Today thou Shalt be With Me in Paradise

"…Today thou shalt be with me in paradise"

Luke 23:39-43

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" was the first cry of our Savior recorded from the cross. This signifies His willingness to forgive sin as well as the length He was willing to go to forgive sin.

That He died for our sins is plain, but we must ask, "Which of our sins did He pay for on the cross?" If we stop at His first cry we may assume that He paid for only those sins committed out of ignorance, the ones we commit when we really "Know not what they do". But the fact remains that He died to pay the penalty of every man's sin, even, especially, those committed willingly. Look with me beginning in verse 39 at the second cry of our Lord from the cross…

Interrogative: Does there ever come a time when it is too late for someone to turn to Christ for salvation?

Proposition: If you are alive, drawing breath, it is never too late to find forgiveness in Christ.

TS: Jesus died to forgive man's sin and demonstrated His power and right to so in 3 areas:

In the Face of Mockery v. 39

The Thieves/robbers/insurrectionists both at fist mocked Him - the word "railed" in Luke means to blaspheme the name of God

Mark 15:32 says that those who were crucified alongside the Savior "Reviled" Him - that means that they taunted Him, even though He was doomed just as they were

Matthew 27:44 said they "cast the same in his teeth" that is the same word translated a different way, again we see them mocking Him

"If thou be Christ, save thyself and us" was the cry of the one condemned man which demonstrates two truths about man's condition

Man's sinful condition is only concerned with self - self-denial, self-serving, and self-loving

Man's condition is spiritually blind, as is exhibited in the others who mocked him

The Romans Mocked Him - in spiritual ignorance of His person

The Jews Mocked Him - in willful ignorance of His person

Yet for all this Mockery, Jesus stayed on the cross

The truth is, He could have called 10,000 angels, as the song writer claimed, to destroy the world and to set man free

But He died alone, for you and me, even in the face of mockery, or ridicule, of blasphemy, He, with pain in His body, but love in His heart, took the punishment these so gladly administered Him, for them, in their place. Not only did he demonstrate His power to forgive sin in the face of mocker, but also…

In the Face of Repentance vv. 40-42

Realization of his condition v. 40

This man, though at first had joined his compatriots in mocking the Savior, had reconsidered

At some point between beginning nailed to the cross and hearing the Lord ask God to forgive those who crucified Him, he began to look inwardly and realized his own situation and need of forgiveness

Confession of his sin v.41

He understood that he, and his "friend" were receiving the just reward for their deeds,

but that Jesus was perfect and innocent having done "nothing amiss" or unjust, out of place

This man acknowledged His sin and thus openly confessed his condition to the Son of God

Repentance for his sin v. 42

He asked forgiveness of his sins for a future date, when Jesus would enter and set up His kingdom

HE thought he, a sinner so vile, would have to wait to receive forgiveness

He was about to receive a lesson in the grace of Almighty God! Jesus demonstrated His power to forgive sin in the face of mockery, in the face of repentance, and lastly…

In the Face of Death v. 43

Forgiveness came with no hesitation -

Jesus didn't waste a moment in welcoming the condemned man into the family of God, He said "Today".

He is the same today, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"

Forgiveness came with no delay

Can you imagine the joy this lost man must have felt when the Lord responded "Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise”?

Today! TODAY! Not in a year, nor 1000 years, but today! He didn't have to wait, he didn't even have to be baptized! He was welcomed completely in to the family of the Most High God

Forgiveness came with assurance

"Today" what greater assurance did this man need? Today, Jesus said, today you will be with me in paradise.

My friends, if you are here today without Christ, what are you waiting for? Today is the day of salvation, to any and to all who will come.

Conclusion: That Jesus had power to forgive sin in the face of mockery cannot be denied. Maybe you're here and in your past, you have mocked God, there is hope for you yet.

That Jesus forgave sin in the face of repentance is a Biblical truth that cannot be denied and we witness this repeatedly.

That Jesus can save someone on the brink of death cannot be denied, but let me warn you, it also cannot be planned on. IF you are here today without Christ as your Savior it is not too late, until it is too late.

A few years ago, I had a dear lady approach me in the hallway of school and ask me about salvation and if there ever comes a time when it's too late for a sinner to turn to Christ? In answer to her question I said, "If you're breathing, and able to think, there is hope."

If you're here today and you’re without Christ, if you're breathing, there is hope. Don't put it off. Don't wait. Come today.