Paradise
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And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
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.”
Me
Me
Me
Me
Like today’s first thief, I have spent a lot of life expecting Jesus to bless me for this world.
I understand earning something. It’s the way the world just sort of naturally works. I think this is why I struggle to fully comprehend the necessity and the blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ
It’s the way the world just sort of naturally works.
I come to work, I earn a paycheck
I say nice things to people and hope they will say something nice back
I work hard for my family and expect I will be rewarded by their admiration, love and devotion.
I deeply understand the idea that if you work hard enough for something, you’ll get something in return
I think this is why I struggle to fully comprehend the necessity and the blessings of the cross of Jesus Christ
For me, life is work hard, get good grades, take care of your family, and all will turn out well.
Even if it isn’t turning out as well as I would like.
And I continue in the sense that if I work just a little harder I’ll make it in this world.
But I never quite get there, and more often than I would like to admit, I grind and grit my teeth, and grow bitter.
Because I try so hard, and know it’s never enough, and it doesn’t seem fair.
My association with Jesus has been marked far less by trust, humility, and eternity.
I understand working hard even when working hard doesn’t fix the spiritual problems.
I’m not talking about leaky water faucets, home warranties, or even communication in marriage.
I mean those deep places. Places I can’t understand when I respond with a snarky comment toward Jerianne or one of my kids.
That place that wants to compare my sins to the sins of others.
My accomplishments to the accomplishments of others...
My life to the lives of others...
That place that uses sarcasm, snark, anger, and bitterness to cope while knowing I can’t seem to find peace.
Even in all of the mess though, I struggle to get the free forgiveness of Jesus
And far too much with blessings in my job, my marriage, my relationships, the world’s view of me...
I struggle in my flesh to understand a Jesus who has to die for sin and offer forgiveness freely.
JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE TIME JESUS, AND I’LL PROVE HOW GOOD I CAN BE!
Ten Commandments! I’m on it!
Beatitudes, watch THIS!
I fail, but I never stop trying.
I will prove, at all costs, that I don’t need anything freely.
Not even forgiveness.
I even recall telling a friend several years ago that if I felt as if I was destined for something great on this Earth.
I struggle with the idea that I really am not able to do enough, say enough, be good enough, or anything enough to be good. Not just in the eyes of God. But period
I got this God. Just watch me.
My expectation was that if I did my part, Jesus would do His, and that I would achieve something this side of heaven
To look upon Jesus on the cross is my ultimate admission that as much as I want to self-justify, God knows I can never get there.
If I didn’t, my life is a failure
Not all that different than the thief
I don’t like that in my flesh.
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
We also read in Scripture that the Apostle Peter had NO TIME for death to this world when Jesus reveals that he must die...
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
You
You
I am guessing that this is, in large part, some of your story, too.
Perhaps you have been tempted to look away from the cross and go straight to resurrection.
Perhaps expecting that following Jesus means the job you want, the financial bottom line you want, the spouse you want, the behavior from the kids you expect..
I know that when you look on the commands of God you fall short, and I know that you either try to minimize it, ignore it, or just resolve to work a little harder.
I know that you, like me, look at a battered, bruised, crucified Jesus and imagine that it’s for everyone else, but I’ve got this God.
The list goes on and on...
Die for them. Not me
It seems unecessary. A bit too
They need the righteousness of you. I’m already righteous.
They require forgiveness. I just need to work a little harder.
You are reminded daily to be a better person. You’re not as bad in the world’s eyes as some. But you also have those places that if the world knew, they would realize immediately that
No forgiveness for me, thank you. I’d rather have hard work and self justification, and if it’s OK by you Jesus, I’d rather keep my dignity about it all.
Like the first thief, we all tend to fall for three lies
That the world owes us something
That we need less forgiveness than everyone else
That Jesus is there to make sure we get a little better in this world
That we can remain pretty much the same before the foot of the cross
And that if Jesus doesn’t give us what we want in this world, he must not care or we must be doing something wrong
That if Jesus loves us,
That’s the story of the first thief in today’s lesson
We know it doesn’t work, but we also are terrified of giving up control to His forgiveness
Bible: First Thief
Bible: First Thief
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
We aren’t certain why the other thieves were on their own crosses
All we know is that they had committed capital offense.
We also know, that the first thief LOVES this world.
The first thief loves a world in which Jesus is beaten, mocked, crucified, and left to die.
Yes, it’s a world that would beat, mock, crucify, and ultimately kill both him and Jesus.
But it’s the only life he knows.
It’s a life of sin and a life of spiritual death
But it’s something.
Ande loves that world so much that he STILL seeks it even as he himself is dying on a cross.
Perhaps the greatest indignity...
This thief holds the key to life in Jesus, but he holds onto sin that leads to death.
In today’s Scripture lesson, Jesus blows up all illusions that our BIGGEST problem is blessings in this world.
