The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper      Mat 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26       

Basic Doctrines

Introduction:

1. Little Johnny, came home from Sunday school and his mom asked what did you learn. Little Johnny says, we read about Moses and the Egyptian army. How that Moses was in battle and running from the Egyptians, when they had to helicopter a bridge to go over the Red Sea. Then they blow up the bridge with the Egyptian Army on it and won”. The mom says, Little Johnny is that really how the story went?” He said no but if I told it like my teacher then you would never believe it.”  Little Johnny had the right idea concerning wanting to make people believe but failed to realize that adding to God’s word was wrong. When we say that Christmas is a Holy day or a part of the Christian’s life we make a mistake.

2. All of us keep some form of memorials. We all have anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, and other such special occasions we keep as tradition. Christmas is one such holiday, in which there is no religious authority given by the Bible to celebrate, yet many of us celebrate it as a religious memorial. Today I want to talk about the greatest Bible memorial given to us as Christians: The Lord’s Supper.

3. When the Israelites were being held in bondage as slaves after the time of Joseph. God sent the Pharaoh of Egypt 9 plagues before He told Moses of the final plague, the first borne. He warned the Israelites of the 10^th and final plague. He told them to kill a perfect Lamb without blemish and put its blood on the doorposts and lintel of their houses. Because the Lord was going to take all of the 1^st borne children except those with the Lamb’s blood.

4. When the Jews or Israelites came out of Egypt and were set free, God instituted a memorial feast. Each year the Jews had to participate in the Passover Feast. God wanted His people to remember what great things He did in order to redeem them from the Egyptian bondage. It is human nature to forget and we, especially us guys forget important stuff like birthdays, anniversaries, and so on. We all forget and when we do not take time to remember our commitments, our goals, our family, and then sometimes we forget why we are doing things.

5. God knows that and He instituted a Memorial feast to cause the Jews to remember being delivered out of physical slavery. As Christians today, God has done the same for us. We have been given the Lord’s Supper to help us remember and treasure being delivered from Spiritual bondage or slavery. In this lesson, I want to talk about the Institution, The Significance, The Frequency, and the Focus of the Lord’s Supper.

I.                    Institution

A.    The Time of the Jewish Passover

1.      It was during the time of the Jewish Passover that the Lord instituted the Lord’s supper

2.      The Jewish Passover Explained

a.       The Passover was one of the 3 great feasts for the Jew (Passover, Pentecost, Booths or tent)

b.      Accompanying the Passover was the feast of unleavened bread which was a 7 day observance. On the 14^th day of Nisan was the paschal meal observed. (Nisan was the Jewish month that relates to our time period of mid-March and mid-April 30 days total)

3.      The order of Events (Ex 12:1-14)

a.       The Lamb without blemish was sacrificed in the Temple (The Law required the Lamb be slain between the evenings, which were from 3pm to Sunset and from Sunset to 9am).

b.      It then was roasted and cooked

c.       Unleavened loaves were made (unleavened = without yeast)

d.      Wine was prepared

e.       Herbs were provided

f.        They would eat the Paschal Meal which was prepared and eaten around sunset.

B.     The Lord’s Command

1.      The Passover for the Jew was a reminder to their freedom of their physical bondage

a.       It was a shadow of the Lord’s Supper or an anti-type. It was a deliverance from death by a sacrificial Lamb and was a symbol for the real thing to come in the future.

2.      The Event (Mat 26:26-29)

a.       Took unleavened bread and blessed it, broke it, and then gave it (unleavened due Passover requirements) (26)

b.      This is my body, took the cup and gave to those there

3.      This is the blood of the New Testament

a.       It was an Eastern practice to confirm a covenant with blood (Ex 24:6-8)

b.      Jesus represents Himself as the victim to which the blood was taken as a seal

c.       The fruit of the vine represents the sealing blood of the covenant of man and God

d.      The Forgiveness of sins shows us the purpose of the Lord being our Paschal Lamb

e.       Luke 22:19 adds, “This do in remembrance of me”

II.                 The Significance

A.    The Representation for us to remember

1.      It reminds us of the shedding of blood for our own sins

a.       It is a reminder that Jesus took our pain and suffering so we could live.

