30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 23 26-43 THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS 25 Luke 23 39-43 God’s redemption of man
📖 Luke 23:26-43
Fri 07 Jan 2022 – God’s redemption of man - Luke 23:26-43 - THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS (25) - Bible reading: Romans 3:21-26
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that this second criminal, who was crucified with You on the cross, turned around and received You into his life and He was reconciled with You. We praise You, Lord, for this great miracle that took place on the cross. We too are able to see how a person can return to You and experience personal salvation. Thank You, Lord Jesus. In Your name, we pray, Amen.”
Luke 23:39-43 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." (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
The second criminal took those three crucial steps in his turnaround experience.
1. He understood the fear of God. He understood the holiness of God and that every sin is against God. God hurts when man sins, for sin is a personal affront to God. Every sin evokes the wrath of God. Man must lift his eyes and see God.
2. He understood that the holy God came and identified with him as a criminal and was condemned in the same way in which he was condemned. Jesus was condemned alongside them. God was condemned to death.
3. He acknowledged and repented of his being a sinner. He understood that he was deserving of the wrath of God. By acknowledging his sinful condition, he was confessing his sin.
These are foundations. These are non-negotiable for a person to understand, to enter into a relationship with Jesus. In the case of the second criminal on the cross, all of these steps took place at one time. This may not necessarily happen with every person but in a person’s journey with God, these foundations have to be laid early in life.
4. The fourth step in the second criminal’s turnaround experience was that he understood that Jesus was sinless, though He was condemned just as he was condemned.
This is where the message of personal salvation begins to apply to us.
I Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
This is explained to us by Apostle Paul, in the book of Romans.
Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
When a person understands and appropriates the four steps that we have discussed and then by simple childlike faith, comes to Jesus and surrenders his or her life to Him, then the person receives the righteousness of God.
(All the four steps may not be understood by a person at the same time but early in a person’s journey in life, these four foundations need to fall into place)
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
This is the grace of God. We are all sinners, just like the criminals on the cross. We are made righteous before God, by His grace, through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross.
(25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood , through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
God’s justice is established when a person puts his or her faith in Jesus and comes under the shelter of God’s canopy.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death , for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
This glorious picture is revealed to us in Revelation.
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, (10) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
The purpose for which God has redeemed us is that we shall reign with Him as kings and priests on the earth.
God has provided the solution for man’s condemnation and it is for each individual to receive the message of God’s salvation, personally, just as the second criminal on the cross.
How severe the judgement of God will be when after He has provided the solution, man still rejects God? This is what is happening today.
Persecution of the church has brought into focus, God’s provision for man’s salvation through Jesus by His grace through a person’s faith in Him. Now the world cannot give an excuse, when they stand before God on the day of judgement, that they did not know the way of God’s salvation.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Thought to ponder
Our afflictions are light and momentary but they are working for us an eternal weight of glory.