A REMORSFUL THEIF SAVED
LUKE 23:39-43
Todays message deals with the penitent thief who asked Jesus to have mercy on him and got saved.
1.Noticed first that he knew why he was to die that day. The punishment in his eyes was sure due to the crime.
Most times we will cry out not guilty when in fact are guilty.
The thief said “justly;for we receive the due reward.
Luke 16:19 we see the true story of the rich man in hell, and the one thing we never read is that he did not deserve to be their.
Sir, Ma’am if you die knowing you needed Jesus to save you. Justly your due reward will be. IN HELL
You will never cry out I never knew……the rich man in his torments was in need of water. Knowing that is all he could ask for….. Knowing that asking for forgiveness was not an option…it was to late….
When we think of a thief we automatically think well did he die because he was a robber.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “the thief cometh not,but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy”
These men were fairly tried and convicted to die. Unlike Jesus.
One thief comes out with the satanic “If” many times these if’s come out.
This “If” challenges Christ divinity. In Matthew 4:6 we find the devil tempting Jesus “If thou be the Son of God turn stones into bread” Matthew 4:6 “If thou be the Son of God leap from the top of the temple”.
Those around the cross also questioned Matthew 27:39-40 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And the soldiers mocked with their un belief Luke 23:36-37 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
This one thief in selfishness cries out “If thou be the Christ save thyself and us”
He was not looking for forgivnes he was looking for a way out. A pity was his desire. In prison you see real repentance and real oh I got caught so I need to do right or look like I feel remorseful for the sake of pity.
All but one while Jesus hanging on the cross got was …..If you and If you are. Questing His Authority.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
All the religious crowd questioned
Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
If you look at it they got what they wanted Christ crucified. They cried out crucify, crucify. Why couldn’t they just leave Him alone.
They wanted him dead now in their own minds they think they won why not leave Him alone.
But through all of this that second thief noticed. Says one very important thing “dost not thou fear God”
Even through all the long hours of suffering and shame the spirit of God was working in this thief’s heart.
2 things this thief knew. Jesus was innocent and that Jesus is the way to end all suffering. Not in this present world but in the here after.
That thief knew he was going to die and not one good thing he could do get him to heaven.
I want you to notice some things about the seen that day during those agonizing minutes on the cross there were several things present.
1. There was the executioner , but the thief did not tell him have mercy on me.
2. There was in the crowd, maybe a loved one or a friend. He did not cry out to them. He did not count on their influence. Or their connection to the church.
3. Their that day in the crowd where the religious leaders, the priests and scribes. Annanias the high priest was there. And not one time did this thief cry out unto them.
4. Their in the crowd we see also Mary lamenting over the dieing of Jesus. And not no mention of the thief to Mary to pray for him or to make intercession.
5. No but their on the cross before him was the one who said “Him that cometh to me I will no wise cast out, Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you”
He had faith in the one who made the blind to see.
He had faith in the one who raised up Lazarus from the dead.
That thief probably did not have the whole grasp of salvation, but he knew it was Jesus that could forgive sins.
Skeptics of the cross might say here yes Jesus could have said Yes I will remember you when I come back to set up my kingdom here on earth 2000yrs or 3000yrs from now. So you go on to hell and I will remember you.
No what happened here was that, that thief knew that “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
1. He confessed his sinfulness and condemnation “We indeed justly; for we receive the due rewards of our deeds. He knew it was his sin that was bringing an end to him.
Friend if you die today in your sinful condition never asking Jesus to save you then when you die you will be deserving HELL. A due reward
Jesus made a way to escape
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
2. The thief acknowledges the sinless deity of Christ “this man hath done nothing amiss”.
When the crowd mocked that Jesus said he was the SON OF GOD the thief knew in his heart it was true.
3. This thief surrendered to Jesus and called Him Lord.
4. And lastly he called on the Lord.
That thief lived out Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast
When you call on to Jesus and ask him for forgiveness confessing your sinfulness ask Jesus for mercy, you get it.