2.      The Bread is a reminder of Jesus physical body being beaten, bruised, and slain

a.       Jesus took our punishment on the chin, so you and I would not be punished.

3.      The Fruit of the Vine is the symbol for His atoning blood shed for us

a.       Heb 10:1-4, says that the blood of bulls and goats could never fully remove sin

b.      Jews had to offer up yearly the blood of bulls and goats for sins

c.       Jesus being more perfect offered His blood once for all time and for all of mankind

B.     It Proclaims the Lord’s Death until He comes (1 Cor 11:26)

1.      Each time the Christian takes of the Memorial Feast, he says the Lord died for me!

a.       Each time we participate, we say the Lord is the One that died so I could be forgiven

2.      When the non-Christians see the observance, they ask questions.

a.       They will want to know what is going on. Then once understood, they realize Christians are remembering and reliving the sacrifice Jesus made for them.

3.      By participating the Christian is saying thank you Jesus for dying for me

C.     It is a time of Self-Examination (1 Cor 11:28-29)

1.      The Memorial is for those who are Christians only

a.       For those who have not obeyed the Gospel of Christ, it is a time to think about Jesus and why He died.

b.      It is a chance to take seriously, the death of Jesus. To reflect on their sins and weigh the question, Did Jesus do that for me and do I want to be forgiven?

2.      The Christian before he takes needs to examine Himself

a.       The Lord died in order to forgive us and cleanse us. When a Christian is not living like a Christian then we are laughing at what Jesus did for us. We disrespect the greatness of a sacrifice the Lord made to save us.

b.      It is a time to remember the punishment and power of our personal sins. He died so I could live a better life, why then I am living like those in the gutter?

3.      Our Self-Examination causes us to Love the Lord More

a.       By remembering the sacrifice, we realize each time we have sinned, we have put the stripes on his back and the nails in his flesh.

b.      It creates a sense of conviction of sin and a commitment to avoid sin at all costs

c.       It causes us to repent of any un-confessed sin and seeking to be forgiven.

d.      We can say I may have sinned, but because I became a Christian I have been forgiven

III.              The Frequency

A.    The Apostles Teaching

1.      After the church was established on Pentecost they continued in breaking of bread (Acts 2:42)

a.       The Apostles clearly taught the observance of the Lord’s Supper (vs. 42, and also had fellowship meals vs. 46). The 1^st Christians observed the Lord’s Supper.

2.      The Approved Example of When to Observe the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7)

a.       The first day of the week. Sabbath was the day of rest and was the last day of the week

b.      Sunday is the first day of the week.

c.       The Disciples came together to break bread and Paul preached

d.      They were having church service

3.      Since we have an example of an Apostle and the disciples observing we do the same

a.       The Apostles taught to observe the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11. Acts 2, and Acts 20)

b.      This is the only example of which day they observed it on and so that is why we come to service on Sundays because it is the first day of the week.

c.       Since there is a first day of the week, each and every week: We meet every Sunday to observe and remember the Lord’s Supper and Sacrifice for our sins.

IV.              The Focus

A.    It is a time to look up to God

1.      We remember God and His Love for us (John 3:16-17)

a.       It shows that we are worthy in God’s eyes. God counts you so worthy that He was willing to die for you.

b.      God loves us and wants what is best for us that is why He died for you. Because you are worthy of His love and sacrifice.

2.      It is a time of communion with Jesus and our Father

a.       We can all look up to God and realize that He thinks we are precious to Him

B.     It is a time to look inward

1.      Time to take self-inventory and evaluate

a.       Again we can see if we are living up the price paid for our freedom

b.      We can re-position our lives back at the foot of the cross

2.      Time to look inward at our love for God and His love for us

a.       We can thank God in gratitude for the second chance on our spiritual lives

b.      The church of Christ is the hospital for the sin sick and Jesus gives us all a second chance on life. We should be grateful for the opportunity to be an heir of eternal life.

