1. The Door To Forgiveness
Luke 23:34

2. Easter: The Resurrection
Quick note: It has long been thought by some that the word EASTER is from a pagan goddess named EOSTRE.
Based primarily on work of one linguist – who most probably was wrong in origins.
More likely from German AUFERSTEHUNG – meaning resurrection.

3. Resurrection Morning
The first day of the week is forever made the resurrection day of the Lord.
That resurrection is central to our faith.
Without it, our faith is useless.
At the heart of the resurrection is the forgive ness of God and eternal life.
Let’s examine forgiveness

4. A Prayer From The Cross
Luke 23:34 -- But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
What was Jesus saying?
We all know this verse, but do we know what it means?

5. Thoughts From The Greek
“…was saying” is in the imperfect tense in Greek.
It means ongoing action.
Jesus was repeatedly saying, “Father, forgive them….”
How many times did Jesus pray this prayer (because it was a prayer).
What did He mean?

6. The Meaning Of Forgiveness
Forgive = APHIEMI
It has a variety of meanings depending on context.
Often, it is translated “let, leave, or suffer”
Such as “leave them alone” or “suffer them to come to me.”

7. APHIEMI As “Let, leave, suffer”
Matthew 3:15 --But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him.
Matthew 4:11 – “Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”

8. APHIEMI As “Let, leave, suffer”
Matthew 4:20 – “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”
Matthew 19:14 – “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

9. APHIEMI As “Forsake, lay aside”
Matthew 19:29 – “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”
Mark 7:8 – “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

10. APHIEMI As “Forgive”
Matthew 18:21 --Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Matthew 12:31 -- “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

11. APHIEMI As “Forgive”
Matthew 6:15 -- But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

12. What Did Jesus Mean?
Blanket forgiveness for them with no participation on their part?
Blanket forgiveness because of their ignorance?
Forgiveness as a reward for accomplishing God’s plan?

13. What about “Allow it for now?”
If so, Jesus is not asking God to forgive those who nailed Him to the cross without any response at all from them.
Question: Does God force His love on us? Or does He offer us the opportunity to respond to His love?

14. What Did The Apostles Say?
Acts 3:17 -- “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.”
This statement, on the day of Pentecost, is followed by Peter’s insistence that now they “repent and be baptized….”
If they’d already been forgiven, why repent?

15. 2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

16. John Gill Quote
“…[Jesus] prays: and the fruit of this his prayer quickly appeared, in the conversion of three thousand of them under Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, next following, in six weeks time.”

17. The Importance Of Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:13-14 –”But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.”
Without resurrection we have no faith.

18. Philippians 3:10-11
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
The resurrection is power for our own resurrection.

19. 1 Peter 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…”
The resurrection provides for us living hope and an imperishable inheritance.

20. Romans 6:3-7 Baptized into His death Buried through baptism
Raised with Jesus into new life
United through death
Entering the likeness of His resurrection
Old self crucified
Sin done away with – freed from sin.