Help Others ... "Assuredly ... you will be with Me"
Luke 23:39-43

Intro:  Is it possible to escape our past? We have all been scarred by poor decisions, incorrect teaching, and evil influences. When this is combined with the wrong values of the world, the sensual longings of our flesh, and the intense pressure of this Satanic world : we can understand why our past is something we need to be saved from. Today we will meet a man who had a past filled with greed, selfishness, covetousness and theft, yet in the last moments of his life found someone who helped him escape his past and promised him a new future.

Thieves and Robbers … we like to keep them at a distance and out of our homes and lives.  We install both mental and mechanical security systems to keep them outside our lives.

On the cross, Jesus entertained with a welcoming heart the request of a thief to let him in.  With eternal words Jesus assured this man that He would let him come into His kingdom … "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Robbers and thieves … why did God place His Son between such men to die?  Certainly God had a reason? Whether we can understand it or not … God never acts in an arbitrary manner. He always has a good purpose for everything. 

God in a “show and tell” fashion presents … the drama of salvation.

Luke 23:39-43  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³ And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ^[1] “

Here upon the cross the words between the Savior and sinner … we find a request of help and the response to help.

1. The Request for Help … “Remember Me”

Both thieves made a request … one was requesting freedom from the cross and the other freedom from sin.

A. Self help … if you are, save yourself and us

The unrepentant thief dying for his sins pushed his unbelief to the forefront to pose a point of ridicule … “If you are the Christ …”

Perhaps he heard those walking beneath the cross …

Mark 15:29-30  And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross.^[i]

People have never understood the cross, as some make light of it and stumble over it. Paul understood the problem people had with the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:23 “…but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, “

Today, there are those who like the unrepentant thief remain lost in their sins of “self help.” 

B. Soul help … remember me

In the face of unbelief the second thief speaks.

Luke 23:40-41 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.^[ii]

This repentant thief had come to recognize … 

1. Recognized … who he was

·         Sinner … Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Ps 111:10)

·         Dying Sinner … Just punishment for sin is death.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The way of salvation begins with recognition that you have sinned and the punishment of your sin is death.

2. Recognized … who Jesus was

·         Jesus as having done no wrong.

• went about doing good (Acts 10:38)
• marveled at His gracious words (Lk 4:22)
• committed no sin (1 Pt  2:22)

·         Jesus as Divine … “Lord”

·         Jesus as Savior … “remember me”

·         Jesus as King … “kingdom”

“A self-confessed sinner is not far from a seeking Savior.”  - J. Oswald Sanders

Luke 23:42  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

What caused this man … to repent and turn?

Perhaps the forgiving words of Jesus reached and touched his hardened heart.  Maybe, rather than the brutality of the soldiers, the callousness of the crowd, he saw in His face … love and mercy.

Question:  What does the dying lost world see in our faces and hear in our words?

Whatever he saw or heard he clutched eagerly at the offer of mercy. 

Truly, this man, this thief, this robber is representative of all of lost humanity … needing the offer of salvation.

2. The Response of Help … “You will be with Me”

Speaking the words of requesting help … remember me … Jesus responded.

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ^[iii] “

These words … this event … are monumental for they speak of …

• Life and Death
• Heaven and Hell
• Justification and Judgment

In these words God dispels the “notions” of salvation and gives the “nature” of salvation.

• Dispels the notion of … a works based salvation (baptism, Lord Supper, good works)
• Dispels the notion of … a universal salvation (Jesus spoke only to the repentant thief)
• Dispels the notion of … soul sleeping
• Dispels the notion of … purgatory

Jesus in these words to a dying thief spells out the truth (theology) of salvation.

A. Certainty of the Work of Salvation … “Assuredly, I say to you”

Jesus speaking “assuredly” spoke to His “for sure” work of accomplishing the salvation of man.  No doubt would be left.

Jesus answered once … not in repetition as the thieves were asking.  Some commentators suggest that the thieves requests were asked again and again.

Jesus in speaking once speaks to the “once and for all” final work of salvation.  (Heb 7:27, 10:10)

B. Certainty of the Day of Salvation … “today”

Jesus spoke of the “day” of salvation as “today.”

“In the paradise of God, it is always today.  There is no night to break the day into fragments.  It is endless now.”  - Russell Jones

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)^[iv]

The truth is … it is never too late to seek God.

C. Certainty of the Place of Salvation … “in Paradise”

“Paradise” = a place of future bliss or happiness.

Jesus places the emphasis not upon an earthly kingdom … but on a place of rest (from the burden and bondage of sin) that He has prepared.  It is the eternal place of rest we call heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

D. Certainty of the Person of Salvation … “will be with me”

The thief's request was … “remember me.”

Jesus didn't deal with the request with … “I'll see what I can do.” 

With no hesitation, Jesus assures him of the help he needs would come from none other than Jesus Himself.  “Today, you will be with Me …”

The response to help came quickly and assuredly from the One and only One who can truly help all humanity.

Conclusion:

From the request of help to the response to help … Jesus teaches us a second lesson of these “Cross Words” … “Help Others.”

By responding to the cries of help by sinful man in the name of the Savior, we who have met the Savior on our cross, allow them to meet their Savior.

What greater response of help can we give, than to give those struggling in uncertainty of life and death the assurance of Jesus.

Philippians 2:4- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion ^a as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.^[v]

From the cross Jesus speaks to us … “Help Others.”

Is it possible to escape our past? Here before our eyes one man by the grace of God escaped his past and gained a new future.  It can happen to you today as well. What he has done for others we will do for you.

