Words Matter: Paradise in Exchange for Faith

Easter 2023

Words Matter: Seven Life-Altering Statements

Message Two

Luke 23:39-43.

ETS: Jesus granted paradise in exchange for the one criminal’s faith.

ESS: Faith grants us paradise.

OSS: [Evangelistic] {I want the hearers to profess faith in Jesus.} Cognitive: I want the hearers to know that faith in Jesus is the only way to eternal salvation and Heaven. Affective: I want the hearers to feel the need for faith. Psycho-Motor: I want the hearers to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

PQ: What observations can we make about the criminals and this moment?

UW: Observations

Intro.: [AGS]: “An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed his boat high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both. As the man sailed head over heals, he cried out, “Oh, my God! Help me!” At once, the ferocious attack scene froze in place, and as the atheist hung in midair, a booming voice came down from the clouds, “I thought you didn’t believe in me!” “Come on, God, give me a break!” The man pleaded, “Two minutes ago, I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness monster either!” (Michael E. Hodgin. “Loch Ness Monster and God” in 1002 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004. Number 301.) [TS]: Though that story is meant to be taken jokingly, it, to some degree, is not far from the account of the criminal on the cross. The two hung one either side of Jesus. Yet, only one believed in Jesus as the Messiah and was granted entrance into Paradise. Jesus granted paradise in exchange for his faith. [RS]: Perhaps today, you are here and asking the question, “is it too late for me?” “Is it too late for ___?” The answer is that if you still have breath in your lungs, it is never too late. Jesus grants paradise in exchange for one’s faith in Him.

TS.: Let us examine together a few observations now:

The contrast between the two criminals. [vv. 39-40]

The first criminal yelled insults and indulged mockery, “You are the Messiah, Save yourself and us!”

The second criminal responded with a rebuke, “Don’t you fear God?”

One engaged in mockery with the rest of the crowd; the other engaged in repentance.

APPLICATION: Sometimes our stance for God will leave us seemingly alone in the world- notice, this criminal that stood against the other separated himself from the rest of the crowd that day. We must do the same.

The boldness of the one criminal. [vv. 40-41]

As mentioned, the criminal’s determination to stand against the mockery and to rebuke the other criminal separated himself from the others in the crowd. This took great boldness. Previously, both criminals were mocking Jesus (Mt. 27:44 and Mk. 15:32.)

Also, the words he chose to rebuke with were bold- don’t you even fear God?

This verse is the first verse that seems to imply that something changed in the one criminal. Perhaps the Spirit of God was causing Him to understand.

APPLICATION: Responding against that which we have formerly been associated with will take great boldness. Yet, that is what is necessary when we trust in Jesus as our Savior. 2 Cor. 5:17.

The acknowledgement of the one criminal. [vv. 41-42]

Firstly, notice that the criminal acknowledged his own (and the other criminal’s) wrongdoing. “We are being punished justly because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did...”

Second, notice that the criminal acknowledged Jesus’ sinlessness and innocence. “…but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Thirdly, notice that the criminal acknowledged the Kingdom of Jesus. “…when you come into your kingdom.”

APPLICATION: We must also acknowledge our own wrongdoing, the sinlessness of Jesus, and the Kingdom of God.

The plea of the one criminal. [v. 42]

Perhaps lingering in the mind of the criminal is the plea of Jesus he heard before his own plea, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” (John McArthur, “Luke 18-24” in The McArthur New Testament Commentary. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014, 387)

Following the plea of Jesus is the plea of the criminal: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” McArthur suggested that this plea was the criminals way of trusting Jesus would forgive him.

A few points of significance are present in his plea:

the acknowledgement and calling upon Jesus.

The request to be remembered

The acknowledgement of life after death

APPLICATION: We need to cry out to Jesus acknowledging that He has the power to give life after death, eternal life in Heaven that comes only through faith in Him. Also, we need to trust Him for the forgiveness of sins.

The Response of Jesus. [v. 43]

Jesus responded to the plea of the criminal. “Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise.”

The way Jesus began His response, “Truly” established importance with what He was saying. McArthur wrote, “He prefaced it with the word truly, because what He was about to say was hard to believe. That a cursed criminal, whom the Jews would view as unredeemed, would be promised entrance to God’s kingdom was an outrageous affront to their sensibilities.” (McArthur, 388)

Furthermore, it is understood that the words of Jesus represent a “full reconciliation to God.” (McArthur, 388) Regarding the word paradise, William Barclay wrote, “The word Paradise is a Persian word meaning a walled garden. When a Persian king wished to do one of his subjects a very special honor he made him a companion of the garden which meant he was chosen to walk in the garden with the king. It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the penitent thief. He promised him the honored place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven.” (William Barclay, “The Gospel of Luke” in The New Daily Study Bible. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017, 340.)

APPLICATION: Jesus responds to our plea for forgiveness with the granting of Paradise. Our faith in Him as the Son of God grants us access to Him (Rom. 5:1-2).

CONCLUSION:

[1] Have you trusted Jesus as the Messiah, Savior of the world? Acknowledged your own wrongdoing? Acknowledged His sinlessness?

[2] What hinders you, today, from accepting the offer of salvation?