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Good Friday sermon
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Bruce & Jodi Chapman
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Apr 20, 2003 03:12 PDT
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Bruce & Jodi Chapman
St Philip's Anglican Church Eastwood
Bruce: bjcha-@pobox.com
Jodi: jodich-@pobox.com
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2>Bruce & Jodi Chapman<BR>St Philip's
Anglican Church Eastwood<BR>Bruce: <A
href="mailto:bjcha-@pobox.com">bjcha-@pobox.com</A><BR>Jodi: <A
href="mailto:jodich-@pobox.com">jodich-@pobox.com</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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{\plain }{\plain \b\fs32 ABSOLUTION}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \par
}{\plain \b\fs28 Receive the forgiveness Jesus offers by putting your =
faith in him and his death=20
for you.}{\plain \par
}\sect \sectd \sbknone\headery1134\footery1440\endnhere\endnhere=20
{\header \pard \hyphpar0\tqc\tx4819\tqr\tx9637=20
{\plain \b\fs20 Eastwood 10.30 am (Good Friday)}{\plain \fs20 \tab =
\chpgn \tab }{\plain \i\fs20 18/04/03\par }\pard \hyphpar0=20
\par }
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{\plain \par
}{\plain Luke 7:36-50; 23:26-49\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \b\ul\fs28 Introduction}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 I wonder if you have any regrets from the past. Anything =
you wish you could undo and=20
start again. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 There is an ad on TV (I think for IBM computers) where =
these people are in a=20
boardroom discussing the business mistakes they are going to undo with =
their business=20
time machine - Then the ad points out there is no time machine and no =
way of undoing=20
costly mistakes.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Is there a person (or indeed persons) with whom you wish =
you could start the=20
relationship all over again.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 I remember an old girl friend (let\'92s call her Sally) - =
years after we had broken up Jodi=20
and I had her over for dinner. Inadvertently I said something which =
really hurt Sally.=20
It\'92s something I regret and later when I had the chance to make =
amends I didn\'92t because=20
I stubbornly insisted I had been misunderstood. I\'92ve never spoken or =
seen Sally since.=20
For me the broken relationship is worse because Sally has given up =
following Jesus and=20
I a minister who should have shown her love instead showed her verbal =
cruelty and=20
stubborn reluctance to repent and seek forgiveness.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 What would you undo if you had the chance? Perhaps a =
fight with a family member or=20
friend that you wish had never happened. Maybe a financial decision you =
wish you=20
could undo. Possibly a crime that you committed.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 If only there was a solution to all the mistakes we have =
made.\par
}{\plain \fs28 If only there was a solution to all the problems in the =
world. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\page {\plain \fs28 Although it has never been found people claim to =
know what that solution might be - \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Stephen Hawking the physicist says it is understanding =
the universe scientifically and=20
finding the simple formula that holds it all together. \par
}{\plain \fs28 Oprah says it is about everyone being happy and tolerant =
and doing what is right for you=20
that makes you a better person, \par
}{\plain \fs28 others say it is about religion, \par
}{\plain \fs28 some will tell you having money - financial independence =
is the solution, ....... \par
}{\plain \fs28 Maybe you are sceptical that there can be any =
solution.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 This morning I want to say that humanly speaking there =
can be no resolution to the=20
problems of the world. I want to say there is no way of undoing the =
past. I even want=20
to go as far as to suggest that it is impossible to have full =
compensation or just for=20
wrongs committed against us. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 And yet the good news of the bible is that God has =
provided an absolute solution. God=20
provides a way for every person to receive ABSOLUTION. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 God\'92s forgiveness is necessary.\par
}{\plain \fs28 God\'92s forgiveness is freely offered.\par
}{\plain \fs28 God\'92s forgiveness if received will provide absolution =
- the absolute solution.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Let\'92s look then at those 3 things:\par
}{\plain \fs28 forgiveness is necessary\par
}{\plain \fs28 forgiveness is freely offered\par
}{\plain \fs28 forgiveness can be received\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\page {\plain \b\ul\fs28 1. The need for absolution}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Forgiveness is necessary. You don\'92t have to think for =
very long to think of all those=20
people who need forgiveness. All those people who have wronged you for =
instance. But=20
what about things people do which are unforgivable. Each of us probably =
has a different=20
limit - but Saddam Hussain perhaps is unforgivable. Someone who molests =
children=20
maybe unforgivable. Could it be just an unkind word to you at the wrong =
time has=20
turned out to be unforgivable. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Well forgiveness is still necessary for the person who =
did the crime - it may be that we=20
are just not willing to offer it. And don\'92t confuse the idea of =
forgiveness with meaning=20
justice is ignored. Forgiveness is about relationships - improving and =
restoring=20
relationships. Forgiveness is about facing up to reality - admitting =
there has been an=20
injustice or crime committed. Forgiveness is painful but helps the =
victim because it=20
removes the sense of rage and bitterness, the sense of outraged =
injustice, the=20
disappointment in life that colours everything else. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Forgiveness also removes from us that deception of =
divinity, as if the offender is the=20
only person who has done something wrong in life and I, as the perfectly =
innocent=20
sufferer, have the right to judge others.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Take a look with me if you will at the meal Jesus had =
which we heard about a little=20
earlier in the reading. It is Luke 7 on page 1001. It is a story about a =