C.     It helps us to look forward

1.      As we participate we know one day the Lord will come back and take us home

a.       The day is coming when the Lord will come and measure out justice and vengeance on them, that do not know the Lord and obey not the Gospel of Christ(2 Thes 1:7-8)

b.      For those who are prepared and living right it is day to look forward to and pray for.

c.       For those who are not it is day to run from and be fearful of.

2.      It helps build expectation and hope of the Day of the Lord

a.       The Christian builds his hopes on things eternal. As we participate in the Lord’s Supper it is a time to realize the value of eternal life and the punishment of sin

Conclusion:

1. The Lord’s Supper causes us to be reminded of the value God places on each Christian. It shows the Love of a Savior and the need of the sinner. It reminds of how we would end up if Christ had not died for us.

2. It carries us back to the cross:

   1. Jesus was mocked by the courts, Annais, and Caiaphas

   2. Where Jesus said I am the Son of God (Mark 14:62) and because of that was then Struck by the officer of the High Priest, after having false witnesses accuse Him Then Was delivered to Pilate as an evil doer though He was innocent.

   3. In front of Pilate He was accused of: (1) Forbidding to pay tribute (Mk 12:17) (2) Making himself a king, Jesus was the spiritual king and never intended to be a physical king.

   4. Sent from Pilate to Herod,who wanted to see a sign and then sent back to Pilate

   5. Then was scourged

   6. Given a crown of thorns, purple robe, and a reed to be mocked as king by Roman soldiers that hit and spit on Him

   7. The robe then taken off ripping the dried blood off from the scourging

   8. Due to the loss of blood fell beneath the load of the cross as he carried it to the place of His death

   9. Hung Him to an open shame by nailing His feet and hands to the cross.

   10. Then Jesus suffocated for our sins. Our sins caused Jesus to no longer breathe and in agony He died for our sins.

3. Jesus suffered more than we will ever know. It is God’s will for us to live for Him and not ourselves. Jesus died for you because you are worthy of His love and sacrifice. Let us all take hold of eternal life before it is too late.

Is There a God...arguments for the existence of God...

Is There a God?

Intro:

1.      Why are you here today? I think that you are here today because you believe there is a God. In this lesson I will be speaking to the existence of God. I know that most, if not everyone here believe that God is real and he exists.

2.      I am however preparing you to present the arguments for God and his existence. In today’s society there is a real problem, people due to their freedoms here are making themselves God. By denying that there is a Creator, people are the highest level of existence.

3.      Since so many atheists exist in the world, and are trying to present cases to courts that deny our rights to freely exercise our religion, I thought it worth your time and mine to prepare a sermon that will help all of us to present the idea of a Creator.

4.      There are a few arguments that I will use. The Cosmological Argument, The Teleological Argument, and the Moral Argument.

I.                    The Cosmological Argument

A.    Cause and effect

1.      This argument would state that everything has a cause and effect.

a.       Because the world is in a state of regression or decay then there must be a cause

b.      Have you ever heard of the idea of perpetual motion?

1.      Perpetual motion is defined as eternal motion

2.      For years scientist have been trying to figure out a way to have perpetual motion

3.      The problem with this ideal is in science you have to put more energy into something to get an output. The ratio of energy in and energy out is call efficiency.

4.      The higher the efficiency the better the output

5.      Could you imagine an engine that never quits, we all know things like friction and heat keep it from running without end.

6.      Because of these types of things we all have to put oil in our cars and trucks

c.       The law of entropy, or the law of chaos

1.      The law of entropy is a law of physics that has just been generated in the last century. It states that the unbalanced forces in the universe will work, through this law, to balance all other forces. That since there is always an unbalance, then this constant balancing of forces is the reason for creation and not God. Like temperature heat and cold mix until they are the same potential.

