Two Trees: Paradise Restored
Luke 23:32-33, 39-43
April 9, 2023
Luke 23:32-33
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. …
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The steps to eternal life...
1. Admit that you deserve death.
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.”
Luke 23:41
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.
But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:41
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
Numbers 21:6
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”
Numbers 21:8
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
…anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.
Deuteronomy 21:23
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14-15
The steps to eternal life...
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
Galatians 3:13
The steps to eternal life...
3. Trust Jesus as your only hope for salvation.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luke 23:42
The steps to eternal life...
3. Trust Jesus as your only hope for salvation.
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43
The steps to eternal life...
3. Trust Jesus as your only hope for salvation.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7
The steps to eternal life...
1. Admit that you deserve death.
2. Believe that the sinless Son of God took the curse that you deserved.
3. Trust Jesus as your only hope for salvation.