woman who needed=20
forgiveness.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 }\page=20
\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain Luke 7:36-43 }{\plain \i Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus =
to have dinner with him, so he=20
went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman =
who had lived=20
a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the =
Pharisee's house, she=20
brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at =
his feet=20
weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them =
with her hair,=20
kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had =
invited him=20
saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know =
who is touching=20
him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus =
answered him,=20
"Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 =
"Two men owed=20
money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and =
the other fifty.=20
42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the =
debts of both.=20
Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon replied, "I suppose the =
one who had=20
the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus =
said.}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 We don\'92t know what the woman in the story had done but =
she was known as a sinner.=20
Someone who was outside the law or perhaps just outside the church. =
There is a lot of=20
emotion in the story isn\'92t there. The woman does not say a word but =
we can see her in=20
our minds weeping over Jesus\'92 feet. Have you ever been at that sort =
of stage in your life=20
- where things seem to be at rock bottom and there is nowhere or no-one =
to turn to? \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 This lady is rejected by society and by the church. She =
is a sinner and in need of=20
forgiveness. Jesus\'92 story does affirms this fact as he talks about =
two people in debt. He=20
does not argue with the Pharisee Simon when he denounces the woman.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 But in the first twist of Jesus\'92 story - he points out =
that Simon also has a debt. This=20
religious man - a leader among his people also is a sinner. That is he =
too has lived in a=20
way which pushes out God. A good man and yet not a perfect man. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 And you know you and me are just like Simon. There maybe =
someone here who=20
associates with the woman who is a sinner. But for most if not all of us =
dressed in our=20
respectable clothes and living in our respectable homes with our =
respectable jobs we are=20
just like Simon. We are law abiding citizens even if we have =
unfortunately, accidentally=20
run through an orange light or broken the speed limit slightly or told a =
white lie. But we=20
are good people - there are plenty worse people around than me - there =
are plenty more=20
who need forgiveness more than me. And its true. I know a lot of you and =
you are OK.=20
I am happy to have you as my friend. I trust you and yet I still know =
you are a sinner.=20
I still know that every person in this building lives a life of self =
rule. I know that Mark=20
Fairhurst has rejected and ignored the God he speaks about every week. =
Some people=20
have a very great debt owed to God - people like you and I may only have =
a small debt=20
but we all owe something. None of us have lived a perfect life.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 And so forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness from God is =
necessary. And if we do not=20
receive forgiveness then God will give us what we deserve - life which =
is no life outside=20
of his presence and goodness and blessing.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\page {\plain \b\ul\fs28 2. Absolution offered}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Forgiveness is necessary for each one of us. And if we =
look again at Jesus\'92 story the=20
remarkable thing is that God offers forgiveness freely.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 }{\plain Luke 7:40-47 }{\plain \i Jesus answered him, =
"Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me,=20
teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One =
owed him=20
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the =
money to pay him=20
back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him =
more?" 43=20
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." =
"You have judged=20
correctly," Jesus said.}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Both people in Jesus\'92 story had a debt. One had a car =
loan for a few thousand - one had=20
a ten year loan for a mortgage on a house. In our world the bank charges =
you for your=20
loan and charges you more if you fail in a repayment. In Jesus\'92 story =
the completely=20
unexpected happens - the moneylender says don\'92t worry about. I cancel =
both your debts. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Unrealistic maybe but this is exactly what God offers us =
- our debts cancelled. Jesus=20
shows us this in his action towards the woman.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 }{\plain Luke 7:44-48 }{\plain \i Then he turned toward =
the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this=20
woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my =
feet, but she wet=20
my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give =
me a kiss, but=20
this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 =
You did not put=20
oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I =
tell you, her=20
many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been =
forgiven little=20
loves little." 48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are =
forgiven."}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Jesus turns to the woman and says your sins are forgiven. =
Jesus offers words of=20
forgiveness at the end of his life as well. In the reading about =
Jesus\'92 death ....\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 }{\plain Luke 23:33-38 }{\plain \b\i When they came to =
the place called the Skull, there they crucified him,=20
along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. 34 =
Jesus said,=20
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." =
}{\plain \i And they divided=20
up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the =
rulers even=20
sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he =
is the Christ of=20
God, the Chosen One." 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They =
offered him=20
wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save =