See, the world in which we seek earthly blessing is the same world that killed Jesus.
Not only has he been beaten, had a crown of thorns placed upon his head, and crucified...
Perhaps the greatest indignity of all...
The world in which we want our blessings, is also the world that hated
It wasn’t enough to beat him. It wasn’t enough to mock him. It wasn’t enough to place a crown of thorns on his head....
And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.
Perhaps the greatest indignity I can imagine comes whn we read in John 19:23...
Perhaps the greatest indignity...
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,
Jesus was utterly stripped of everything. Even the clothes on his body.
No dignity...Utterly degraded in the eyes of all Jerusalem, and recorded for all of eternity in the pages of Scripture.
Utterly degraded in the eyes of all Jerusalem, and recorded for all of eternity in the pages of Scripture.
That’s the world the thief wants
Not because it’s good.
Because it’s the only life he knows.
It’s a life of sin and a life of spiritual death
But at least it’s something.
The first thief loves a world in which Jesus is beaten, mocked, crucified, and left to die.
I’d be willing to bet that if he were being honest, this first thief would admit that it isn’t great.
And instead of blaming the world and looking beyond it, he blames Jesus.
First, the people on that day at least would kill Jesus before admitting they need Him.
Perhaps the greatest indignity...
Indeed, he loves that world so much that he STILL seeks it even as he is dying on the cross.
Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!
Can you see yourself at all in that first thief?
Even as the world kills him, this thief wants more of it…
God, get me down from this financial situation!
He couldn’t see that death to this world means we are no longer held captive to spiritual sin and death.
God, get me down from this assignment or deployment
This thief holds the key to life in Jesus, but he holds onto sin that leads to death.
God, get me down from this marriage!
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
John 1:
God, get me down from this unruly child!
God, get me down so I can find my peace with this sinful and fallen world that would kill you...
Living for a world that cannot give ultimate life, but hoping to get just a little bit more…even if you’re dead inside.
The thief is responsible, but he’s blind. He doesn’t know light when he sees it.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
Making matters worse for people who want to go on living in this world, Jesus is saying some truly unhelpful things
Making matters worse for people who want to go on living in this world, Jesus is saying some truly unhelpful things
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:
But one of the thieves did understand, didn’t he?
Bible: Second Thief
Bible: Second Thief
Why was the second thief different? What happened with him?
Just like Jesus, as he is stripped of all dignity and hope for this world...
His dignity is equal to that of Jesus, and he makes no pretense about his fate
We learn in Matthew that initially the second thief wasn’t a fan of Jesus, either!
And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
The first thief is still living for the glory of this world.
Matthew
Who can blame either of the thieves?
But the second thief got it, didn’t he?
The second thief has embraced the glory of the world that is to come.
The first thief has nothing.
But lets be honest. This first thief had good reasons to malign the character of Jesus
But lets be honest. This first thief had good reasons to malign the character of Jesus
The second thief has gained everything.
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.”
CS Lewis once said that Jesus was either lord, liar, or lunatic. This passage speaks to that reality beautifully.
Luke 23:
Forgiveness of sins…promises of kingdoms and paradise!
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
It’s easy when we know we have some life remaining to make promises about things like forgiveness, paradise, and kingdoms.
What???
But as a man is dying?
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
It’s easy when we know we have some life remaining to make promises about things like forgiveness, paradise, and kingdoms.
Somewhere between and , the second thief got it.
Forgiveness? Kingdoms? Paradise? What sort of person...beaten, crucified, stripped naked...can even begin to offer such grandiose promises?
Luke 23:
But as a man is dying?
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.”
Kingdoms...Paradise…
What sort of person...beaten, crucified, stripped naked...can even begin to offer such grandiose promises?
Second, the way of Jesus is to die to the world, to take up the cross and all it means, and to let go of our worldy sense of right…and even dignity.
Forgiveness, paradise and kingdoms are for people who wear real crowns, not a crown of thorns.
That’s for people who wear real crowns, not a crown of thorns.
They’re for people who wear the finest clothes! Not for those who hang NAKED upon cruciform beams!
Kings have people bow before them!
Jesus isn’t FIT to be a worldly king!
They don’t die at the hands of those people!
“He’s not our kin
They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
And again, when Jesus is at the foot of the cross, the crowd proclaims...
“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Matthew 27:42-44
Paradise? Kingdoms?
Forgiveness, paradise and kingdoms make no sense in the context of the cross.
Paradise and kingdoms make no sense in the context of the cross UNLESS...
Paradise and kingdoms make no sense in the context of the cross UNLESS...
Paradise only makes sense on a cross if the one offering that promise has the authority to give it.
You see reality in a NEW WAY!
Paradise and kingdoms make no sense in the context of the cross unless there is life beyond the cross!
