The Word of Salvation

The first saying of Jesus on the cross was a prayer for salvation. “Father forgive them…”

The second saying of Jesus on the cross was an answer to that prayer. “Today you will be…”

This simple statement of Jesus is full of hope and encouragement for the believer. We sing with the old hymnist:

“The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day

There may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.”

We may ask “Why was Jesus crucified among thieves?”

1) So the prophecy would be fulfilled. Isa 53:12 700 hundred years earlier said He would be numbered with the transgressors.

2) So the symbolism would be seen. Christ is dying with sinners because He is dying for sinners. Just as each of those men had broken the law, been found guilty and sentenced to death so have all of us! Broken Gods law, been found guilty, and sentenced to eternal death!

3) So an opportunity would be afforded. Christ had a divine appointment. He met a woman at a well, Zacchaeus in a tree, Matthew at work in his tax booth, the fishermen on the shore. On this day He met the thief on the cross. Thank God for a seeking Savior!

This thief thought this was going to be the worst day of his life but it turned out to the best.

Symbolism for all believers who die. Our worst day is our best!

Let’s look at our text- Luke 23:39-43

Our focus is the beautiful statement of Christ “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” I want to focus on three things we learn from this statement.

I. Jesus saves this man by grace.

A. Grace is transforming.

1. This man was a thief. We don’t know what he stole, if this was his first offense, but whatever he did qualified him for death row. He wasn’t a good guy. He was an awful sinner.

2. He mocked the Lord Jesus. Matt. 27:44 says he said things like:

If He be the king of Israel let Him come down from the cross and we will believe Him.

He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said I am the Son of God.”

This man was moments from death and he still mocked God.

3. This man was transformed. They were on the cross for hours. At some point this man awoke spiritually. Grace is granted first and seen second. Grace is amazing because of what it does in the individual.

Why does one repent?

Why does one believe?

Why does one cry out for mercy?

They are both thieves.

They were both mocking Jesus.

They were both the same distance from Jesus.

They were both in the same circumstance.

The answer is grace. Christ reached over with the invisible hand of God and changed this man’s heart! If we are saved that is how! We have nothing to boast over!! This thief had a change of heart but it was God who changed his heart.

B. Grace comes through faith.

1. His belief about himself changed. (41)

He believed he was guilty.

He believed he was getting what he deserved.

The thief became more burdened about who he was than where he was.

That’s when a man will change. When we realize we are often where we are in life because of who we are we can see clearly. I’ve sat with many a man in prison. Most of them only think about getting out of prison. This thief finally realized he was the problem. His belief about himself changed.

2. His belief about Christ changed. The truth was written above Christ! This is the King of the Jews! For hours that thief could read those words. At some point he believed them. What did he believe about Christ?

* He believed Christ was The Way. He asks Christ to remember him in heaven. The implication is that Christ will take him to heaven with him. “Don’t forget me!”

* He believed Christ was the Truth. Christ had preached and promised a kingdom to His followers. The thief believes King Jesus has a kingdom. He believes Jesus is telling the truth!

* He believes Jesus is the Life. He knows they’re all going to die but he is convinced that One of them will not stay dead! A dead Savior can’t help anyone. He knew Jesus would be powerful even after death because Jesus is the Life.

This thief believed. He had faith that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

3. His belief would not be abandoned because of his circumstances.

* Despite the mockery of the crowd he believed. He heard a constant barrage of insults about Christ.

* Despite the appearance of Christ he believed. The world paints an ugly picture of Christianity, the bible, Christians. We still believe!

* Despite his circumstances he believed. He didn’t believe Jesus was going to save his life but he believed Jesus was going to save his soul. We endure hell in this world because we know we won’t endure it in the next one!

Some folks will only believe in God if He meets their conditions. Not this man.

C. Grace is evident.

1. He rebukes the enemies of Christ! (40) “Do you not fear God?”

2. He defended the Lord. (41) This man is innocent!

3. He prayed. (42) Simple, personal, sincere. “I want to be with you Jesus.”

Jesus transforms this man on the cross. Christ at his weakest can still do the hardest thing- save a sinner. This statement shows the power of Christ to transform the life of a hardened sinner.

II. Jesus receives this man immediately.

A. Errors concerning death.

1. The error of a second chance. Hebrews 9:27 “Once to die & after that the judgment..”

2. The error of purgatory. Some believe that at death we go pay for some of our sins. When we have paid for those sins we get to go to heaven. There’s a problem with that, we don’t get to take our wallet when we die. We are bankrupt. We can’t pay for anything.

If we could pay for some of our sins then why couldn’t we pay for all of them?

