Youth Event Message

Tommy Wong

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Introduction

Introduce Myself? Honour to give a lesson this evening

I don’t know most of you. Some of you may have come to this event with your friends. Some of you may only come to youth events on Fridays. Some of you may have recently attended church. Some of you may have grown in the church.

Where you are in your life

I also don’t know what all of you think about Jesus Christ. You may have different ideas about Jesus, but today that’s either going to change your perspective or deepen your perspective.

Wherever you are in your life or in your journey of faith, the message that I’m going to give to you is relevant. This message has trememdous implication for your life.

As a pastor, I’m called to Preach the Word. And I’m going to preach as if I will never ever preach again. I’m going to preach as a dying man to dying men and women, boys and girls.

Exposition

Let me take you to a historical event 2000 years ago where Jesus was crucified on the cross. While Jesus was hung on the cross, the rulers and religious leaders of that time scoffed or despised Him. The Roman soldiers who nailed Him on the cross mocked Him. They were belittling Him and saying to Jesus, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

In this scene, however, Jesus was not crucified alone on the cross. There were two other criminals crucified between Jesus.

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“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

To make myself more clear, criminal A is the unrepentant one. Criminal B is the repentant one.

In this passage alone, we’re going to learn three important truths: Jesus Christ, humanity, and salvation.

We are told that one of the criminals was railing, scolding and hurling insults at Jesus for not saving him. In other words, this criminal was blaspheming againt God. This criminal recognized Jesus as the Christ, which means that He’s the Messiah, God’s anointed One. This criminal wanted to use Jesus to be freed from his justice.

First, (1) what can we learn about Jesus Christ?

What can we know about Jesus Christ?

We learn that Jesus is the Christ. Criminal A insulted Jesus by saying, “ARE YOU NOT THE CHRIST?” He was right…Jesus is the Christ. Christ is not Jesus’ last name, it is actually a title that means the anointed one. Jesus is the Anointed One chosen by God who came into the world to save and redeem His people.

We learn that Jesus is sinless or perfectly innocent. Criminal B understood this well when he said, “but this man has done nothing wrong.” He knew perfectly well that Jesus does not deserve to die. Crucification was reserved for the worst criminals, but Jesus the innocent one died a criminal’s death.

We learn that Jesus is king. Criminal B said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into YOUR KINGDOM.” Jesus has a Kingdom. He’s qualified to be the king. To be a king means that He has authority over heaven and earth. I’m telling you this evening that Jesus is your King. He is your Lord. You don’t need to make Jesus your Lord because He is your Lord whether you insult Him or you follow Him.

We learn that Jesus is God. Criminal B rebuked Criminal A by saying, “Do you not FEAR GOD?” They’re to fear God because He is Holy. Criminal B was terrified and trembling because he was seeing the Almighty and Holy God in Jesus Christ. He saw the holiness of God and he recognized that he was not holy. He feared Jesus because he knew that he and the other criminal deserve condemnation for their crimes and sins. Do you fear God? Do you tremble before Him? IF YOU DON”T FEAR GOD, then you might have a defective view of Him.

Which leads me to the next question:

This leads me to the second truth:

(2) What can we learn about humanity?

Let me suggest to you that the two criminals represent humanity. Although you may not have committed a heinous crime like murdering, treason or robbing a bank, the Bible tells us that you and I are sinners.

The Bible tells us sin is problem of everything we see in the world and in ourselves.

Sin means to act contrary to the will and law of God. Another way to put it: Sin is a cosmic treason against a holy and righteous God.

The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Criminal B said to Criminal A, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, FOR WE ARE RECEIVING THE DUE REWARD OF OUR DEEDS.” You see, the word criminal in the original language literally means someone who does EVIL DEEDS. This criminal recognized that he deserved capital punishment or death for the evil deeds that he and the other guy did in their lives.

This criminal recognized that he deserved capital punishment or death for the deeds that he and the other guy did in their lives.

We have sinned against a holy and righteous God.

Just like Criminal B who deserve to punished for their crimes, you and I also deserve death for the sins we commit. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Death means eternal death, hell and separation from God.

Just like the criminals who deserve to punished for their crimes,

Because of our sin and because God is holy, righteous, and just, He must punish sinners.

But, while God is holy and righteous, God is also love, gracious and merciful. And this is the good news / the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You cannot truly know yourself without knowing God.

There are two kinds of people in the world: unrepentant and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

two kinds of people in the world: unrepentant and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

You cannot know yourself without know God.

Which leads me to the third truth:

(3) What can we learn about salvation?

You see, the problem with us is that we are sinners; therefore, we need a Saviour. We need Someone outside of us to save us from our sins and the wrath to come.

In the final hours before his death, Criminal B had better theology (or understanding of Jesus Christ) than most people in the world. He admitted that he’s a sinner who justly deserves punishment.

In his final words, he confesses to Jesus, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

In the final hours before his death, this criminal made a confession of faith to Jesus Christ. His request to Jesus was actually a plea for mercy. Although his life was full of sin, this criminal understood that he had no other hope left but to trust Jesus for salvation.

The criminal doesn’t deserve to be saved. He doesn’t deserve to go to heaven. He doesn’t even deserve eternal life. He probably did not expect anything from Jesus.