Unless there is power in the promises of this naked, undignified, dying Jesus who still offers forgiveness of sin and promises of eternity as He HIMSELF is dying physically!
It is HIS free gift to those who, like today’s thief, give up on ultimate promises in this world and instead place their hope, their forgiveness, and their righteousness on the promise of Christ and Christ alone.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
When we embrace the eternal King who promises forgiveness, new life, and paradise.
That is precisely what Jesus does today.
Somewhere between verse 34 and verse 40, the scales fall from the eyes of the second thief!
What is the reason? There can be only one reason! Only one thing changed!
The words of forgiveness uttered from Jesus lips EVEN AS HIS BODY WAS DYING!
There is life beyond this cross,
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Father FORGIVE THEM!
What? Forgiveness while they beat you, crucify you, insult you, and strip you naked?
And life beyond this world; a world that would crucify the King of heaven to keep the sin and death of this world!
Forgiveness for even that?
Somewhere between verse 34 and verse 40, this thief for the first time understood that there might be some small chance, despite sin that is leading to his crucifixion...
Somewhere between those verses, he realized that if he had any chance at all for eternity, it was through forgiveness. Not through more time in this world.
And then a miracle happens.
Like Jesus, the second thief died to this world of sin and death.
This man who just moments before had been insulting Jesus with the first thief, after that declaration of forgiveness rebukes the first thief saying,
And in his dying, he embraced the King of Heaven…Jesus Christ!
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.”
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.”
Nothing can explain what happens in this verse, but NEW LIFE breathed into this dead man’s body!
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus...
It is BY the grace this thief is forgiven, and it is by grace through those words of forgiveness that he is made alive!
of God you have been saved.
The grace of God in forgiveness is the instrumental means of your salvation
The second thief is saved because of God’s decision to forgive him and love HIM!
Not because the thief brought something worthy first!
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
It is by God’s grace…Charis in the Greek
By God’s benefit, gift, favor, joy, liberality, pleasure
You are declared forgiven ON THE GOD SIDE, as a result of the work of Jesus. That is God’s gift to you!
God declares you, by His own pleasure, nit your good works, that HE SAVES YOU through the work of Jesus on the cross.
Is it BY faith you have been saved?
Is it BY faith you have been saved?
No
By God’s benefit, gift, favor, joy, liberality, pleasure
God declares you, by His own pleasure, nit your good works, that HE SAVES YOU through the work of Jesus on the cross.
And God keeps giving the gifts!
THROUGH faith
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Justification AND LIFE!
Declared righteous…Justified…by God through the death of Jesus on this cross.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
The Bible says that we were all dead...
Question: Can a person who is spiritually dead have faith?
No. Of course not.
Both thieves were dead to sin and trespass
Only one was MADE alive!
Only one looked at Jesus and realized there is more life in Christ crucified than in a world that is killing him!
Only God could bring you to life so that, you could trust in him.
Now we finally get to YOU!
Now we finally get to YOU!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Question: Can a dead person bring Himself back to life?
Question: Can a dead…a person with no life whatsoever...have faith?
Of course not. Dead is dead! Only living things can do living things!
Question: Can a dead person have faith?
Remember…
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
God MADE YOU ALIVE in Jesus through HIS message to you in the Bible!
He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Through the reading of the Word
Somewhere between , and , that thief’s spiritual lungs were filled with the air of faith!
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Through the preaching of the Word
THROUGH FAITH! Ah! Now we get to faith.
That spiritual life comes immediately after verse 34...
God DECLARES us righteous through the work of Jesus
Once God declares us righteous through the work of Jesus on the cross!
That air comes immediately after verse 34...
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Because they’re spiritually dead!
LIFE!!! You can almost hear that second thief gasp for air as he takes his FIRST SPIRITUAL breath!
Forgiveness freely given has a way of doing that
Without the Word of forgiveness you are dead!
Without forgiveness I am dead!
The thief breathes for the first time at the declaration of forgiveness
You breath because of the declaration of forgiveness of Christ on the cross…FOR YOU!
It was in that declaration of forgiveness that the thief finally drew spiritual breath in his lungs
As his body was dying his spirit lived!
And it was in that life that he was finally…then…able to trust Jesus more than his flesh or this world
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Once God breathed in the Upper Room of the Disciples
Through faith…THROUGH...
God forgave you and declared you righteous 2000 years ago by GRACE!
It was as his corpse was dying that his spirit lived!
God forgave you and declared you righteous 2000 years ago by GRACE
God forgives you today BY GRACE
And it was in that reviving that he was finally…then…able to recive the benefits of forgiveness THROUGH faith
Once God looked uo
God forgives you today BY GRACE
He gives you life through the declaration of forgiveness...
He gives you life through the declaration of forgiveness...
It is in that life that you are given the gift…of faith
FORGIVE THEM, for they know not what they do!