2.      If this were true, the universe would still have to have an original beginning of forces that balance themselves out and makes the universe eternal.

3.      Every bit of matter we know does decay and is not eternal: plants, animals, and humans

4.      We know that all matter is finite or has a beginning and an end.

d.      Logic says that nothing can create nothing. That something does not come from nothing

1.      These scientist have created this idea so it will agree with the evolution theory.

2.      For it to be true the forces have to be eternal in order to be in the beginning. In other words there was no starting point or ending point for these forces that balance themselves out. Since nothing can create nothing this view is out of reasoning with common sense.

e.       Since the world is here there must be something that created it.

B.     Alternatives to this view

1.      It is an Illusion

a.       Some philosophers state that we really are some where else and this is what we dream or experience as a result of being elsewhere.

b.      It is similar to the ideas portrayed by the movie Matrix

2.      It sporadically arose out of nothing

a.       As I spoke of earlier this defies any form of logic

b.      It basically says that out of nothing came something.

c.       This is what some people of the big bang theory suggest that out of nothing came this big explosion in which everything was put into motion.

3.      It had no existence but has existed for eternity

a.       This is the idea of perpetual motion

b.      Since we can not even come close to creating perpetual motion it must not be true

4.      A Creator created the world.

C.     Assessment of these ideas

1.      The ideas that the world is an illusion is not within reason

2.      The idea that nothing created something also defies reason.

3.      The idea that the world is decaying is fact. However the idea that the world has forever and will forever continue to decay is not within reason. The stars that die out, the earth and its wealth of life, are evidences that everything started at a fixed time and place.

a.       The law of entropy says if everything was hot and cold then in time due to mixtures there would be a perfect balance called warm. The idea is that there is an eternal amount of hot and cold. So the forces behind creation is the mixing of cold and hot to get warm. However the world has always and will continue to decay, until the Lord comes back.

4.      The only other assessment left is that there is a creator that created everything.

a.       He was the one who gave us the starting point of time and place

b.      God is the Creator. Someone may say well who created God?

1.      There is something we must understand about God.  Jesus said “God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship him in spirit and truth” John 4:24

2.      God is a spirit; he is what we call self-existing. He needs nothing other than Himself to exist. He relies only on Himself for His existence, He is eternal.

3.      We are humans we are finite, meaning we have a beginning and an end, We depend on our environment to sustain our lives. In essence we depend on God to live.

II.                 The Teleological Argument

A.    The design and purpose

1.      Have you ever just thought about the chances of us being here?

2.      Odds for this happening by chance

a.       What are the odds of the earth being the exact distance from the sun that we neither burn up nor freeze to death?

b.      That everything is beneficial to everything else?

B.     Evolution idea

1.      The odds of a chemical soup existing in which some amino acids come together to form the first 1 cell organism of life happening by chance.

2.      The odds of this 1 cell organism evolving into a 2 celled organism

a.       Invertebrates

b.      Fish or vertebrates

c.       Reptiles

d.      Birds

e.       Mammals

3.      The very odds of this happening says that we did not evolve

4.      They have never found the missing links, which bridge the gap between the species.

5.      There are other proofs as well. They have found trees that are upright and pass through several layers of the geological strata. Thus proving the strata did not happen over billions of year because for that to happen; the tree would have to be billions of years old. In fact it actually suggest that there was a great flood.