If we could pay for them why did Jesus die such a horrible death?

Purgatory gives us no hope. If I thought I was going to hell for five minutes I couldn’t rest!

3. The error of soul sleep. Some believe we slumber until the end of the world. Our soul rests with our body in a coffin until Jesus comes back. If there were not another verse in the Bible for us to look to this one is enough to convince us that is not true.

B. The Biblical truth of the believer’s death.

1. Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He didn’t say He would leave us for a little while after we died! He said I am with you always (Matt. 28:20). If He never leaves me that means I never leave Him. Jesus isn’t in the grave therefore I’m not going to be either. I’m going to always be with Him.

2. Scripture says nothing shall separate us. Paul said in Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. The Psalmist said “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”. Not the resurrection of his saints, the death of his saints. At death every believer goes to be with the Lord. The Savior, Saul and the Psalmist say nothing separates us from Christ!

C. Jesus promise is one of hope not a hiatus.

1. Stephen knew that. Acts 7:59 As Stephen died he looked up into the heavens and said “Lord Jesus receive my spirit!”

2. Paul knew that. Phil 1:23 He said he had a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better! It wouldn’t be better to die and lay in the ground dead for all those years. It would only be better if dying meant going to be with Jesus. Paul said to die is to be with Jesus.

3. This thief was assured that. Today! You know that means in the Greek? It means today!

What joy must have filled this man’s heart! The worst day of his life became the best day of his life! So it is for every believer.

III. Jesus takes this man to glory. “With Me in paradise”

A. On the merit of Himself.

1. This man could do nothing moral to gain heaven. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. There was no possibility for morality. He couldn’t feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the sick.

2. This man could do nothing religious to gain heaven. He couldn’t get baptized, take communion, go soul winning, attend church.

3. He went to heaven on the merit of Jesus. When he stood before the Lord he couldn’t say “I have prophesied in your name, cast out devils in your name and done many wonderful works in your name!“ All he could say was “I trusted in Your Name!” That was enough. He made heaven on the merit of Jesus.

If you’re given the choice to stand before God with 10,000 good deeds or Jesus, choose Jesus! It’s His merit that ushers us into glory!

B. In the mantle of Himself. That is, we are wrapped in Christ Himself!

1. Christ takes this man to glory. He is in Christ. This isn’t a friend of Paul’s, one of Peter’s guests, cousin of Barnabas. This thief is a friend of Christ, a joint heir with Jesus. There are no “plus ones” in heaven. We are all personal friends of the One who is hosting the party! We’re all with Jesus!

2. The angelic host must stand amazed at those in Christ’s mantle. We remember the old movie “Guess who’s coming to Dinner”. That family got quite a surprise! The angelic host must be surprised when Jesus shows up. Can you imagine the angels watching over the bough of heaven? Can you imagine the conversation?

Jesus is coming back. Here He comes. He’s got someone with Him.

Who is it? A preacher, a missionary, a prophet?

No. It’s a thief. It’s a dirty, rotten sinner. It’s one of those fellows who was blaspheming Him on the cross.

Jesus brings back a surprising guest with Him. This man isn’t worthy to come to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, but he belongs because he is in the mantle of Christ.

Look at the am all folks!

Paul the Persecutor

Matthew the Money Lover

Peter the Proud

Thomas the Doubter

Woman caught in adultery

A parade of sinners clothed in the mantle of Christ, washed, made new!

3. This man is assured heaven. When you are in Christ you can’t miss heaven. Jesus said “Thou shalt be!” he’s going to heaven.

Man can tell you you’re going to heaven and you might not make it.

Your pastor can tell you you’re going to heaven and you might not make it.

If Jesus tells you you’re going to heaven you’re going to make it!

C. In a manner that is not common.

1. This is the only deathbed conversion we find in Scripture.

“It cannot be too often, or too loudly, or too solemnly repeated, that the Bible, which ranges over a period of four thousand years, records but one instance of a death-bed conversion—one that none may despair, and but one that none may presume.” —Thomas Guthrie

2. Jesus can save at the 11th hour but will you believe at the 11th hour?

*You don’t know if you’ll have a deathbed. You may die suddenly.

* You don’t know if you’ll want Christ on it.

3. Paradise waits for whosoever but there is no certainty about when-so-ever. Call upon Him when He is near, call upon Him when you can see Him and hear him as the thief did that day.

Is the Lord near this morning?

Can you see the Lord moving in your life this morning?

Can you hear the Lord calling you to Himself this morning?

Don’t wait! Come to Christ in faith and repentance.

What a joy to hear those words “Today thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.