Three Crosses of Calvary

Three Crosses of Calvary

Introduction:

1.       Luke 23:32-43 KJV, [32] And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death. [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots. [35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; let him save Himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] 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.

2.       You are on one of these three crosses. You are the first thief and condemned when death crosses your door, knowing you will face hell fire and judgement for your crimes against God and mankind, regretting that he got caught not that he sinned. OR you are the second thief on the cross, You crimes have found you out and you wishing you listened to Jesus and done what He said, you knowing you facing death and judgement in the electric chair, but you decide to reconcile with God in your remaining seconds of life. OR you are on the cross with Jesus already, baptized into Christ, knowing that Jesus took care of your burdens needed to reconcile you to God, so that in the judgement when you die God sees you clothed in the likeness of His sinless son, Jesus of Nazareth.

3.       Which are you? If you were to die today, then would you rejoice in Heaven knowing you have done all to obey Jesus, or would you die never knowing the forgiveness of God, or would you die reconciling your ways to Christ for salvation?

I.                     Jesus View of the three Crosses

A.      Jesus realizes there is a chance for salvation with the second thief

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation; He saved the thief (Heb 5:9)

a.       Jesus had power to forgive sins (Matt 9:6)

b.       Jesus preached message: repent for the kingdom of God is near. (Matt 4:17)

c.       Jesus taught obedience is better than sacrifice (Matt 12:29-34)

2.       Jesus is looking for those that are obeying God and reconciling their ways

a.       Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:8-10)

b.       Jesus did not come to seek the righteous (Matt 9:12-13)

c.       Jesus looks for those seeking God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)

3.       Jesus message He preached before the cross

a.       Luke 7:22, when reminding John the Baptist, Jesus answering, “Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how that the blond see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”

b.       Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand”.

c.       Matthew 13:15, “for this people’s heart have waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them”.

B.      Jesus suffocating because of sin gives opportunity to a sinner

1.       Jesus knowing, He must die and be raised, is bearing His cross

a.       Foretold: Matthew 20:18-19, Jesus said…, “behold, we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn Him to death and shall deliver Him to the gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him and the third day He shall rise again”

b.       Jesus as a Jewish man sought God and asked if there was another way.

c.       Matthew 26:42, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except, I drink it, thy will be done.”

2.       Jesus had never chosen evil and lived under the law of the knowledge of good and evil

a.       Hebrews 5:8-9, “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect, He became the Author of Salvation to all them that obey Him”.

b.       Matthew 5:17-18, “think not that I come to destroy the Law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no way pass from the law until all be fulfilled”

c.       1 Timothy 2:5-6, “for there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time”

3.       Jesus greatest deliverance prayer ever was forgive them they know not

a.       Jesus being bruised by satan and suffocated for our sins, prayed forgive them

b.       Jesus taught us to bless our enemies

c.       Jesus said do good to those that do you wrong. Do you obey Him?

C.      Jesus suffers the railing and snatches a thief out of hell fire

1.       Jesus hears the railing against Him

a.       Jesus responded last time the same action from satan, with a it is written, you shall not put your God to the test, but remains silent before this railed sinner.

b.       When you pray, do you give God instructions or report for duty? This thief wanted God to exercise a powerful miracle for his own desires. The thief expected God to obey him rather than trusting in Jesus to do what is best.

c.       Jesus knows this thief needs forgiveness, but he asks for extended life without reconciling with God, no remorse for his crimes.

2.       Jesus sees the second thief’s actions

a.       Jesus, I imagine, is hearing the second thief’s heart as it says, I wish I had listened to you before I got judged and nailed to the cross.

b.       Jesus sees the second thief speak up and defend Him when He is literally without help.

c.       Jesus recognizes that the repenting thief obeyed His message…to repent or change for the kingdom of God is near.

3.       Jesus pronounced judgment on the obedient repenting thief

a.       Luke 23:40-43, [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.

b.       Jesus savior looking at the wise actions of the thief, says that’s what I am looking for and blesses him.

c.       None to comfort Jesus, forsaken, yet He manages to work salvation hung to a tree.

II.                   The first thief

A.      He is convicted and tried according to man law and has death sentence

1.       When your deeds have brought you to death sentence (hopeless)

a.       “for godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world works death.” 2 Cor 7:10.

b.       Worldly sorrow is sorry I got caught and will have to face punishment

c.       Godly sorrow causes self-reflection saying sorry God I will not do it again because you say it is wrong.

2.       The world is saying: “the world is better with you not in it”.

a.       1 Cor 15:32, “if after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? if the dead be not raised, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die”

b.       Have you ever faced the electric chair?

