A1259829944CycEp

1
Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in
paradise (Luke 2343)
Part 2 0f 7
2
Introduction

• As Jesus our Lord was on the cross, His last
  words teach us many lessons

• In this series I hope to share with you some
  insight into those final moments before Jesus
  took His last breath and died.

• In our last lesson we talked about, Father,
  forgive them, for they do not know what they are
  doing

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• Most of us will avoid speaking with the dying,
  due to the uncomfortable feeling that it creates

• One of the criminals on the cross was willing
  to speak with the Christ while the both of them
  were dying

• This criminal said, Remember me when you come
  into Your kingdom (Luke 2342)

6
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• Jesus was numbered with the transgressors and
  was dying for them (Isaiah 5312 Mark 1527-28)

• One of these sinners acknowledged Jesus as
  having a kingdom, which claimed Him as King
  (Luke 2342)

• For his faith, this sinner went from being
  justly punished to death to graciously welcomed
  into life in paradise

7
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• This kingdom was the church for which Jesus was
  dying (See Matthew 1618-19 Acts 2028)

• In this kingdom is where all of the redeemed
  are found after they are freed from the darkness
  of sin (Col. 113-14)

• Those who have accepted Christ and obey Him
  become a part of the kingdom (Acts 236-41, 47)

8
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• At one point on the cross, even this man had
  insulted Jesus (Matt. 2744)

• These robbers are not to be compared to each
  other as both of them are worthy of death

• The point we must see is that we all have
  robbed God and need to acknowledge His Son as
  the Savior and King (Rom. 323 623 Phil.
  28-13)

9
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• To walk away freed of the pain of sin was not
  possible with nails in his feet

• You are not able to be giving or stealing when
  your hands are nailed to the cross (Eph. 428)

• Helplessness is not a curse if it draws us to
  the only One who can help us. Indeed, if we do
  not see ourselves as helpless, we cannot be
  saved. (Rom. 56-9)

10
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• What caused this thief to recognize Jesus as
  Divine?

• Jesus had just cried out, Father forgive them,
  for they do not know what they are doing (Luke
  2334)

• The crowds were crying out, He saved others
  let Him save Himself and If you are the King
  of the Jews, save Yourself! (Luke 2335-42)

11
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• The sign above Jesus head read, THIS IS THE
  KING OF THE JEWS

• If the thief didnt believe this truth, why did
  he want Jesus to remember him in His kingdom?
  (Luke 2338, 42)

• The thief must have believed in the eternal
  kingdom of the Christ, for the King was now
  suffering as one who needed saving (John
  1836-37)

12
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• When you realize the condemnation you are
  under, it is a more urgent task to find a Savior
  (Luke 2340-41)

• The thief honestly accepted the just penalty
  for his deeds, and he did not make excuses

• The thief never said, Exalt me, but rather,
  Remember me in your kingdom, and what a
  privilege it is to be remembered by God

13
Today you will be with Me in paradise

• Based upon the trusting faith of this sinner,
  the Lord granted him a place with Himself in
  paradise (I Cor. 19 John 143)

• Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins and
  exercised it here (Mark 210)

• The thief was with Jesus in physical punishment
  and now would be with Him in spiritual paradise

14
Truly I say to you

• Since Jesus died before the thief, the thief
  may have been left with some doubt (John
  1931-34)

• The earth is darkened, an earthquake occurs,
  and the One in whom the thief trusted was
  already dead (Matt. 2751)

• But the words of Christ to the thief add a
  comforting assurance of His promise, Truly I
  say to you (Luke 2343)

15
Truly I say to you

• Jesus had just cried out, My God, My God, why
  have you forsaken Me (Matt. 2746)

• These words will never nullify the promise God
  makes through His Son (John 316, 36)

• The faith of the thief must have been reassured
  when Jesus said, Father, into your hands I
  commit My spirit (Luke 2346)

16
Truly I say to you

• Both thieves made requests but only one was
  answered (Luke 2339, 42)

• One thief wanted to prolong his earthly life
  and failed, while the other sought the benefit
  of eternal life and it was granted (Luke 2343)

• Jesus did not come to save us physically, but
  ratherspiritually (Lk. 199-10 Matt. 121 I
  Tim. 115)

17
Truly I say to you

• Both thieves had equal opportunities to be
  savedsame distance from the cross of Jesus

• One thief called on the Lord to mock Him while
  the other called on Him to magnify Him

• Nothing but their acceptance of Jesus separated
  them that day, but now they are eternally
  separated with their own eternal destinies
  sealed

18
Application

• The one thief resembles most people, who with
  every last breath refuse to trust Jesus and
  often die lost

• The other thief after realizing his error asked
  to be remembered by the Lord in His kingdom
  which all must do

• Jesus, hanging between the two said to the
  repentant thief, Truly I say to you, today you
  will be with Me in paradise

19
Application

• There is a song titled, There Is A Fountain
  Filled With Blood in which one of the stanzas
  reads

The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain
in his day And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away. (See Rev. 27 Acts
2216)
20
Do you want to be in the Paradise of God?
Do you want to wash away your sins?

• Hear (John 1248)

• Believe (John 824)

• Repent (Luke 133, 5)

• Confess (Matt. 1032-33)

• Baptized (Mark 1616)

• Faithful (Rev. 210)

21
There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
The dying thief rejoiced to see That
fountain in his day And there
may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins
away. Wash all my sins away Wash all my sins
away And there may I, though vile as he, Wash
all my sins away