"Today Shalt Thou Be With Me in Paradise"
Text: Luke 23:39-43
Thesis: To consider some things often overlooked in the seven sayings of Jesus.
Thesis: To consider some things often overlooked in the seven sayings of Jesus.
Introduction:
A. Three crosses adorned Calvary’s hill on that historical day. One was a cross of rebellion (39). One was a cross of repentance (40-42). One was a cross of redemption (43; cf. Heb. 5:8-9).
B. It is with this thought in mind that we turn our attention to the second of seven recorded sayings by Jesus from the cross. Keep in mind that these sayings are revelations of what was passing through the mind of our Lord during the end of his personal ministry on this earth.
C. What lessons can you and I learn from the words, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”?
A. Three crosses adorned Calvary’s hill on that historical day. One was a cross of rebellion (39). One was a cross of repentance (40-42). One was a cross of redemption (43; cf. Heb. 5:8-9).
B. It is with this thought in mind that we turn our attention to the second of seven recorded sayings by Jesus from the cross. Keep in mind that these sayings are revelations of what was passing through the mind of our Lord during the end of his personal ministry on this earth.
C. What lessons can you and I learn from the words, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”?
Discussion:
From a study such as this, we learn . . .
From a study such as this, we learn . . .
I. A LESSON IN VALUES.
A. Ill: “On April 14, 1912, 10:00 p.m. the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later sank. One woman in a life boat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. In her room were her treasures waiting to be taken, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but in the face of death, values are seen more clearly.” I tell that story for to make the point—as the thieves were facing death, what were their values?
B. At one point, the thieves hanging by Jesus were united in their accusations against the Lord (Mt. 27:38-44). In essence their value system was based upon what everyone else was saying about Jesus.
C. At some point, some how, the thieves became divided in their thoughts about the Lord (Lk. 23:39-40). From this, several value statements are revealed.
1. One value statement was “save yourself but be sure to save me too”—selfishness. Ill: An ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused. The second year the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being pollinated by the inferior grade of corn from his neighbors' fields.
2. One value statement was “this man is not whom we thought”—open-mindedness.
3. One value statement was “I made a mistake”—humility. Ill: Lincoln once got caught up in a situation where he wanted to please a politician, so he issued a command to transfer certain regiments. When the secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, received the order, he refused to carry it out. He said that the President was a fool. Lincoln was told what Stanton had said, and he replied, "If Stanton said I'm a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I'll see for myself." As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it.
4. One value statement was “don’t you see who this is”—evangelism.
5. One value statement was “I’m about to die, but I’ll never change”—pride. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).
6. One value statement was “I know what I deserve, but Lord, I’ve changed”—repentance.
D. What are your value statements? What do people know about you? What kind of heart do you have?
A. Ill: “On April 14, 1912, 10:00 p.m. the Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the mid-Atlantic and four hours later sank. One woman in a life boat asked if she could go back to her room. She was given only three minutes to do so. She hurried down the corridors, already tilting dangerously, through the gambling room piled ankle-deep in money. In her room were her treasures waiting to be taken, but instead, she snatched up three oranges and hurried back to the boat. One hour before she would have naturally chosen diamonds over oranges, but in the face of death, values are seen more clearly.” I tell that story for to make the point—as the thieves were facing death, what were their values?
B. At one point, the thieves hanging by Jesus were united in their accusations against the Lord (Mt. 27:38-44). In essence their value system was based upon what everyone else was saying about Jesus.
C. At some point, some how, the thieves became divided in their thoughts about the Lord (Lk. 23:39-40). From this, several value statements are revealed.
1. One value statement was “save yourself but be sure to save me too”—selfishness. Ill: An ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused. The second year the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being pollinated by the inferior grade of corn from his neighbors' fields.
2. One value statement was “this man is not whom we thought”—open-mindedness.
3. One value statement was “I made a mistake”—humility. Ill: Lincoln once got caught up in a situation where he wanted to please a politician, so he issued a command to transfer certain regiments. When the secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, received the order, he refused to carry it out. He said that the President was a fool. Lincoln was told what Stanton had said, and he replied, "If Stanton said I'm a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I'll see for myself." As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it.
4. One value statement was “don’t you see who this is”—evangelism.
5. One value statement was “I’m about to die, but I’ll never change”—pride. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).
6. One value statement was “I know what I deserve, but Lord, I’ve changed”—repentance.
D. What are your value statements? What do people know about you? What kind of heart do you have?
II. THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS FLOWED TWO WAYS.
A. There has never been a time in the world where salvation has occurred separate from blood being shed. The Hebrews writer said, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (9:22).
B. Under the Old Law, the blood of animal’s was shed for the purpose of remitting the sins of the Jews (Heb. 9:7). But the Bible says it’s not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb. 10:4). How could those sins be remitted? By the blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:14).
C. You see, sins under the Old Law were remitted in view of the coming death of Jesus. Sins are remitted today under the New Law by looking back to the cross.
A. There has never been a time in the world where salvation has occurred separate from blood being shed. The Hebrews writer said, “without shedding of blood is no remission” (9:22).
B. Under the Old Law, the blood of animal’s was shed for the purpose of remitting the sins of the Jews (Heb. 9:7). But the Bible says it’s not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb. 10:4). How could those sins be remitted? By the blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:14).
C. You see, sins under the Old Law were remitted in view of the coming death of Jesus. Sins are remitted today under the New Law by looking back to the cross.
