Thursday, September 10, 2020 Some material taken from What A Difference A Day Can Make by Sam Nobles
Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. Remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:40-43
A Simple Faith
This past Sunday, we heard Sam Nobles preach a sermon about the crucifixion
of Jesus and two thieves. The King of Kings, who didn’t come into the
world like a king, is certainly not going out as a king would. Instead of a
regal ceremony and burial, He hangs between two thieves, spending even His last
breath telling one of them that today he would be with Him in paradise.
Jesus is
God the Son. He has the power to get down from the cross. He had the power to
spend His last moments on earth any way he wanted to, but He knew it was His
Father’s plan for Him to be sacrificed on a cross between two thieves. He chose
to yield to that plan, and one soul was saved. On His way out of this world,
Jesus was able to save the soul of one of the men hanging on the cross next to
Him. Even as He is dying on the cross, He is all about saving souls.
The Penitent
Thief
One of the thieves was angry and did
not accept Jesus. He was hardened by sin
and suffering and taunted Jesus saying Aren’t
you the Christ? Save yourself and us! (Luke 23:39) The other thief
realized that he was facing eternity and paying the consequences of his sin. He
said to his friend who hurled insults at Jesus: Do
you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we
indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man
has done nothing wrong. Remember me when you come into your kingdom.
He asked Jesus to remember him in heaven, and that was all he had to say to Jesus.
Jesus replied Truly, I say to you, today you
will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43).
This man was about to spend
eternity in hell, separated from God. But Jesus instantly washed away a whole
life of sin and that very day he entered heaven. Even though we may not
leave this earth as quickly, it is just as instantaneous for us as well. We are
instantly washed clean and a future resident of heaven. It is just that simple.
God requires nothing of us but to accept His gift. It is a simple process that
we often over complicate. What is this simple process the thief walked through
that day:
- He began to fear God. Don’t
you fear God? v. 40
- He recognizes his sinful condition. We are receiving the due reward of our deeds. v.
41 He realized his situation
and the consequences of how he had lived his life.
- He believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus,
remember me when you come into your kingdom. v. 42 This man realized this was the King
of Kings hanging on the cross beside him, and he believed.
- He asked Jesus to save him. Today you will be with me in paradise. v. 42 It is that simple. He just believed
and asked. Jesus saves with the simplest responses – accept, believe, and
ask. No works. No jumping through hoops. Just simple faith.
We can only get into heaven by the forgiveness and righteousness that
Jesus gives and that is good news. Not by how we live our lives, the things we
do, the bible studies we have led, or the years we have been a member of the local
church. It is all grace. All those things do not matter if we have not accepted
Him as our Lord and Savior. If you believe you have not done enough good things to gain acceptance by God, let that go. It is simple, and you are loved and accepted. Receive His gift of redemption and salvation. Accept, believe, and ask today.
Lara Cook