3.       He is filled with indignation that he got caught and must own up to his deeds.

a.       Ephesians 4:18, “…having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart”

B.      He realizes judgement, but instead schemes a way to live his previous life

1.       Facing death, a grave, hell and judgement, he schemes a way of living

a.       He is facing his electric chair and there is no escape

b.       He is worrying about how to avoid death and judgement

2.       He realizes Jesus has done great things and dares…tests Him to prove his Godship

a.       He committed crimes in or around Jerusalem, and wanted free to live again

b.       Being from around here, he heard about Jesus and instead of obeying Him…

c.       He rails or testing God

3.       He does not believe and trust in Christ words, but rails against Jesus

a.       Jesus being tempted by the devil, when faced with same temptation, said, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test (Matt 4:7).

b.       He is not looking for a chance to never sin again, instead he is looking for a longer life of days.

c.       Do you want to be free from sin? Yes or No?

C.      He tests God as if daring Him to prove His existence

1.       His heart is so wrong he thinks God will obey his wish to save him

a.       Who tells God what to do?

b.       Either Jesus knows He is God and is willingly in this circumstance or Jesus is insane.

2.       He asked for freedom to live longer, to believe

a.       He did not ask for forgiveness but for another day free of condemnation.

b.       Another day, to do as he pleased

3.       He failed to realize we must come to Jesus of Nazareth on His terms not our own

a.       Jesus of Nazareth is the author of salvation to all those that obey Him Heb 5:9

b.       The thief failed to see Jesus Greatness or see His purpose

c.       Jesus was fulfilling the righteous demands of the law having never sinned and offering His life in place of our own, purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

III.                 The second thief

A.      He too Convicted and tried and found worthy of death sentence

1.       He is facing a hopeless situation too, facing death and judgement

a.       His crimes had landed him in the electric chair, and he was about to die and face God in judgement.

b.       He knew his crimes deserving of death was being administered.

c.       He feared God and repented.

2.       He is fearing God judgement and wanting a chance at salvation

a.       He facing judgement has a moment of clarity and remembers the message that Jesus preached, what was his message? Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

b.       This thief is thinking how I can repent because I am facing judgement and death.

c.       He is looking for a way to reconcile with God…

3.       He decided to trust in God to provide a way if possible (1 Cor 10:13)

a.       About to die he thinks: if I could, get right with God I would.

b.       About to die, he thinks: If I could obey what Jesus preached, I would…

c.       About to die, thinking if I would die repenting, then I would…

B.      He is remembering the messages he heard from Jesus (godly sorrow)

1.       He is nailed to a cross dying next to Jesus and remembers what Jesus preached

a.       Repent for the kingdom of heaven is very near…

b.       He about to die saying yes very near for me…

c.       Wonders how to repent nailed to a cross…

2.       He is looking to reconcile and has godly sorrow in his heart

a.       An opportunity presents itself and the repenting thief capitalizes. He defends Jesus and His righteous cause and then says remember me when you come into your kingdom, remembering what Jesus had preached earlier...

b.       His faith rewarded, repentance and reconciliation were His last dying act that resulted in heavenly treasure.

c.       Jesus the Author of salvation and remission of sins made a way through the repenting thief’s obedience to the word of God, for salvation.

3.       He has a hope of redemption and mercy, trusting God

a.       The thief nailed to the cross, does not doubt the Lord’s words, but was like be it so…

b.       Today you shall be with me in paradise,

c.       Jesus rewarded the thief’s actions of faith and obedience to His preached word.

C.      He is given an opportunity to repent and in one deed of repentance obeys God

1.       He is hoping within himself, hoping a chance to obey Jesus

a.       Are you filled with godly sorrow for your sinful conditions?

b.       Are you wanting to be spared like the first thief?

c.       Are you wanting to be reconciled to God and taken to heaven today?

2.       Seeing the door of opportunity as a sinful man rails against God

a.       If God asked you today, then would you go?

b.       When the railed charged prove yourself as God save yourself and us…

c.       Are you going to repent and obey or rebel?

3.       He repents like a champ in full obedience to Jesus

a.       The second thief repents like a champ. He is granted an opportunity for salvation and defends Jesus and His cause.

b.       He is also rewarded and accepted his reward by faith… today you will be with me in paradise…

c.       It is never to late to repent and reconcile with God.

Conclusion:

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation to all those that obey Him (Heb 5:9)

a.       Have you heard the good news that Jesus became a man and was born of a virgin and lived under the law of good and evil and never once choose to do evil. He then laid down his life as a perfect sinless sacrifice in our place and purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Christ.

b.       Matt 11:28-30

c.       Mark 16:16

2.       There were two thieves only one obeyed Jesus while the other railed Him

a.       Which cross are you on? Jesus’ cross? 1^st thief cross? Or the second thief cross?

b.       Either you already crucified with Jesus and are sanctified through the redeeming work of Jesus cross, or you are on one of the other crosses.

c.       Which thief are you? The one that is bitter and rails against God? Or the one that trusts even in certain death there is a way of salvation if man could only obey?