III. ABOUT THE STATE OF THE DEAD.
A. The word “paradise” is used just three times in the KJV (2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7; Lk. 23:43).
B. It is the same Greek word transliterated, “paradeisos.” It means a “place of future happiness.”
C. Paradise is one of the two states after death, and before the Judgment (Mt. 16:18; 2 Cor. 5:10; Lk. 16:22ff).
A. The word “paradise” is used just three times in the KJV (2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7; Lk. 23:43).
B. It is the same Greek word transliterated, “paradeisos.” It means a “place of future happiness.”
C. Paradise is one of the two states after death, and before the Judgment (Mt. 16:18; 2 Cor. 5:10; Lk. 16:22ff).
IV. THAT GOD IS ANXIOUS TO SAVE.
A. But, his salvation is conditional. This is one of the most misused verses in the Bible with respect to salvation. “We want to be saved like the thief on the cross!” “But look at the thief! He did not need to be baptized; neither do we!”
B. Was the thief saved? That fact is not disputable. Was the thief ever baptized? Consider this:
1. The text teaches that he knew about the Lord’s coming kingdom. Where did he learn about the kingdom?
2. He knew something about the Lord’s authority, for he said, Lord “remember” me. Who taught him about this authority?
3. Could it not be true that he learned about the Lord’s kingdom and authority from John, or at the very least, one of John’s disciples? If he did, we can conclude that he must also have known something about John’s baptism.
4. It is quite presumptuous of a Bible student to say that the thief was never baptized.
5. But, for argument sake, let’s assume that he never was baptized. Does this set a precedent for man’s salvation today separate and apart from baptism?
a. When the Lord made the statement to the thief, the Lord was still alive. Since Jesus was still alive, the Old Law was still in affect (Mt. 5:17; Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15; cf. Heb. 9:17). While Jesus walked upon this earth, could he not grant the gift of His choosing? Indeed. But once Jesus was dead and gone, salvation would come by following the last will and testament of Jesus.
b. Since you and I are under the New Testament, we must appeal to that law for the condition of salvation. These conditions are clearly defined.
c. The Holy Spirit saw fit to provide us with an entire book addressing the beginning of the church, and salvation. In that book, there are at least eight cases of conversion. There is not one single example of man being granted entrance into paradise based on the example of the thief on the cross.
C. Yes, God is anxious to save, but He will only save in accord with His will (1 Pt. 3:21).
A. But, his salvation is conditional. This is one of the most misused verses in the Bible with respect to salvation. “We want to be saved like the thief on the cross!” “But look at the thief! He did not need to be baptized; neither do we!”
B. Was the thief saved? That fact is not disputable. Was the thief ever baptized? Consider this:
1. The text teaches that he knew about the Lord’s coming kingdom. Where did he learn about the kingdom?
2. He knew something about the Lord’s authority, for he said, Lord “remember” me. Who taught him about this authority?
3. Could it not be true that he learned about the Lord’s kingdom and authority from John, or at the very least, one of John’s disciples? If he did, we can conclude that he must also have known something about John’s baptism.
4. It is quite presumptuous of a Bible student to say that the thief was never baptized.
5. But, for argument sake, let’s assume that he never was baptized. Does this set a precedent for man’s salvation today separate and apart from baptism?
a. When the Lord made the statement to the thief, the Lord was still alive. Since Jesus was still alive, the Old Law was still in affect (Mt. 5:17; Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15; cf. Heb. 9:17). While Jesus walked upon this earth, could he not grant the gift of His choosing? Indeed. But once Jesus was dead and gone, salvation would come by following the last will and testament of Jesus.
b. Since you and I are under the New Testament, we must appeal to that law for the condition of salvation. These conditions are clearly defined.
c. The Holy Spirit saw fit to provide us with an entire book addressing the beginning of the church, and salvation. In that book, there are at least eight cases of conversion. There is not one single example of man being granted entrance into paradise based on the example of the thief on the cross.
C. Yes, God is anxious to save, but He will only save in accord with His will (1 Pt. 3:21).
V. THE DEPTH OF GOD’S MERCY.
A. The thief whom Jesus saved on the cross was referred to as a malefactor. The Greek word transliterated is “kakourgos.” It means “a wrong-doer, i.e. criminal;—evil-doer.” It is from the base “ergon,” which means “occupation.” So, a malefactor is one whose occupation is doing evil. In other words, Jesus saved the lowest of the low upon the thief’s repentance.
B. Paul said, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rm. 5:6-8).
C. Ill: A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son.
A. The thief whom Jesus saved on the cross was referred to as a malefactor. The Greek word transliterated is “kakourgos.” It means “a wrong-doer, i.e. criminal;—evil-doer.” It is from the base “ergon,” which means “occupation.” So, a malefactor is one whose occupation is doing evil. In other words, Jesus saved the lowest of the low upon the thief’s repentance.
B. Paul said, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rm. 5:6-8).
C. Ill: A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied. "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son.
Conclusion:
A. Today we have discussed practical lessons from the Savior’s second saying on the cross. We learned that we need to have the right value statements; that His blood was shed for men of every age; that death is a reality and my soul will go somewhere after this life; that God longs to save me on His terms; and, that God’s mercy will save even me.
A. Today we have discussed practical lessons from the Savior’s second saying on the cross. We learned that we need to have the right value statements; that His blood was shed for men of every age; that death is a reality and my soul will go somewhere after this life; that God longs to save me on His terms; and, that God’s mercy will save even me.
B. May we always be “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy hat was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
posted by Neil Richey | 7:27 AM
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