yourself." 38 There was=20
a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE =
JEWS.}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Jesus was an innocent man, wrongly convicted, tortured =
and sentenced to the horror of=20
death by crucifixion. Yet as he hung there in agony Jesus thought not of =
himself but=20
instead offered forgiveness to those who had certainly not sought it and =
who certainly=20
did not deserve it.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\page {\plain \b\ul\fs28 3. Absolution received}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 How is this possible? How is it possible for Jesus to =
freely offer forgiveness and can it=20
actually be received? The guests at the dinner party asked this very =
question.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 }{\plain Luke 7:44-50 }{\plain \i Then he turned toward =
the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this=20
woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my =
feet, but she wet=20
my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give =
me a kiss, but=20
this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 =
You did not put=20
oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. }{\plain \b\i 47 =
Therefore, I tell you, her=20
many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much.}{\plain \i But he who =
has been forgiven little=20
loves little." }{\plain \i\ul 48 }{\plain \b\i\ul Then Jesus said to =
her, "Your sins are forgiven."}{\plain \i\ul 49 The other guests=20
began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" =
}{\plain \b\i\ul 50 Jesus said to=20
the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Jesus replies your faith has saved you. On the cross a =
similar declaration was made by=20
Jesus to another sinner - a criminal being crucified alongside =
Jesus.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \qj\li720\ri720\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 }{\plain Luke 23:40-43 }{\plain \i But the other criminal =
rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said,=20
"since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for =
we are getting=20
what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he =
said,=20
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered =
him, "I=20
tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."}{\plain \par
}\pard \qj\hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Firstly how was Jesus able to offer what only God can? =
Well because Jesus was and is=20
God and he proved it by coming back to life 3 days after dying (but more =
about that on=20
Sunday). As another writer in the NT puts it - he knew no sin became sin =
for us. In the=20
great exchange Jesus even though he was perfect took our guilt and crime =
upon himself=20
in his own body and did the time for us. We should have hung on that =
cross guilty but=20
Jesus hung in our place. We have a debt. Jesus pays that debt for us. =
Justice is served=20
when Jesus offers forgiveness because he serves the sentence for your, =
mine, Saddam=20
Hussein and the whole world\'92s sin. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Forgiveness is not cheap. Evil is real. Jesus knows both =
of those things because he hung=20
and suffered there for you and for me.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 How do we receive this forgiveness freely offered? Well =
simply by placing our trust in=20
Jesus. Like the woman we need to recognise our debt against God - a debt =
that is to=20
great for us to pay. We need to give up our own self rule and turn to =
Jesus for help as=20
the only one who can offer forgiveness. And like the criminal on the =
cross we need to=20
trust that Jesus\'92 in his death will pay our debt and win the =
forgiveness we need and=20
crave. If we have faith - that is if we put our trust in Jesus then his =
promise to us - his=20
words to us are - Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you go in =
peace.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\page {\plain \b\ul\fs28 Conclusion}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 I asked you at the start of this talk if there was =
anything you wish you could go back and=20
change. God does not promise to eradicate our mistakes in the past but =
he does offer us=20
a new future. A chance to wipe the slate clean. \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Do you know in your heart that you have a debt you cannot =
repay - guilt that can not be=20
assuaged no matter how hard you try. Are you willing to turn to Jesus =
and receive the=20
forgiveness - the absolution that he offers. It is freely available. All =
you need to do is ask=20
for it. I have a prayer which expresses the actions of the woman who =
came to Jesus and=20
the words of the criminal next to Jesus on the cross. A prayer which if =
you pray seeking=20
God\'92s forgiveness he promises to answer. If you are not sure then =
this prayer is not for=20
you - you need to find out more about who Jesus is and what he has done. =
But if you are=20
ready to give your life to Jesus and serve him then this prayer is for =
you. Let me read it=20
out to you first.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \b\fs28 Receive the forgiveness Jesus offers by putting your =
faith in him and his death for=20
you.}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}\pard \hyphpar0=20
{\plain \fs20 Dear God\par
}{\plain \fs20 Thank you for the offer of forgiveness in Jesus.\par
}{\plain \fs20 Thank you for dying in my place, to pay for my sin.\par
}{\plain \fs20 I am sorry for not trusting Jesus.\par
}{\plain \fs20 Please forgive me.\par
}{\plain \fs20 Please help me to have faith in Jesus and his death for =
me.\par
}{\plain \fs20 Please help me to love much as I have been forgiven =
much.\par
}{\plain \fs20 Amen}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 \tab \par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Dear God\par
}{\plain \b\i\ul\fs28 PAUSE}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Thank you for the offer of forgiveness in Jesus.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Thank you for dying in my place, to pay for my sin.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 I am sorry for not trusting Jesus.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Please forgive me.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Please help me to have faith in Jesus and his death for =
me.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Please help me to love much as I have been forgiven =
much.\par
}{\plain \fs28 \par
}{\plain \fs28 Amen}}
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