It is in that life that you are given the gift…of faith
The gift of faith
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
I have heard some people say that forgiveness is on the God side and faith is our action.
2. Not so. Faith is our response to the life God breathes into us through the message of forgiveness!
I ask you today, are you the first thief or the second thief?
Do you come to Jesus asking primarily for worldly blessings…Knowing full well it was that world that killed him?
Do you come to Jesus asking primarily for worldly blessings…Knowing full well it was that world that killed him?
Do you come to Jesus asking primarily for worldly blessings…Knowing full well it was that world that killed the Messiah who offered iteternal blessings?
Or are you the second thief…Understanding that death to this world is life in the Kingdom of God?
Do you understand that...
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Do you see your salvation as gift, or as more work?
Knowing that the struggles of this world are real,
Do you assume that on your last day, like the first thief, you will be able to bargain with Jesus over your desire for more from this dying world; going even so far as to accuse Him of not doing enough for you?
Do you, like Paul declare...
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:41
The first thief thought he was owed this world, and he in the end received only this world.
the second thief knew that he was now dead to this world, and he received the greater promise from Jesus...
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
US
US
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 3:
Justified..Justified…Justified...”Dikaios…” - Definition: Regarded as righteous.” Holy, innocent
Redemption…apolytroseso - Ransomed, delivered, redeeemed
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Christ on the cross, and nowhere else, is the central act of God’s declaration that we are righteous.
Ah, but there must be more works involved in this declaration!
What about ?
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Notice what James does not say here.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Ephesians 2:
Us
In salvation we do not bring our dignity, our accomplishments, requests for more glory in this world...
For eternal life, we like that second thief must realize that the eternal promises of a dying Jesus are greater than the temporary glory of a dying world.
Us
Us
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Not so. Faith is our response to the life God breathes into us through the message of forgiveness!
We as a church have an important message to share
Paul tells us that Jesus death on the cross…
It is all on the God side. You cannot even bring faith when you’re dead!
Leads to Justification - Dikaiosin… Declaration of righteousness and justice
In Jesus, God is just because the law…nomos…is completely fulfilled.
Leads to life
As a result, in Jesus God also regards you as righteous, holy, innocent, ransomed, delivered, redeemed
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
But once life comes, JOY quickly follows!
Jesus sacrifice on the cross leads to Justification
The first thief died without the gift
The joy we receive in telling people not that their sins CAN be forgiven, but that there sins ARE forgiven
Leads to Justification - Dikaiosin… Declared righteous and just
The second knew what a great gift he had, and he knew that he did nothing to deserve it.
Dikaiosin… Declaration of righteousness and justice
Leads to Justification - Dikaiosin… Declaration of righteousness and justice
Justification is a legal declaration…It’s entirely on the God side, not the you side.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 3:
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
The joy we experience when a person lungs are filled with the spiritual air of that forgiveness
Leads to life
He received it any way, and paradise was promised.
And Jesus sacrifice leads to life (Zoes)
The JOY we receive in living in the Spirit of eternal life through forgiveness in Jesus Christ!
All because of this great work of Jesus
This must be the case because without the sacrifice, we are neither alive nor righteous. We are dead in sin and trespass
The JOY WE I receive when I can look at every single person in this room and declare this words with utter confidence.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
If you came to church this morning worshipping a hundred gods other than the one true God.
Do you assume that on your last day, like the first thief, you will be able to bargain with Jesus over your desire for more from this dying world; going even so far as to accuse Him of not doing enough for you?
If like the thieves you cursed God because life is hard
If you have forgotten the Sabbath and kept it holy
If you committed all sorts of debauchery last night
If you’ve murdered, been a thief, prostituted yourself, gossipped, divorced, engaged in same sex or heterosexual sin...
If you’ve done any of those things, and you’ve probably done more
The joy I get is to tell you that even while you were doing them...
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
YOU…ARE…FORGIVEN
YOU…ARE…FORGIVEN
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Last week I mentioned how the firm law…the command…of God bends for nobody.
God will not change His holy standard to accommodate your sin
Understand this…The forgiveness of God is just as unbending, firm, and unchanging.
Like the second thief, you are forgiven because God forgives you. It is HIS CHARACTER to love and forgive
He decided to take forgiveness out of your hands through works because you’re terrible at them
He decided instead to put forgiveness in the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus.
If these words have breathed life into your perhaps dead, perhaps depleted, perhaps aching spiritual lungs, hear this...
It is God who already forgives you
It is God who has given you whatever faith you have
This same God will never leave you nor forsake you
This same God will never leave you nor forsake you
And the fruit of that Spirit is...
And the fruit of that Spirit is...
Now that you have been forgiven and raised in new life with Christ through faith
Galatians
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
How could we be anything else
Like the second thief, we ARE forgiven
Now go and live as a people who daily taste paradise!
Who have died to this world for life in the eternal Kingdom!
Amen