Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

A THEOLOGY FOR DYING # 7
LUKE 23:44-46 #7

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"  NKJV  46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."  NASU  46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." NIV  46 Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I commit my spirit to you," and with those words he died. 

47 When the captain of the Roman military unit handling the executions saw what had happened, he was stricken with awe before God and said, "Surely this man was 
innocent." TLB 

Matt 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus,
saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying,
"Truly this was the Son of God!" NKJV

INTRODUCTION:

1. A Theology For Dying; Focuses on Correct Theology.

2. A Theology For Dying; Focuses on Faith.

3. A Theology For Dying; Focuses on Commitment.

4. A Theology For Dying; Focuses on Rejoicing.

5. A Theology For Dying; Focuses on Peace.
 
 
 

I.    A Theology for Dying; Focuses on Correct Theology. v 46 

A.    Corrects The False Idea; "Life Ends At Death".
        1.    Jesus Commended His Spirit To God.

B.    Corrects The False Idea "Christianity Is A Crutch"
        1.     Not A Crutch But A Pole Vault Stick.
            a.    A Pole Vault Over Hell On Your Way To Heaven.

C.    Corrects The False Idea; "God Died"
        1.    Jesus Commended His Spirit To God.

D.    Corrects The False Idea; "No Trinity:
        1.    Jesus Had To Commend Himself To Himself. Die And Resurrect Himself.

E.    Corrects The False Idea; "Reincarnation"
        1.    Jesus went to the Father.
 
 
 

II.    A THEOLOGY FOR DYING; FOCUSES ON FAITH.   v 46 a


        "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.'"

A.    PERSON OF HIS FAITH; "FATHER"
        1.    WHERE IS GOD? ................... STILL ON HIS THRONE.
        2.     JESUS NEVER LOST FAITH. ......... GOD IS AT WORK.

B.    PLACE OF HIS FAITH; "THY HANDS"
        1.    JESUS HAD A HEAVENWARD FAITH.

ILLUSTRATION:
When John Panton was translating the Bible for a South Seas island tribe, he discovered that they had no word for trust or faith. One day a native who had been running hard came into the missionary's house, flopped himself in a large chair and said, "It's good to rest my whole weight on this chair." "That's it," said Panton. "I'll translate faith as 'resting one's whole weight on God.'"
 

APPLICATION:

A THEOLOGY FOR DYING; FOCUSES ON FAITH.
 
 
 

III.    A Theology for Dying; Focuses on Commitment.    v 46 b


            "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' "

A.    JESUS COMMITMENT IS .... VOLUNTARY.
        1.    JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE. John 10:17-18 17 Therefore My Father loves Me,
                because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me,
                but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it
                again. This command I have received from My Father." NKJV
 

B.    JESUS COMMITMENT IS .... VICARIOUS
        1.    JESUS DIED FOR OTHERS; NOT FOR HIMSELF. Mark 10:45 For even the Son
                of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
                many.  "NKJV

ILLUSTRATION: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego Dan 3:16-18 17 If that is the
    case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and
    He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king,
    that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set
    up." NKJV

                    Note they had a "but if not" kind of faith
 

APPLICATION:

A THEOLOGY FOR DYING; FOCUSES ON COMMITMENT.
 
 
 

IV.    A Theology for Dying; Focuses on Rejoicing. v 46 c


                    "crying out with a loud voice,"

A.    Rejoicing in His Shout of Victory Related ..... To Sin and Satan.
        1.    SATAN SAID IF WE DON'T STOP JESUS ALL HEAVEN WILL BREAK LOSE.

B.    Rejoicing in His Shout of Victory Related ..... To Sin and the Sinner.
        1.    A WAY OF SALVATION FOR EVERYONE.

        John 3:14    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son
                        of Man be Lifted up, NKJV
 
        John 12:32     And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
                Man be lifted up, NKJV

        John 6:37    All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I
            will by no means cast out. NKJV

ILLUSTRATION:
There is joy in heaven when a sinner repents. This shout of Jesus makes the way clear for all to repent and receive the forgiveness os their sin.
 

APPLICATION:

A THEOLOGY FOR DYING; FOCUSES ON REJOICING.
 
 
 

V.    A Theology for Dying; Focuses on Peace.    v 46 d


                    "Having said this, He breathed His last."

A.    PEACE IN A . . PRAYING WORD; "FATHER"
        1.    There is peace in calling a loving caring man father.
        2.    My girls call me "daddy" most of the time. It has a trusting ring to it. Christa has said
                I like to hear them call you daddy.

        3.    Jesus said "Father"  and it was a joy to hear.
 

B.    PEACE IN A . . POWERFUL WORD; "I COMMIT MY SPIRIT"
 
        Matt 17:22-23     22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of
                    Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him,
                    and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. NKJV

C.    PEACE IN A . . PROPHETIC WORD; "I COMMIT" AND HE LEADS THE WAY FOR US.
 

D.    PEACE IN A . . PRIESTLY WORD; HE IS THE LAST PASSOVER
        1.    THE TEMPLE VIAL IN SPLIT INTO.
 

ILLUSTRATION:
On the basis of the computation in the Moscow Gazette, Gustave Valbert in his day could report that "From the year 1496 B.C. to A.D. 1861 in 3358 years there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war, or 13 years of war to every year of peace. Within the last three centuries, there have been 286 wars in Europe.

He added that from the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years."

APPLICATION:

The Prince Of Peace Had Peace. The Prince Of Peace Had Peace Gives Peace.

It Is Not A Treaty It Is A Blood Covenant.
 

CONCLUSION:

Song

THERE IS A PLACE OF QUITE REST
There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin can not molest
near to the heart of God.
 

Oh Jesus blest redeemer
sent from the heart of God
Hold us who wait before thee
Near to the Heart of God.