C.     The ecosystem

1.      The human waste product of carbon dioxide is actually one of the substances needed for the plants to survive.

2.      The idea that the plants support the animals, and the animals and plants sustain us.

3.      The idea that the earth is 2/3rds water, and evaporates in such a way that produces clouds that carry this water to the land so that crops or vegetation can grow for the benefit of the animals, and humans.

a.       The water collects and then is distributed to the land or earth

b.      The extra is then collected into rivers, streams, and lakes then returned to the seas

D.    It is no accident

1.      These things did not happen by accident

2.      Each item has a purpose and a plan in the environment.

3.      The watchmaker

a.       Someone has given me an illustration of a watch

b.      The idea is that for all of this world to happen by accident or mere chance is like me taking the parts of a pocket watch, putting them into a bag, shaking the bag and its contents up, then reaching my hand into the bag and pulling out a put together, complete and working pocket watch.

c.       You and I both know you can not put the right parts in a bag shake it up and have a complete product. You see each part of a pocket watch has a design and a purpose.

d.      Each gear, piece, bearings, and shafts all depend on the others for it proper working order.

e.       The watch would never work unless an intelligent being put each piece in its proper place so that it would run correctly.

4.      God the watchmaker

a.       God is the one who put each part of this universe together

b.      He is the source of all things.

c.       He is the intelligent being that put everything in its place.

III.              Moral Code

A.    If men are only smart animals then what?

1.      Supposing we are here just by accident, then why do we consider some things to be wrong?

a.       If we are upright animals, then what is wrong with me eating a baby for lunch?

b.      You and I both know that eating humans and especially babies is wrong

c.       If we are just animals, then only the strong survive

d.      So on animal instincts, anything that could be food is considered food.

2.      All people have an inherent sense of right and wrong called a conscience

a.       Everybody has there idea of right and wrong

3.      Some say we legislate morality for the preservation of humans

a.       Then why are we do we consider it wrong when people like Geoffrey Dahlmer eat humans

b.      We get so mad at people for killing other people we make their punishment so severe that others will never do or else they also will be punished severely as well.

4.      For us to be smart animals means we had to evolve

a.       Why are the apes still not evolving?

b.      Why are the apes not speaking in a human language?

c.       What will we evolve into in the future?

B.     Men are moral because God is moral

1.      You and I have a sense of good and evil because we are not just animals

a.       We are not just physical beings we are spiritual beings

b.      We have a conscience and an ability to reason unlike the animals

c.       We are able to reason right and wrong

2.      God because he is our creator wants us to know how to behave

a.       He gives us the Bible so that we see what his standard of morality is

b.      By reading His standard our standard is changed to be like His.

3.      For there to be a moral law there most be a moral law giver

Conclusion:

1.      So with the idea of a God being established by anyone of these arguments we know there is something greater than ourselves out there. In every single society since the dawn of man has worshipped something. Man is hard wired to believe in something greater than himself.

2.      The Aztecs, Indians, the Aborigines, Greeks, man has always since the need for a divine aid. In some societies they went about to create their own God. That is why there is so much idolatry in the world today. We do not see it very much today here in America but there are many gods of the Hindu’s, Buddha, etc

3.      The problem with all of these other gods is most are presumed to be mean or evil and have to be appeased by sacrifices. Most people who are idolatrous believe they must give to the god or else harm will come unto them.

4.      The God that we see in the Bible is a loving, caring, forgiving, just, fair God, who only punishes those that directly disobey Him. God knows that man is not perfect and can not measure up to his standard of living. If man could be as good as God then God would not be God. Because of our predicament we need help in obtaining this moral perfection in the eyes of the life giver.

5.      God made a way for us to be saved. He gave us a way to be saved or forgiven in His eyes. That way is Jesus Christ. Jesus said “ I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father but through me. John 14:6

6.      There is only one way to Heaven and that my friend is through Jesus Christ.

7.      The five finger Gospel:

8.      Hear

1. (Rom 10:17) So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

9.      Believe

1.  (Heb 11:6) And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

2. (Joh 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.(Joh 3:17) For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.

10.   Repent

1. (Act 17:30)The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:(Act 17:31)inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

2. (Luk 13:3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

11.    Confess

1. (Rom 10:9)because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:(Rom 10:10)for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2. (Mat 10:32)Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.(Mat 10:33)But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

12.   Baptism

1. (Act 2:38)And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(Act 2:39)For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.

2. (1Pe 3:21)which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

3. (Mar 16:16)He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

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?