3.       If Jesus came back right now where would you spend eternity?

a.       DO you believe yes or no?

b.       Are you right with God? Yes or No?

c.       If God came back right now. Then would you Go? Or run away?

Gold refined in a fire...

Warning to the church which thinks because it has no needs it is right with God…

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eye salve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent...Revelation 3:17-19.

The clothing we are clothed in comes from righteous deeds…

And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints...Revelation 19:8.

Here are some righteous deeds to gain gold tried in a fire…

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels...Matthew 25:37-41.

Prayer

Father please meet our soul’s deepest needs and open our eyes to gain gold refined in a fire…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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Incarnation of Jesus

Incarnation of Jesus

Introduction:

1. What is the Bible about? How would you answer this question?

a. It is about man’s redemption from sin, which means it is about Jesus our redeemer

b. A person could reason that the Bible’s theme is Jesus Christ

2. A general outline of the Bible: Old Testament point to Jesus coming, the New says Jesus came and Is coming back to take us home

3. Jesus Christ is the very center of Christianity, obviously there can not be Christianity without Christ

4. I want to talk about the incarnation of Jesus Christ with 3 major points:

a. Jesus is God

b. Jesus is Man

c. Jesus purpose for becoming a man

I. Jesus is God

A. The Inspired Word of God says Jesus is God

1. The bible declares that Jesus is God

a. Rom 9:5, “whose are of the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all, God blessed forever amen”

2. Thomas and his good confession (John 20:19-29)

a. Thomas was not with the other disciples, when Jesus showed Himself to them

b. Thomas said he would not believe unless he put his fingers into the nail prints and into His side. Some because of this event call Thomas doubting Thomas.

c. Jesus came again and showed Himself to Thomas, when Jesus asked Thomas to put his fingers into His nail pierced hands, Thomas said My Lord and My God.

d. If Jesus was just a man then He could never be called God without someone sinning.

e. Jesus accepted Thomas and his worship, so Jesus was God. Peter in Cornelius’s house would not allow a man to worship him and declared to Cornelius that he too was just a man. Jesus however is more than just a man.

f. It is idolatry to worship anything other than God Himself. It is idolatry to worship the created.

3. Jesus equated Himself equal to God

a. John 10:30, Jesus said my Father and I are one.

b. No man could ever say that he and God are one

4. John the Apostle witness concerning Jesus (John 1:1-14)

a. Jesus is inferred to be the word in verse 14

b. In verse 2, He was with God. In verse 1, He is God

c. He created all things, John was originally a Jew and believed in one God Deut 6:4. No Jew would say that there were two God’s unless they knew Jesus was indeed God.

5. General epistles concerning Jesus

a. Col 1:15-18, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature for by Him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the earth, visible, invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, principalities, powers, all things are created by Him and for Him. He is before all things and by Him all things consist. He is the head of the church the firstborn from the dead that in all things He might have preeminence.

b. Heb 1:8, with the Father speaking, it says “thy throne O’ God is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom”

B. The 3 in 1 Trinity

1. Father is God

a. 1 Cor 8:6, but to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things and we in Him

b. Gal 1:1, Paul an apostle (not of men, neither by man) but by Jesus Christ and God the Father

c. Paul references the Father as being God

2. Holy Spirit is God

a. Acts 5:1-4,

b. Anannias had predetermined to lie about how much money they were giving. Probably did this in order to receive prestige, prominence, and inflated pride

c. Peter says in vs 3, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? You have not lied unto men but unto God.

d. Rom 8:9, “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwells in you”

3. Summary of the Trinity

a. Jesus is said to be God. The Father is said to be God. The Holy Spirit is said to be God

b. Scripture clearly says that anyone of them can be called God. These are inter-dependent on each other, co-equal, co-eternal and inseparable. They are united in oneness by their essence or substance or what they are made out of. You and I are both flesh, they are God. God is One Authority.

c. Mat 3:13-17, Jesus baptism is a picture of the Trinity. Jesus being baptized, the Spirit descending and the Father speaking

II. Jesus was human

A. The Scripture Says He was a man

1. John 1:14, the word was made flesh.

a. The eternal Word that had existed from the beginning, was made flesh

b. God decided to make Himself flesh. Like me putting on a glove.

2. Phil 2:5-8

a. Jesus laid aside the glory of Heaven, so He could become a slave to the Law He ordained

b. He was God and was being worshipped in Heaven. Jesus laid aside His throne and became a servant. The Creator became the created, instead of being served He began to serve. God can never stop being God, He just laid aside His will and submitted to the predetermined will of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that was decided before the world was formed.

