Topical - Salvation - The Promise of Paradise
Introduction:
Paradise… what is it? Where is it? How much does it cost? How long can you stay…? I remember when I was growing up, there was a song called “Two Tickets to Paradise” by Eddie Money. According to some online dictionaries, “paradise” means “a place of ideal beauty of loveliness”, “a state of delight.”
Also, according to many Google hits, “paradise” is the following… rock club, software, music, and yes, even cheeseburgers, I had to think about that one because I do like “In-n-Out.”
But the Bible mentions about paradise as well, what it is, where it is, how long you can stay and even how much it cost. Think about the question, “how much does it cost?” When Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise” where did He say it from? The Cross… so how much does it cost? For you in me, nothing, for Jesus, everything, the price has been paid, He paid for it, and He’s not only limited to 2 tickets, but the amount of tickets Jesus has is endless and He has given us free passes to give away, but do we do that? Do we tell lost sinners about the free gift of eternal life?
When a lost sinner repents of sin and trusts Jesus Christ as Savior, that person is born into God’s family and immediately becomes a child of God.
John wrote in chapter one of his gospel “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" (John 1:12, NKJV)
Salvation is an amazing experience takes place. The spiritually dead sinner is raised to eternal life and is brought from darkness to light; the Bible calls this the new birth. For every believer, the miracle of the new birth is the same, but the circumstances surrounding that miracle are different. That includes the conversion of the thief on the cross and the circumstances of that miracle are recorded for us in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 23:35-43).
“Today, you will be with Me in paradise” is our Lord’s second statement from the cross. As the hours of agony passed on the cross, one of the two thieves who had mocked Christ earlier now had a change of heart. What prompted the change is not mentioned. Perhaps the thief heard and was touched by Jesus’ prayer for mercy when Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Perhaps the thief realized that it applied to him. Whatever prompted his turnaround and the circumstances surrounding it was a tremendous miracle.
A. The Situation.
When you really look at this scene at Calvary, you can’t but help be struck that our pure, sinless Lord was crucified between two thieves. We need to remember that this was not an accident. But let’s look at what made this scene so amazing.
1. Prophecy was fulfilled (Mark 15:27-28; Isaiah 53:12).
a) Numbered with the transgressors.
(1) When Pilate gave orders that the Lord Jesus should be crucified between the two thieves he was putting into execution the eternal decree of God and fulfilling his prophetic word.
(2) Seven hundred years before this Roman officer gave his command, God had declared through Isaiah that his Son should be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). Jesus hanging between two thieves was a fulfillment of prophecy.
(3) At the “place of the skull” where Jesus was crucified, not only were the wicked hands of men at work, but also the powerful hands of God & without realizing it, wicked men were obeying the plan of God and fulfilling divine prophecy (Acts 2:23).
b) Treated like a criminal.
(1) Wicked men had come to the conclusion that Jesus was a transgressor (sinner). Jesus was treated like a criminal.
(2) But, if we think about it, this is the very reason that Jesus came into the world, to save sinners.
Matthew writes that Mary "Will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV)
Jesus said that "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28, NKJV)
(3) Jesus lived with sinners and was even called “a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt.11:19). Jesus dined with sinners, and He died for sinners!
!!! 2. God’s Providence.
a) No accident.
(1) God was working out His divine providence – (“to see beforehand”). Remember, there are no accidents in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, only appointments.
(2) Because Jesus was between the two thieves…
(a) They could hear His repeated prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
(b) They could both see the title that Pilate had put on the cross. When you combine the Gospel accounts, the complete title was, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” We might say that Pilate wrote the first “gospel tract.”
(c) They could hear the crowd as it shouted it words to Jesus. The soldiers mocked Him (Luke 23:37), the common people mocked Him (Luke 23:35).
(3) Mark 15:22-32 – Both criminals were hurling insults at Jesus.
(a) Even thought the soldiers and the rulers mocked the Lord Jesus, God used the mockery to transform a criminal into a repentant sinner.
(b) Each of the thieves had access to the Lord Jesus. Just like you and me today.
(c) 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4.
B. The Supplication.
1. The Confession contained in his prayer (Luke 23:42).
a) He feared God.
(1) This dying thief admitted that he feared God. He didn’t question the existence of God. Nor did he think that God was some far and distant Creator who doesn’t hear out prayers.
(2) This man feared God so he wanted to be ready when he met God.
(a) Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 16:6
(3) He confessed that he was guilty (Romans 3:19).
(a) God requires confession (Lev.5:5; Hos.5:15).
(b) God promises compassion (Porv.28:13).
(4) The repentant thief confessed that Jesus Christ was innocent (Luke 23:40).
(5) He confessed that there was life after death (Luke 23:40-41).
(6) Are you ready to meet God (Heb.9:27).
2. The Courage it took to pray the prayer.
a) Did not give in to peer pressure.
(1) Remember, everybody else was mocking Jesus, nobody else was asking for Salvation. While the crowd was opposing Him, the soldiers were laughing at Him, and the thief’s own friend was mocking Him, in spite of all that, he trusted Christ as Savior.
(2) Revelation 21:8; Daniel 3:1ff
3. The confidence this prayer demanded.
a) He did not understand much.
(1) He is like the blind man who said, “I was blind and now I see.”