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Topic: The Words Of Salvation
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Carol Swenson
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Member # 6929
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The one thief imitated the mockery of the religious leaders and asked Jesus to rescue him from the cross, but the other thief had different ideas. He may have reasoned, “If this Man is indeed the Christ, and if He has a kingdom, and if He has saved others, then He can meet my greatest need which is salvation from sin. I am not ready to die!” It took courage for this thief to defy the influence of his friend and the mockery of the crowd, and it took faith for him to trust a dying King! When you consider all that he had to overcome, the faith of this thief is astounding.
The man was saved wholly by grace; it was the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). He did not deserve it and he could not earn it. His salvation was personal and secure, guaranteed by the word of Jesus Christ. The man hoped for some kind of help in the future, but Jesus gave him forgiveness that very day, and he died and went with Jesus to paradise (2 Cor. 12:1-4).
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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Carol Swenson
Admin
Member # 6929
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posted
The Words of Salvation
Key Verse: Luke 23:42, 43
I. It Was Not a Matter of Chance That the Thieves Were Crucified with Jesus
A. Isaiah 53:12 prophesied it 700 years before: “Numbered with the transgressors.”
B. It was meant to demonstrate the unfathomable shame that Jesus experienced on our behalf.
C. He occupied a position to show that He was despised and rejected (Isa. 53:3).
II. He Demonstrated That He Was God
A. He prayed for forgiveness for His enemies (Luke 23:34).
B. He also personally offers salvation to the repentant thief, “Who can forgive sins but God?” (Mark 2:7).
C. He raised the dead (John 11:44).
III. Salvation Was Not Extended to Both Thieves
A. Christ’s salvation depends on our repentance. Only the repentant thief was saved.
B. Condemnation was for the one who did not repent.
1. The Lord did not say anything to him.
2. The thief was self-condemned (Luke 23:41; John 3:17, 18).
C. As the salvation of the repentant thief was final, so was the self-condemnation of the unrepentant one (Heb. 9:27).
IV. The Thief Did Not Believe as a Result of Jesus’ Spoken Witness on the Cross
A. The very presence of Jesus next to the thief was sufficient to convict him.
1. No one can say that because he has not been spoken to that he has not been witnessed to by God’s Spirit.
2. Jesus “was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).
a) The verb translated “was” in Greek is ἣν which is the imperfect tense meaning that there was always that light in the world before, during, and after His incarnation.
b) There has never been a time in the world when this light was not the cause of any body’s enlightenment who believed.
3. The verb translated “lighteth” in Greek is φοτίζει, which is in the present continuous tense, meaning constant and ever present enlightenment.
B. No one who is lost can attribute his lack of salvation to the lack of provision of light.
1. Not everyone will be saved as was graphically demonstrated on the cross.
2. Everybody who is saved must attribute that salvation to God’s initiative in providing salvation through Christ.
(52 New Testament Sermon Starters, Volume Two)
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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