Christ Wesleyan Church
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Luke 23:32-43
A. Painting the Scene
1. The two thieves were a fulfillment of prophecy.
Luke 22:37 NIV
2. The two thieves were followers of Barabbas.
Matthew 27:38 NIV
John 18:40 KJV
3. The two thieves were Zealots.
Luke 23:32 NIV
B. A Picture of Unbelief
1. The unbelieving thief had miscommunicated expectations.
Luke 23:39 NLT
2. The unbelieving thief asked the wrong question.
3. The unbelieving thief wanted to make sense of a situation that made no sense.
Anyone can think up a plan where good people go to Heaven. Only God can think up a plan where sinners, malefactors who are His enemy, can go to heaven.
C. A Picture of True Repentance
1. The changed thief feared God.
Luke 23:40 NIV
2. The changed thief declared that Jesus was righteous, and he was not.
Luke 23:41 NIV
3. The changed thief asked for Jesus to remember him.
Luke 23:42 NIV
4. The changed thief was guaranteed eternal life.
Luke 23:43 NIV
John 17:24 NIV
2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV
“Three crosses dominated the Jerusalem skyline that day. The Man on the center cross died for sin. The man on the left died in sin. The man on the right died to sin. One died to pay the penalty for sin. One died, pardoned from his sin. One died as a punishment for his sin.”[1]
[1] Ken Heer, Luke: A Commentary for Bible Students (Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House, 2007), 313.
D. Lessons from the Two Thieves
1. A lesson in courage
It is easy to speak for Jesus when we are surrounded by fellow believers. The test of our courage comes when confessing Him invites scrutiny and unpopular opinions.
2. A lesson in humility
When we have an awareness of God’s presence, we realize our own unworthiness.
3. A lesson in mercy
“Jesus did not promise him Paradise because he deserved to go there. Rather, Christ did it because He is a merciful Savior.”
Paul wrote, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy” Titus 3:5a
4. A lesson in concern
How important is the church/Kingdom to us? How much time do we spend thinking about it and praying for it? How much effort do we put forth trying to spread it? The Kingdom was important to the thief. I pray that the Kingdom/church is also important to us.
The 40 days of prayer and fasting starts Tuesday!
Bottom Line: The crosses on either side of Jesus’ cross represent the only two responses to Jesus that are possible: to accept Him and be saved, or to reject Him and be lost (The price of unbelief).
Giving & Attendance Update
Giving last Sunday: 78%
Giving year to date: 88.8%
Last Sunday’s attendance: 1978
Salvations to date: 189 / Baptisms to date: 29