LUKE 23:39-43
Todays message deals with the penitent thief who asked Jesus to have mercy on him and got saved.
1.Noticed first that he knew why he was to die that day. The punishment in his eyes was sure due to the crime.
Most times we will cry out not guilty when in fact are guilty.
The thief said “justly;for we receive the due reward.
Luke 16:19 we see the true story of the rich man in hell, and the one thing we never read is that he did not deserve to be their.
Sir, Ma’am if you die knowing you needed Jesus to save you. Justly your due reward will be. IN HELL
You will never cry out I never knew……the rich man in his torments was in need of water. Knowing that is all he could ask for….. Knowing that asking for forgiveness was not an option…it was to late….
When we think of a thief we automatically think well did he die because he was a robber.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “the thief cometh not,but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy”
These men were fairly tried and convicted to die. Unlike Jesus.
One thief comes out with the satanic “If” many times these if’s come out.
This “If” challenges Christ divinity. In Matthew 4:6 we find the devil tempting Jesus “If thou be the Son of God turn stones into bread” Matthew 4:6 “If thou be the Son of God leap from the top of the temple”.
Those around the cross also questioned Matthew 27:39-40 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And the soldiers mocked with their un belief Luke 23:36-37 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
This one thief in selfishness cries out “If thou be the Christ save thyself and us”
He was not looking for forgivnes he was looking for a way out. A pity was his desire. In prison you see real repentance and real oh I got caught so I need to do right or look like I feel remorseful for the sake of pity.
All but one while Jesus hanging on the cross got was …..If you and If you are. Questing His Authority.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
All the religious crowd questioned
Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
If you look at it they got what they wanted Christ crucified. They cried out crucify, crucify. Why couldn’t they just leave Him alone.
They wanted him dead now in their own minds they think they won why not leave Him alone.
But through all of this that second thief noticed. Says one very important thing “dost not thou fear God”
Even through all the long hours of suffering and shame the spirit of God was working in this thief’s heart.
2 things this thief knew. Jesus was innocent and that Jesus is the way to end all suffering. Not in this present world but in the here after.
That thief knew he was going to die and not one good thing he could do get him to heaven.
I want you to notice some things about the seen that day during those agonizing minutes on the cross there were several things present.
1. There was the executioner , but the thief did not tell him have mercy on me.
2. There was in the crowd, maybe a loved one or a friend. He did not cry out to them. He did not count on their influence. Or their connection to the church.
3. Their that day in the crowd where the religious leaders, the priests and scribes. Annanias the high priest was there. And not one time did this thief cry out unto them.
4. Their in the crowd we see also Mary lamenting over the dieing of Jesus. And not no mention of the thief to Mary to pray for him or to make intercession.
5. No but their on the cross before him was the one who said “Him that cometh to me I will no wise cast out, Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you”
He had faith in the one who made the blind to see.
He had faith in the one who raised up Lazarus from the dead.
That thief probably did not have the whole grasp of salvation, but he knew it was Jesus that could forgive sins.
Skeptics of the cross might say here yes Jesus could have said Yes I will remember you when I come back to set up my kingdom here on earth 2000yrs or 3000yrs from now. So you go on to hell and I will remember you.
No what happened here was that, that thief knew that “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
1. He confessed his sinfulness and condemnation “We indeed justly; for we receive the due rewards of our deeds. He knew it was his sin that was bringing an end to him.
Friend if you die today in your sinful condition never asking Jesus to save you then when you die you will be deserving HELL. A due reward
Jesus made a way to escape
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
2. The thief acknowledges the sinless deity of Christ “this man hath done nothing amiss”.
When the crowd mocked that Jesus said he was the SON OF GOD the thief knew in his heart it was true.
3. This thief surrendered to Jesus and called Him Lord.
4. And lastly he called on the Lord.
That thief lived out Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast
When you call on to Jesus and ask him for forgiveness confessing your sinfulness ask Jesus for mercy, you get it.
1 comment:
Amen !! Send a little Blessing down this way John . Lord knows I need it .
Tell your family I say Hello !! if they still remember me . hehe
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