Help Others ... "Assuredly ... you will be with Me"
Luke 23:39-43

Intro:  Is it possible to escape our past? We have all been scarred by poor decisions, incorrect teaching, and evil influences. When this is combined with the wrong values of the world, the sensual longings of our flesh, and the intense pressure of this Satanic world : we can understand why our past is something we need to be saved from. Today we will meet a man who had a past filled with greed, selfishness, covetousness and theft, yet in the last moments of his life found someone who helped him escape his past and promised him a new future.

Thieves and Robbers … we like to keep them at a distance and out of our homes and lives.  We install both mental and mechanical security systems to keep them outside our lives.

On the cross, Jesus entertained with a welcoming heart the request of a thief to let him in.  With eternal words Jesus assured this man that He would let him come into His kingdom … "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Robbers and thieves … why did God place His Son between such men to die?  Certainly God had a reason? Whether we can understand it or not … God never acts in an arbitrary manner. He always has a good purpose for everything. 

God in a “show and tell” fashion presents … the drama of salvation.

Luke 23:39-43  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³ And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ^[1] “

Here upon the cross the words between the Savior and sinner … we find a request of help and the response to help.

1. The Request for Help … “Remember Me”

Both thieves made a request … one was requesting freedom from the cross and the other freedom from sin.

A. Self help … if you are, save yourself and us

The unrepentant thief dying for his sins pushed his unbelief to the forefront to pose a point of ridicule … “If you are the Christ …”

Perhaps he heard those walking beneath the cross …

Mark 15:29-30  And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross.^[i]

People have never understood the cross, as some make light of it and stumble over it. Paul understood the problem people had with the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:23 “…but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, “

Today, there are those who like the unrepentant thief remain lost in their sins of “self help.” 

B. Soul help … remember me

In the face of unbelief the second thief speaks.

Luke 23:40-41 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.^[ii]

This repentant thief had come to recognize … 

1. Recognized … who he was

·         Sinner … Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Ps 111:10)

·         Dying Sinner … Just punishment for sin is death.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The way of salvation begins with recognition that you have sinned and the punishment of your sin is death.

2. Recognized … who Jesus was

·         Jesus as having done no wrong.

• went about doing good (Acts 10:38)
• marveled at His gracious words (Lk 4:22)
• committed no sin (1 Pt  2:22)

·         Jesus as Divine … “Lord”

·         Jesus as Savior … “remember me”

·         Jesus as King … “kingdom”

“A self-confessed sinner is not far from a seeking Savior.”  - J. Oswald Sanders

Luke 23:42  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

What caused this man … to repent and turn?

Perhaps the forgiving words of Jesus reached and touched his hardened heart.  Maybe, rather than the brutality of the soldiers, the callousness of the crowd, he saw in His face … love and mercy.

Question:  What does the dying lost world see in our faces and hear in our words?

Whatever he saw or heard he clutched eagerly at the offer of mercy. 

Truly, this man, this thief, this robber is representative of all of lost humanity … needing the offer of salvation.

2. The Response of Help … “You will be with Me”

Speaking the words of requesting help … remember me … Jesus responded.

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ^[iii] “

These words … this event … are monumental for they speak of …

• Life and Death
• Heaven and Hell
• Justification and Judgment

In these words God dispels the “notions” of salvation and gives the “nature” of salvation.

• Dispels the notion of … a works based salvation (baptism, Lord Supper, good works)
• Dispels the notion of … a universal salvation (Jesus spoke only to the repentant thief)
• Dispels the notion of … soul sleeping
• Dispels the notion of … purgatory

Jesus in these words to a dying thief spells out the truth (theology) of salvation.

A. Certainty of the Work of Salvation … “Assuredly, I say to you”

Jesus speaking “assuredly” spoke to His “for sure” work of accomplishing the salvation of man.  No doubt would be left.

Jesus answered once … not in repetition as the thieves were asking.  Some commentators suggest that the thieves requests were asked again and again.

Jesus in speaking once speaks to the “once and for all” final work of salvation.  (Heb 7:27, 10:10)

B. Certainty of the Day of Salvation … “today”

Jesus spoke of the “day” of salvation as “today.”

“In the paradise of God, it is always today.  There is no night to break the day into fragments.  It is endless now.”  - Russell Jones

2 Corinthians 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)^[iv]

The truth is … it is never too late to seek God.

C. Certainty of the Place of Salvation … “in Paradise”

“Paradise” = a place of future bliss or happiness.

Jesus places the emphasis not upon an earthly kingdom … but on a place of rest (from the burden and bondage of sin) that He has prepared.  It is the eternal place of rest we call heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

D. Certainty of the Person of Salvation … “will be with me”

The thief's request was … “remember me.”

Jesus didn't deal with the request with … “I'll see what I can do.” 

With no hesitation, Jesus assures him of the help he needs would come from none other than Jesus Himself.  “Today, you will be with Me …”

The response to help came quickly and assuredly from the One and only One who can truly help all humanity.

Conclusion:

From the request of help to the response to help … Jesus teaches us a second lesson of these “Cross Words” … “Help Others.”

By responding to the cries of help by sinful man in the name of the Savior, we who have met the Savior on our cross, allow them to meet their Savior.

What greater response of help can we give, than to give those struggling in uncertainty of life and death the assurance of Jesus.

Philippians 2:4- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion ^a as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.^[v]

From the cross Jesus speaks to us … “Help Others.”

Is it possible to escape our past? Here before our eyes one man by the grace of God escaped his past and gained a new future.  It can happen to you today as well. What he has done for others we will do for you.