Paradise Today

The Seven Sayings of Jesus from The Cross  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Looking at Jesus Words from the Cross

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Paradise Today

Two old men, who are growing very old and since both of them loved the game of baseball they make an agreement with each other....

These men love the game, they always talk the off-season trades, the winter meetings, watch every game of the season, and recollect on the players of their hay day.

So they decide to form a pact. The first one to die will come back to the other and inform them if there is baseball in heaven.

The catcher of the two dies before the pitcher. He comes back in a dream to his friend and informs his pitching friend that he has good news and bad news.

“Well what’s the good news?” asks the pitcher.

“There is baseball in heaven.” Beautiful fields, full grandstands, clean new uniforms for every game

“Wow, that’s spectacular, that’s all we ever wanted! What could possibly be the bad news?” the pitcher asks.

“I looked at next weeks lineup and you’re the starting pitcher.

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Latter-day Saints reject the idea of death bed repentance. It is contrary to the idea of being sanctified and changed into such a state whereby we would want to be in God’s presence in the first place. Our actions have to mean something.

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Jehovah's witness believe Jesus was referring to a future Latter-day Saints reject the idea of death bed repentance. It is contrary to the idea of being sanctified and changed into such a state whereby we would want to be in God’s presence in the first place. Our actions have to mean something paradice and not to Salvation.

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I’ve alway thought it was strange that we put more thought into the eternal place called Heaven than we do in the path that leads us there. This passage makes it clear.

Jesus was crucified between two theives

So what do we know about the two thieves

1. Matthew says that both of the men were thieves (robbers).

2. By their own admission they were receiving their just rewards.

3. The Book of Nicodemus, a non canonized book names the repentant or good thief Dysmas or Dismas and the thief who mocks Jesus is named Gestas

4. We know that their appearance fulfills prophecy

Isaiah 53:12 NKJV
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

5. We know that one of them had a change of heart in their treatment of Jesus.

Matthew 27:44 NKJV
44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
so lets look at the passage as Luke writes it
Luke 23:43 NKJV
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
What prompted Jesus to make this statement
Luke 23:39–42 NKJV
39 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.”

This wasn’t meant to be a sermon with Alliteration but it somehow worked out that way. However this is expository Alliteration.

So think on these four words as we look at the thief who’s on his way to paradise.

Repentance

Recognition

Reliance

Restoration (Salvation)

A. It Was a Moment of Repentance

We do not know a lot about this man but we do know he was in need of a savior.

What is it that could have changed his mind in the end?

Maybe it was the way Jesus was silent as they nailed Him to the cross – Isa. 53:7.

Maybe it was the way Jesus responded to the mockery of His enemies – Luke 23:34.

Maybe it was the sign over the cross of Jesus that proclaimed His title – Luke 23:38.

It could have been any number of things that spoke to his heart. But, whatever it was told him that Jesus was no ordinary man! Whatever it was told this dying man that Jesus was his Messiah and that Jesus was his only hope!

So even though we don’t know the why we know the what

1. As he hangs there he grasped the judgement of God.

In Christ warning to the Disciples as He sent them out to minister he said this in Matt 10:28
Matthew 10:28 NKJV
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

2. As he hangs there in the presence of Jesus, this man confesses himself to be a sinner.

He declares his own guilt for all to hear!

He says, “I am the man! I am guilty and I deserve everything I and receiving and am about to receive.”

I can hear in his words the sorrow of a wasted life.

I can hear the sorrow over wrong deeds, wasted opportunities and shattered dreams.

I can hear a man who is sorry for what he has done and for what He has become.

3. As he hangs there he realizes the level field for all mankind

We are all under the same condemnation

All of this leads to a repentant heart.

B. We watch as he truly Recognizes Jesus.

This man sees himself as he is, but he also sees Jesus as He is for the first time!

He recognizes the fact that Jesus is no ordinary man.

He understands that Jesus has committed no sins and that He is Who He claims to be.

Perhaps Jesus was the talk in the prison the night before maybe they talked about this man who had healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the multitudes and claimed to be able to forgive sins.

look at the words
“This Man has done nothing”!

C. Now He falls in Reliance upon Jesus.

“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

This man was able to look beyond himself and the present to seek his greatest need

If this step hadn’t been taken this would be a tragedy

His faith eyes had been opened and he saw the Messiah.

• Friend, have you ever come to that place in your life?

• Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ and Him alone as your personal Savior?

• Are you saved today?

But then we see Jesus answer.

D. Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise

This is the picture of Salvation

You will be with me in Paradise

The arguments are vain that put a limit on the time before Death you must be saved. One Year before… Two

John 6:44 NKJV
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Three men died that day on a hill called Calvary. One man died in his sins, he went to Hell because He rejected Jesus Christ. One man died to his sin. He went to be with Jesus because of Grace. The third Man, Jesus, died for all sin. He gave His life on that cross so that you might have your sins forgiven, miss Hell and go to Heaven. He died for your sins so that you would not have to die in your sins!

Repentance

Recognition

Reliance

Restoration (Salvation)

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