. 27:46).
a. Why not say Father, or Lord? Because Jesus became sin and was alienated from the Father.
b. Words of Pathos.
c. Because of the awfulness of sin.
d. Because of God’s holiness and inflexible justice.
e. Greatest demonstration of love.
5. Words of Suffering. “I thirst” (John 19:28).
a. Evidence of humanity.
b. Intensity of His suffering.
c. Sympathize with those suffering.
d. Expression of universal need.
6. Words of Victory. “It is finished” (John 19:30)
a. Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of His death.
b. End of Temple sacrifice.
c. Law fulfilled and completed.
d. Old Testament.
e. Salvation.
f. His early life.
7. Words of Completion. “Father, into Thy hands I commit My Spirit; and having said thus, He gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46).
a. Returned to communion with the Father.
b. Takes His life out of His executioner’s hands.
c. Takes control of His life. “I have power to lay it (My life) down, and I have power to take it up again” (John 10:18).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com.