But Jesus responded and said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In the final hours before his death, Jesus saved and gave eternal life to this criminal.

Did this criminal deserve to be saved? NO! This criminal deserves hell. But, what this criminal did receive was grace.

Did this criminal deserve to be saved? NO! This criminal deserves hell. But, what did this criminal get from Jesus? (It starts with a G)

Grace simply means getting what you do NOT deserve.

Have you ever wondered what is the distinction between mercy and grace?

Mercy is NOT getting what you deserve.

Maybe tonight you don’t think God loves you because you haven’t done enough and your life is too messed up. Maybe tonight you feel too ashamed to come to God. Maybe you feel too sinful that you can’t possibly think God can forgive you.

I’m going to tell you that although you are a sinner, the Bible says that where sin increased, GRACE increased all the more. It is God’s grace that is greater than all of our sins. It is God’s grace that can pardon and cleanse you.

Grace is getting what you do NOT deserve.

Grace is what set Christianity apart from all religions. All other religions tell you that that you must do good deeds and fulfill some checklists in order to be saved.

But, that’s not the message of true biblical Christianity. The Bible teaches us that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jesus died for your sins because He loves you. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus became your substitute and pay the penalty of sin on your behalf. Jesus died so that your sins can be forgiven, so that you can receive His righteousness, so that you may be reconciled to a relationship with God, so that your shame is wiped away, so that you can have eternal life, so that you can be born again, be made new and begin living a new life, a transformed life as a follower and worshiper of Jesus.

Jesus died for your sins because He loves you. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus became your substitute and pay the penalty of sin on your behalf. Jesus bore the wrath of God on your behalf. Jesus died so that your sins can be forgiven, so that you can receive His righteousness, so that you may be reconciled to a relationship with God, so that your shame is wiped away, so that you can have eternal life, so that you can be born again and begin living a new life, a transformed life as a follower and worshiper of Jesus.

Jesus died for your sins because He loves you. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus became your substitute and pay the penalty of sin on your behalf. Jesus bore the wrath of God on your behalf. Jesus died so that your sins can be forgiven, so that you can receive His righteousness, so that you may be reconciled to a relationship with God, so that you can have eternal life, so that you can be born again and begin living a new life as a follower and worshiper of Jesus.

If Jesus can save a wretched criminal, then He can definitely save you.

Jesus died for your sins because He loves you. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus became your substitute and pay the penalty of sin on your behalf. Jesus bore the wrath of God on your behalf. Jesus died so that your sins can be forgiven, so that you can receive His righteousness, so that you may be reconciled to a relationship with God, so that you can have eternal life, so that you can be born again and begin living a new life as a follower and worshiper of Jesus.

Until you know who Jesus Christ is, until you recognize that we are sinners who deserve judgment from God, until you recognize that you don’t deserve to be saved, you will never understand salvation.

Just like the criminal who knew Jesus Christ, who knew that he’s a sinner justly deserving punishment, who knew and confessed that Jesus is the only hope for his salvation, we must also do the same. We must repent of our sins, change our way of life, and turn to Jesus Christ in faith for salvation.

Not did God send His Son to die for your sins and offer you salvation, God also desires to transform your life.

The Bible says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Conclusion

Until you and I recognize that we are sinners who deserve punishment from God, until you and I recognize that we don’t deserve be saved, we will never understand salvation.

we will never understand salvation.

This is the short message that I bring to you and I hope you will remember the three important truths: Jesus Christ, humanity and salvation.

The other criminal represents repentant people.

Criminal A represents unrepentant people, who blaspheme Jesus, don’t believe in Jesus and hate Jesus. This group is God’s enemies.

Criminal A represents unrepentant people, who blaspheme Jesus, don’t believe in Jesus and hate Jesus. This group is God’s enemies

People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

Criminal B represents repentant people, who has faith in Jesus for salvation, follows Jesus, obey Jesus, and loves Jesus. This group is God’s people, God’s children.

There are two kinds of people in the world: unrepentant and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

The two criminals represent two kinds of people in the world: unrepentant and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

Ask yourself honestly: Am I the unrepentant criminal? OR Am I the repentant criminal?

OR are you the repentant criminal?

Will Jesus say to you, “Today, you will be with me in paradise?”

There are two kinds of people in the world: unrepentant and repentant people. People who are unrepentant are God’s enemies. People who are repentant are God’s people.

If you’re not a follower of Jesus, then let me plead with you. Today, tonight, you have a decision to make.

Just like repentent criminal who knew Jesus Christ, who knew that he’s a sinner justly deserving punishment, who knew and confessed that Jesus is the only hope for his salvation, you can choose to do the same. You must repent of your sins, change your way of life, and turn to Jesus Christ in faith for salvation.

Just like repentent criminal who knew Jesus Christ, who knew that he’s a sinner justly deserving punishment, who knew and confessed that Jesus is the only hope for his salvation, you must also do the same. You must repent of your sins, change your way of life, and turn to Jesus Christ in faith for salvation.

The Bible says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Here’s the question that all of you need to seriously ponder: What happens when I see Jesus Christ?

Only through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, death and resurrection can we hope to hear Jesus say

If you’re a follower of Jesus, then let me encourage you to go and share with others this message.