Luke 23:39-44

1. Intro.
1. the scene is Golgotha's hill: Calvary
1. where the Son of God died so that the sons of men might live
2. where the blood of a King was shed for sinful humanity
3. where the angels wept and the devils rejoiced
4. where all the sin of the world was laid on the One who had no sin
5. where you and I can come and receive life and joy and hope
2. Jesus had been on the cross for some time
1. Jesus said as they hung Him there on the cross, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"
2. on one side of Jesus was a thief that got more than he stole
3. on the other side was a thief that lost more than he gained
4. one thief saw in the Lord Jesus Christ royalty, he also saw in Him the resurrection; and redemption
5. the second thief lost his life, and lost his opportunity
2. the purpose of the Savior
1. here is a picture of salvation as found nowhere else in the Bible
1. here is one thief who died in his sin, for he did not repent and did not trust the Savior
2. the other thief died to sin and self, and looked to Jesus Christ to be saved
3. Jesus died for the sins of every person that had ever lived or ever would live
4. some see the cross and yet reject Jesus Christ, and do not accept Him as their Savior
5. others see the cross and come to Him, they come with the same attitude, mentality, and trust
2. this scene refutes some false doctrines that were not present at the time
1. the doctrine of sacramentalism
1. this doctrine states such things as baptism, or communion, or church ceremony can save a person
2. this doctrine is refuted because one of the thieves that looked to Jesus and was gloriously saved, without any of those things
2. the doctrine of purgatory
1. this doctrine states that when you die, you must go to a place of torment and there have your sins punished
2. no one knows how much, or to what degree
3. after those sins have been purged, then you get to go to heaven
4. this doctrine is soundly refuted; for here was a thief that did not go to purgatory, Jesus said, "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise"
3. the doctrine of soul sleeping
1. this doctrine states, when a person dies his soul sleeps in his grave until the resurrection day
2. that doctrine is refuted; for Jesus said to this thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise"
3. there would not be any soul sleeping for that thief
4. the doctrine of universalism
1. some say that we are all going to Heaven, we are just going there by different routes
2. this doctrine is soundly refuted because there is only one way to Heaven
3. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me"
4. He said, "I am the door, by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved"
5. there is only one way to Heaven and this thief took the only way
3. the power of the Savior
1. the saving of this thief occurred at a time when it seemed that Jesus had no power
2. Jesus was crucified, reviled, ridiculed, rebuked, scorned, and seemingly unable to do anything about it
1. even in that condition the thief looked to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me …"
2. Jesus had the power, even then, to save a soul; for, He said, "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise"
3. Jesus is the only One that can save anyone
4. those who mocked Jesus said, "if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. He saved others, Himself he cannot save"
5. that was true in a way, He could not save Himself and save you and me, so He stayed on the cross
6. when Jesus died, He took the full punishment for your sin and mine
4. the promise of the Savior
1. notice the word "verily" in verse 43
1. this word means amen, so be it, surely
2. Jesus said to the thief: "What you have asked Me, it is going to be"
2. the knowledge that comes from Jesus’ words
1. He meant that the purchase price was going to be paid
1. He meant that He was going to stay on the cross and pay redemption's price for that thief
2. no one could pull Him down from the cross, He would stay until the end, until it was finished
2. Jesus knew that He would be in paradise (heaven) that very day
3. He was going to take a trophy back to heaven and that trophy was the thief
4. He was saying to that thief, you can depend on me, you can depend on my word, "verily"
5. Jesus was saying if you come to me and trust me as your Savior, you can be assured that you will be with me in glory
5. a proper attitude toward the Savior
1. One thief said to Jesus, "If thou be Christ" – 39
1. that was the wrong thing to do, to doubt the deity of Jesus Christ, for Jesus is God
2. all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made John 1:1-3
3. this thief had the audacity to imply that He was not God
2. the other thief believed in a future life and he also believed in retribution – 40
1. how much do we fear God, fear punishment, fear the judgment of God
2. Satan is not going to let us think about the power of God and God's hatred for sin
3. millions of people died in the flood because of God's hatred of sin
4. we need to recognize the things that God is not pleased with, and we need to fear the Holy God because of it
3. this thief believed in judgment, and he said, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into Thy kingdom"
1. before he said that, he isolated himself, he put himself on the side of Christ - 40
2. he realized his own sinfulness – 41
4. for a person to get saved
1. they need to realize that there is a judgment one day, they will have to stand before a holy God
2. they must also realize, they are a sinner, they do not deserve heaven
3. before anybody can get saved, they must realize they are lost
4. this thief realized he was going out to meet a holy God and he was not ready to meet Him
5. he bore testimony to Jesus' sinlessness, and held Jesus in awe, though He was dying on the cross with him – 41
1. we need to recognize the fact, that the sinless Son of God died for us and not for Himself
2. He died, that we might live, He died for sin and the sinner
3. this thief, who was dying because of sin, was trusting the One who was dying for sin – 42
6. he said "Lord" which meant You are my boss, You are my owner, You are my master
1. this thief knew that Jesus was a King [thy kingdom]
2. Jesus may not look like a king on the cross, but He is the King of kings
7. we see a man who repented of his sins
1. he changed from being with the crowd, to being on God's side
2. he believed on Jesus’ righteousness
3. we see him putting his faith in Christ, and he no longer cared what the crowd said
8. "With me." the great desire of Jesus is to have you with Him, in Paradise - 43