Lesson 11

CHRIST'S GREAT POWER

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him. `Aren't you the Christ? 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 to Jesus, `Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 'Jesus answered him, `I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise' (Luke 23:39-43)

I want to try and say something about these verses, which tell the story of the criminal who repented of his sins as he was dying, and was immediately pardoned by the Lord Jesus. There are some important lessons illustrated here.

1. Christ's willingness and power to save sinners

This is the main thing to learn from this story-Jesus Christ is mighty to save (Isaiah 63:1). The criminal was a wicked man; he was a dying man, he was a helpless man, nailed to a cross. But see what happened when he turned to the Lord in prayer - Jesus, remember me ...
Our Lord replied immediately! He spoke kindly to the man, cleansed him of his sins, received him graciously, justified him freely and gave him an entrance to paradise. Throughout the whole of Scripture no one ever received so glorious an assurance of salvation as this. And I believe that the Lord Jesus never gave so complete a proof of his power and willingness to save, as he did on this occasion.In the light of this, do I not have the right to say, Christ will receive any sinner who comes to him with the prayer of faith? If ever there was a person who seemed too bad to be saved it was this man. Yet mercy was shown to him.
Do I not have the right to say, Salvation is by the grace of God and not through human efforts? This sinner was never baptized; he belonged to no visible church; he never received the Lord's supper; he never did any works for Christ; he never gave any money for Christian work. But he had faith and so he was saved.
Why then should any man or woman ever despair of salvation, with such a passage as this in the Bible? Whatever state you are in there is still hope. Christ can heal you; Christ can raise you from any depths. Heaven is not shut against you; Christ will still admit you if you will humbly commit your soul into his hands.
If you. feel unsure that your sins are forgiven, come to Christ and live. Jesus is full of mercy. I tell you he can do anything needed to save your soul. If you are a believer then do not take credit to yourself - glory in Christ. We do not think highly enough of him. Do you ever try to do good to others? Then be sure to tell them about Christ. Tell them what he did for this dying criminal. Tell them he can do the same for them.

2. We learn that some are saved at the hour of death, while some are not

There were two thieves being crucified with Christ. What became of the other? Why did he not turn from his sin and pray to the Lord? There is nothing to show that he was worse

than his companion; both were wicked men; both were being punished justly. Yet one was taken to paradise; the other was not.
There is warning as well as comfort in this story. The warning tells me that though some may repent and be converted on their deathbeds, some may not. The warning tells me that two people may have exactly the same opportunities for the good of their souls, yet only one may take advantage of those opportunities. The warning tells me that repentance and faith are the gifts of God. If anyone believes that they can repent, believe and come to the Lord at any time they choose, they may find at the end that they are greatly deceived.
Do not presume that God will be merciful. Do not continue in sinful neglect of him and think you can repent and be saved just when you like. Do not put off for another day anything which concerns the welfare of your soul. Look at the history of men in the Bible ...
Saul and David lived about the same time; rose from similar obscurity in life; they were both called to the same high position in the world; they both reigned for a number of years; both had the ministry of the same prophet, Samuel; yet one was saved and the other was lost.

Do you have any desire to pray? Put it into practice at once! Would you like to serve Christ? Find out how to do so at once! Are you beginning to enjoy Bible truth? Then live up to the truth you learn immediately! You may want to say, It's never too late to repent. But if you keep putting off your repenting you may never repent at all. You may say, Why should I be afraid? The penitent thief was saved. But look again at the story - the other thief was lost!

3. We learn that the Spirit always leads souls to salvation in the same way

it is a mistake to notice merely that this repenting criminal was saved when he was dying. There are other things to notice, such as the evidence of the Spirit's work in this man's heart. The Spirit led him to salvation in the same way that he leads all who are being saved.

a) Notice his faith. He called Jesus by name; he declared his belief in Jesus' kingdom. He believed that Jesus was innocent. Yet he had none of the advantages of being taught these things, as Jesus' disciples had.
And when did he show such faith? It happened when the whole nation had rejected this Christ! It happened when the chief priests and Pharisees had condemned Christ. It happened when Christ's own disciples had fled! Surely this faith was a remarkable faith. Do you want to know if the Spirit is working in your life? Then I ask, Do you have faith such as this, despite the way others reject Christ?

b) Notice his proper sense of sin. He acknowledged his own ungodliness and the justice of his punishment. `We are punished justly; we are getting what our deeds deserve.' He makes no attempt to justify himself or excuse his wickedness. He speaks like a person humbled by the memory of his past sins. This is what all God's people feel. Do you want to know if you have the Spirit in you? I ask, Do you feel your sinfulness?

c) Notice his brotherly love. He tried to stop his companion from cursing Jesus. There is no surer mark of the Spirit's work than this. He shakes us out of our selfishness and makes us aware of the souls around us. When the Samaritan woman was converted (John 4) she left her water pot and ran to the city saying, `Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?' Do you wish to be certain that you have the Spirit in you? Then I ask, How is your love for other souls?

4. We learn that believers in Christ are with the Lord when they die

This you may gather from the Lord's words, Today you will be with me in paradise. Believers, after death, are with Christ. I know their happiness falls short of what it will be when their bodies are raised again when Jesus returns to earth. Yet I know that they do enjoy rest, freedom from labour, pain and sin. They are with Christ.
I cannot describe what kind of a place paradise is, because I cannot understand what it is like when the soul is separated from the body. But when I see that such souls are with Christ, I see enough! If the sheep are with the shepherd - if the members of the body are with the head - if the children of the family are with the one who loves them, all must be well; all must be right.
If you are a believer, if you tremble at the thought of the grave, be encouraged by this passage. You are going to paradise, and Christ will be there.

5. We learn, finally, that the eternal destiny of the believer is very near

Today, our Lord said, today you will be with me. Not at some time in the future, but this very day! How near that word brings our everlasting destiny. There is but a .step between me and death, said David (1 Samuel 20:3). There is but a step, we may say, between ourselves and either paradise - or hell.
We do not realise this as we ought to do. We are apt to think, even as believers, that death begins a long journey. That is very wrong! The moment that believers die they are in paradise. Make no mistake; there is no long interval between death and our eternal condition. The very moment that believers die they are in paradise. If you are a true Christian you are nearer heaven than you think! Today, if the Lord should take you, you would find yourself at once in paradise.

A few words in conclusion. There is encouragement here for the humble hearted sinner. Why should you not do what the repenting thief did? See how he called to the Lord Jesus - and see what an answer he obtained! On the other hand, if you are so proud as to suppose yourself not a sinner, there is a warning here. For the unrepentant criminal died as he lived - a wicked man.

Are you a nominal Christian? Then use the repenting criminal's actions as a test of your own. You will be wise to behave as he did.
If you are mourning over the loss of a believing friend or relative, then take comfort from this Scripture. They cannot be better off than they are now! And if you are an aged servant of Christ, then see how near you are to home! When your king calls for you, in one moment your warfare will be ended and you will be with hire in paradise.


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