Title: Lord, Remember Me
Text: Luke 23: 32-43
Date: October 5, 2014
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Luke 23: 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.
The hour for which the world was made had come.
· Here we have the Lord Jesus Christ and two thieves
· These thieves are being led with Christ to be put to death.
I. FIRST, WE SEE A VIVID EXAMPLE OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY
A. These two thieves were guilty, condemned and hanging on a cross, one on one side and one on the other of the Prince of Life, God in human flesh.
1. The cross was the means of execution the Romans used for slaves, thieves, robbers:
· Reserved for those deemed the worst and basest of men.
2. It was true of these two thieves, but Christ knew no sin.
3. While Christ hangs there his “visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”
· A vicious, blood-thirsty mob is gathered all around
· Scribes and priests
· Governors and officers
· Jews and Gentiles
· Men and women
· All taking great delight in this spectacle.
3. And the hearts of these two thieves were so hard, so full of hatred for God and for man, that while they hang dying on a cross, they joined together with the mob, spewing out hate on the GodMan.
Matthew 27: 43: He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
App. Now, everyone here, take a long, hard look at this mob and at these two crucified thieves. There is no difference from your heart and mine by nature than theirs. God is not stopping them from believing, but because they are servants of sin, because sin has dominion over them, they will not and cannot receive the Gospel. By nature, our hearts were the same enmity as theirs
Mark 7: 21: For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22: Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
II. SECONDLY, WE SEE IS THE FAITHFULNESS AND MERCY OF OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST—Luke 23: 34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
A. In the midst of that mob of hell were a people God loved from everlasting.
1. Those chosen of God in Christ before the foundation of the world
· Those for whom Christ became Surety from the foundation of the world
Joh 17:9: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
2. He prayed not for those who had heard and knew him to be the Messiah, yet maliciously crucified him.
· No, he tells us for whom he prayed, for those who “know not what they do.”
· They did it with wicked hands; they did it willingly. But they had not heard, they were truly ignorant of who Christ was, in unbelief.
· Paul said, “1Ti 1:13: Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
App. Brethren, we have a merciful and faithful high priest.
· What mercy, to intercede for those who were treating him with such base enmity.
· What faithfulness!--“having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (Jn 13: 1)
· He was laying down his life in the room and stead for many who consented to his death, many of whom he called to faith on the day of Pentecost!
EVEN FOR ONE WHO HUNG THERE ON A CROSS BESIDE HIM!
III. THEN WE SEE GOD’S ABILITY TO USE EVEN THE WRATH OF MAN TO PRAISE HIM—EVEN USING HIS ENEMIES WHO UNINTENTIONALLY DECLARE THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL—In order to see and hear everything the thief on the cross saw and heard turn to Mt 27.
A. They meant it as a sneer, a mockery, an accusation but in clear letters over his head they wrote the truth—Matthew 27: 37: And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
1. That is who he is: Jesus—Savior—
Matthew 1:21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
2. He is THE King—
Re 17:14: These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
3. He is THE Savior and THE King “of THE Jews”—that is exactly who God’s elect people are, that is who he laid down his life for, that is who he prayed for:
Romans 2: 28: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
B. Then they repeated with their voices, the very words Christ declared to them earlier—Matthew 27: 38: Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39: And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40: And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
1. The temple which he declared would be broken and restored in three days was not their idol stone temple.
· It was his own body which he gave to be broken in the room and stead of his people—
· That very body they now beheld, being broken on the cursed tree, before their blind eyes.
2. And indeed, he is the Son of God.
3. At this point, without realizing it, they had spoken the truth that he is both Jesus and the Son of God—the GodMan!
D. Then little did the chief priests know, but they declared the gospel of Substitution— Matthew 27: 41: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42: He saved others; himself he cannot save.
1. Christ was saving others, therefore himself he could not save.
· Because “he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”—Christ could not save himself
· He must suffer the justice of God unto death (2 Cor 5: 21)
· Not until he had satisfied justice, declaring God both just and the Justifier of his people, would he give up the Ghost and cry, “It is finished!”
E. Then again they spoke the truth—Matthew 27: 42:…If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
F. They even declared the faithfulness of Christ toward God his Father—Matthew 27: 43: He trusted in God;
1. Indeed, he did. That is why he went to the cross.
Isaiah 50: 6: I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7: For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8: He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?
G. Again, they repeated what they heard Christ declare, that he is the Son of God—Matthew 27: 43:..let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
H. Back in Luke 23:35 they called him the Christ, the chosen of God. [that he is]
Isaiah 42: 1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles….4: He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth:..
App. Brethren, God never saves through lies. But God can use liars—even though they are only repeating the doctrine they hate in mockery. The Holy Spirit can take that word and make it effectual in the heart of his people. Because…
· It is not the vessel being used that saves.
· It is God who saves.
· It is the word, made effectual in the heart by the Holy Spirit, that gives life.
Rom 10: 17: Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
Sinners are “born-again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever… And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25).
Remember Paul’s words,
Philippians 1: 15: Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18: What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; [whether their heart is pretentious or true, whether repeating in mockery to add bonds or whether in love, Christ is preached in Truth] and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
H. Not only did they hear the truth but the Lamb of God, the very Word himself, was right there in the flesh laying down his life in place of his people.
App. Both those thieves on the cross heard the Gospel clearly that day. They even both, mockingly spoke it themselves—Matthew 27: 44: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. (Now, let’s go back to Luke 23)
IV. NEXT, WE SEE THE SOVEREIGN, DISTINGUISHING, INVINCIBLE GRACE OF GOD—Luke 23: 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.
A. Here is sovereign, distinguishing grace: There was no difference between these two thieves in themselves.
1. Neither respected the law of God
· Neither respected the law of man
· Neither respected Christ
· Neither were religious
· Neither were seeking God
2. Both were equal distance from the Savior: one on the right, the other on the left.
· Both were dying
· Both needed forgiveness
B. Yet, one was left in his sin, while God granted the other life, faith and repentance.
1. The repentant thief had no merit of any kind.
· No books on “how to be born again”
· Not baptized
· Just a depraved, infamous criminal in the process of being executed by the law of the land
Romans 9:16: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
The difference was: God chose one before the foundation of the world; Christ was dying for that one.
C. Also, the difference in why the one called out for mercy was the invincible, irresistible grace God worked within
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: 2: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)…8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 6:44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
App. Is there anyone who finds themselves believing like this thief on the cross did? If so, it is God who made the difference and it is God who gets the glory,
1 Corinthians 4:7: For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
“I don’t believe that! If God makes the difference you will!”
V. LET’S SEE, LET’S LEARN SOME THINGS ABOUT TRUE, GOD-GIVEN FAITH AND REPENTANCE
A. One, it begins with a fear of God—Luke 23: 39: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [No fear before his eyes, only a fear of death] 40: But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,…
Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
B. Two, there will be the confession of guilt, that God’s sentence is just because of our sinful deeds—Luke 23: 40:…seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41: And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
1. He went from condemning Christ to condemning himself
· See, when God makes the difference we condemn self; we don’t praise ourself
· We don’t glory as if we didn’t receive it.