THE THIEF ON THE CROSS
Text: Luke 23:32-33; 39-43; Mark 15:27-28; Matthew 27:38, 44.
Delivered on: October 7, 2007. Streetsboro.
Introduction.
He is the most famous thief in history.
But we don’t even know his name.
We are talking about the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus Christ.
We learn a great deal from this story.
We learn some things about God.
We learn some things about man.
However, some want to make this story teach more than it was ever meant to teach.
Let us notice what this story teaches and does not teach.
Luke 23:32-33. There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:39-43. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Body.
WHAT THIS STORY TEACHES US.
God loves all men.
It is God’s desire that ALL men be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Jesus came to die for the sins of ALL men. John 3:16-17. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
God loved that thief.
God loves murderers.
God loves pedophiles.
God loves homosexuals.
Jonah knew this. Jonah 4:2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, "Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
Salvation is to be found only in Christ.
John 14:6. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:12. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
It doesn’t matter what you may have done in your past. You can always turn to Christ.
This man was a thief.
Not only that… he reviled the Son of God as He was dying for the sins of all men. Matthew 27:44. Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Christ was ready and willing to forgive that thief’s sins.
He had the authority to do that. Mark 2:5-11. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic, 11 I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
God taught us this lesson by choosing Paul. 1 Timothy 1:15-16. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
It is never too late (as long as you are alive) to turn to Christ.
This thief was lost up until just a minutes before his death.
But he turned to Christ before he died.
He didn’t wait too long.
Matthew 20:1-15. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' 8 So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' 13 But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?'
WHAT THIS STORY DOES NOT TEACH.
It does not teach that God is going to save all men unconditionally.
Some mistakenly believe that since God is love, He will not condemn anyone.
They forget that God is also holy and just.
By His very nature He cannot allow unrepented sin to go unpunished. To do so would be unjust.
2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Psalms 96:13. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
Romans 11:22. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
It does not teach US what WE must do to be saved.
Many look to the thief on the cross as an example for how we are to be saved today.
The belief is that since all the thief had to do was acknowledge Jesus; then all we have to do is acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and we will be saved.
We must be obedient to the law under which we live.
As an American citizen, I am not subject to the laws of Great Britain.
As a person living in the year 2007, I am not living under the Law of Moses but the Law of Christ. Galatians 6:2. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
The thief was living under the Law of Moses.
It was in effect until the Law of Christ came into effect.
Christ’s Law came into effect after His death. Hebrews 9:16-17. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
Now that Christ has died, we are living under His Law (or Testament).
Therefore, it does not teach:
Faith Only. James 2:19-24. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
We are not saved by faith only.
We are saved by faith coupled with obedience.
Grace Only. Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We are saved by grace but not grace only.
We are saved by grace through faith which must be coupled with obedience.
Conclusion.
Therefore, the thief on the cross teaches us that Salvation is found only in Christ.
Since we are living in a time after Jesus’ death, we are saved by the gospel. Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
That Gospel points out that Grace, Faith, and Obedience all play a role in our salvation.
In order for us to be saved we must put ourself in position to receive the gift of salvation.
We do that by:
Believing in Jesus (John 8:24).
Repenting of our sins (Luke 13:3).
Confessing our faith (Romans 10:9-10).
Being Baptized (Mark 16:16).
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