3. John 8:40

a. Jesus said, but now you seek to kill me a man that told you the truth.

b. Jesus said he was a man

4. Acts 2:22

a. Ye men of Israel, hear these words Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles, signs, and wonders…

b. Peter says, the Jesus was also a man

c. We all know that Jesus was a man

B. As a Man he felt our weakness

1. He was tempted

a. In Mat 4:1-11, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Jesus responded with the word of God

b. Jesus due to flesh was tempted, but His will, and the power of the Holy Spirit that lighted upon Him at his baptism, was stronger than the flesh

c. Heb 4:15, for we have not a high priest that can not be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we were yet without sin”

d. Jesus felt the pull of the flesh in the direction that leads away from God but did not succumb to it

e. Heb 2:15, in that He Himself suffered temptation He is able to succor (comfort) them that are tempted.

2. He was tired

a. When dealing with the woman in Samaria at the well, He sat down because He was tired

b. John 4:6, “Now Jacob’s well was there and Jesus being wearied from His journey sat thus on the wall”

3. Jesus also was thirsty

a. John 19:28, Jesus was on the cross about to die and says I thirst

4. Jesus went to sleep

a. Luke 8:23, as He sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake

b. He woke up and rebuked the wind and the storm settled down. In this example, we see Jesus Divinity and his humanity

C. He had human emotions

1. Sorrow

a. John 11:33-36 Raising of Lazarus

2. Compassion

a. Mat 9:36, “but when Jesus saw the multitudes He was moved with compassion”

3. Strong Crying

a. Heb 5:7, “who in the day of temptation offered prayers and supplications with strong tears and crying unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that He feared”

b. Jesus became a man and as such he submitted to doing the predetermined will ordained before the foundation of the world.

4. Anger

a. John 2:13-17, Cleansing of the temple

b. In this scene of Jesus life, Jesus took a cord and threw out the moneychangers. He called it a den of thieves.

c. Then the disciples remembered that it was written the zeal of Thine house has eaten me up Ps 69:9.

d. Anger is not sin, it is an emotion. However any emotion left uncontrolled can cause a person to sin. Be angry and sin not Eph 4:26

III. The Role of Jesus

A. Each Member of the Trinity has a role or function to perform

1. The father

a. He plays the role of the designer or authority

b. He is the one with the plan

2. The Son

a. He plays the role of the provider

b. He provided a way for all mankind’s needs to be met

3. The Holy Spirit

a. The Spirit plays the role of the doer

b. He takes the plan and the provision and works it to completion

B. The Son

1. Jesus referred to Himself as God the son of Man

a. Think about that literally. He is the God that became the son of mankind

2. His Humanity

a. We can identify with Jesus because He became like us

b. We can see ourselves in His shoes doing what He did according to our ability

c. We all have heard of the phrase wwjd have we not?

d. Jesus also had vulnerability because of His human side. He was hungry, thirsty, sleepy, suffering in pain

e. Emotional vulnerability could also worked to undo Jesus. He was betrayed, lied about, rejected, the very people he trusted betrayed him, the people He tried to save plotted to kill Him, Jesus took it all for us though, because He loves us.

C. Jesus Purpose of the incarnation

1. Jesus put on humanity to kill sin

a. 1 John 3:5, and you know He was manifested to take away sin and in Him there is no sin

b. Jesus Role was to provide a way for mankind’s sin to be taken out of the picture

c. Jesus said I will become like the man that I created so I can impart my perfection and righteousness to them that believe and obey my will

2. Jesus was sinless

a. 1 Pet 2:21-24, 1Pe 2:20-25 ESV For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (21) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. (22) He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. (23) When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. (24) He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. (25) For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

b. We are healed by the stripes that Jesus took for us on His back to save us from our punishment.

c. 2 Cor 5:21, for He has made Jesus to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him

d. We cannot be righteous by our own merits, so we trust in Jesus promises to impart that righteousness to us through faith in obeying His words.

e. Jesus role revealed to us was to pay for infinite amount of sin, and to absorb an infinite amount of wrath.

Conclusion:

1. Jesus is God and was involved in the creation of Man and even planned to save mankind before man was ever created. Nothing was or has been done without His knowing about it. Jesus knew every detail of the life He was going to live before He chose to come down to earth and live it (Jn 1:1-18, Col 1:15-18, Eph 1:1-8)

2. God can never stop being God, Jesus simply decided before He became a man what He was going to do and then when He became a man submitted to the predetermined will He and the rest of the God head had decided to do before the creation of the world.

3. Jesus was fully human, he felt human emotions, human limitations, human temptations, but was still fully God just did not use His Godhood but relied upon the God Holy Spirit to do the miracles and inspire Him to teach the will of the Father.

4. The Holy Spirit was the reason for His inspiration and the miracles. Listen: John 6:28-29, “then they said unto Him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God that you believe on Him whom He has sent”. The miracles were never the point but the pointer, that pointed to Jesus being the savior of mankind to all those that believe and obey His New Agreement between God and Mankind the New Testament of Christ, which He is the only Mediator of.