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THE DIFFERENCE IS JESUS
LUKE 23:32-43
Introduction
The Bible separates all of us into one of two categories this morning. You are either a believer or an unbeliever.
John 3:18–“He that believeth on him [Jesus] is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The Bible also reveals that there are not many ways to get to heaven, but rather just one.
John 14:6–“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Some think that such statements are narrow or extreme, but it is based upon the very Word of God who cannot lie.
No one can ride the fence. No one can dodge the issue by ignoring it.
Either you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation or you haven’t.
And on the basis of your belief, your future is either bright or dismal.
What makes the difference in our future or eternal destiny? Jesus!
By His sacrifice of Himself on the cross, the Lord Jesus provided the only way to God!
He is the only way for sinful man to know forgiveness of sin!
He is the only way for sinful man to find peace with God!
He is the only way for sinful man to be delivered from God’s judgment!
So, according to the Bible, everyone is in one of these two groups–you are either a believer on your way to heaven or you are an unbeliever on your way to hell.
And so we could say that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly the world’s greatest divider. This is clearly seen in our text today!
READ LUKE 23:32-43
Here we see two wrongdoers hanging beside the Lord Jesus Christ, about to leave planet earth by way of death:
1) There was no difference in the crimes they committed.
Both of these men were equally sinners:
They were sinners in the eyes of men.
They were sinners in their own eyes.
Neither man tried to proclaim their innocence.
Neither man tried to blame the environment, their parents, or society.
They were sinners in the eyes of God.
Romans 3:23–“For all have sinned. . .”
2) There was no difference in their condemnation.
Both men were condemned to die by crucifixion.
But more than that, both men owed a sin debt before God.
Ezekiel 18:4–“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Romans 6:23–“The wages of sin is death.”
3) Yet, one man is now in heaven and one man is now in hell.
What made the difference? Only one thing: What they did with the Lord Jesus Christ! One man received the gift of God–eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ and one didn’t. Let’s take a closer look at these two men:
I. THE UNBELIEVING THIEF.
A. He Was Near Death, Yet Rejected Christ.
1. He Had Nothing To Lose By Accepting Christ.
None of the standard excuses people have for not getting saved would have applied to him.
a. He Would Not Have To Face Ridicule.
Many are afraid of losing face or popularity.
They say, “What will my friends say?”
b. He Would Not Have To Serve Christ.
Some say, “I have my own life to live.”
But, his time was about to come to an end.
c. He Would Not Have To Give Up Anything Extra.
Some say, “I don’t want to give up my sin.”
But, he was about to give it all up anyway.
d. He Would Not Have To Live The Christian Life.
Some say, “I don’t think I can live it.”
But, he would not be called on to live it.
By the way you’ll never be able to live it until you get saved.
You don’t get better to get saved, you get saved to get better.
He Had Nothing To Lose By Accepting Christ.
2. He Had Everything To Gain By Accepting Christ.
a. He Could Exchange Death For Deliverance.
How many of you want to live forever?
b. He Could Exchange Hell For Heaven.
How many of you want to go to hell?
c. He Could Exchange Sin For Salvation.
He had lived his life with nothing to show for it but sin and shame.
Isaiah 53:6–“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
d. He Could Exchange Rags For Riches.
Everything he had lived for was about to be brought to nothing.
Job 1:21–“. . .Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return thither.”
1 Timothy 6:7–“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
He could have done all this, but he didn’t!
3. His Heart Was Hardened Even In The Face Of Death.
a. He Probably Intended To Get Right One Day.
Nobody wants to die in a lost condition.
Nobody expects to be cold and indifferent to the things of God when death comes.
b. The End Was Near, But His Heart Was Hard.
We have no guarantee of how we will respond or even if we will respond to God when we are faced with death.
He Was Near Death, Yet Rejected Christ–With Nothing To Lose And Everything To Gain, He Hardened His Heart In The Face Of Death.
B. He Was Near Christ, Yet Remained Lost.
1. He Had The Opportunity To Examine The Actions Of Christ.
2. He Had The Opportunity To Hear Christ.
3. He Had The Opportunity To Accept Christ.
Could I tell you that there are many folks today who are near Christ, yet they are not in Christ.
Many folks have been near Christ all their lives.
Some Attend Church Regularly.
Some Have Been Baptized.
Some Are Church Member.
Some Are Even Church Workers.
Romans 8:1–“There is therefore, now no condemnation to them who are IN Christ Jesus.”
He Was Near Death, Yet Rejected Christ.
He Was Near Christ, Yet Remained Lost.
C. He Wanted Deliverance, Yet Remained In Bondage. (Vs. 39)
Romans 10:13–“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This man called on Christ. Why is it this man was not saved?
1. He Was Thinking Only About Physical Deliverance.
His interest at the moment was simply to get down from that rugged, painful cross.
Today, many people come to Christ only because they are in a tight jam and want out of the jam, not because they really want Christ in their lives.
2. His Plea For An Escape Was Not Genuine.
The Scripture says that he “railed” at Christ.
“Rail” means “to vilify or blaspheme.”
His petition was not rendered with true faith, and therefore it could not bring Him salvation.
“IF thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”
3. He Didn’t Want Salvation By Way Of The Cross.
He refused deliverance through the death of Christ.
He didn’t realize that if the Lord had come down from the cross, He could not have saved others.
Romans 5:8–“But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Hebrews 9:22–“Without shedding of blood is no remission.”
In spite of the clear teaching of God’s Word, many people still want nothing to do with the Bible message about the sacrifice of Christ.
They talk about Jesus’ life, His teachings, and His example, but ignore His substitutionary and atoning death.
Salvation is only available through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1:18–“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
THE UNREPENTANT THIEF.
II. THE REPENTANT THIEF.
His experience suggests certain characteristics of those who have made sure of heaven.
A. He Admitted His Sinfulness. (Vs 40-41)
He made no alibis. He made no false claims of innocence.
He didn’t try to cover his transgression.
He didn’t try to explain it away.
Rather, he openly admitted he was deserving of death.
Until you admit you are a sinner, you can never be saved.
Luke 5:31-32–“And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
As long as someone thinks they can gain God’s favor through their own merit and works, they’ll never experience forgiveness of their sin or receive the blessings of salvation.
Romans 3:10–“There is none righteous, no not one.”
Romans 3:23–“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Isaiah 64:6–“But we are all as an unclean thing. . .”
He Admitted His Sinfulness.
B. He Believed That Christ Could Save Him. (Vs 41-42)
Christ’s sinless life is what qualified Him to die for others.
1 Peter 1:18-19–“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . .But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish. and without spot.”
One sin would have disqualified Him from being our Saviour.
C. He Professed Faith In The Resurrection. (Vs 42)
To those around the cross it seemed insane.
This thief recognized the true identity of the One on the center cross, and therefore he received the assurance that death for Him could not be the end.
Romans 10:8-10–“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
The Saviour’s response. . .”Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”
CONCLUSION
1 John 5:12–“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
John 3:36–“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he hath believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.”
Three men died that day. One was the Son of God. Two were sinners.
The Son of God was buried and three days later he rose from the grave.
Of the other two men, only one went to heaven. He didn’t go because he deserved it. What made the difference in his life? Jesus Christ.
He went because he placed his faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Jesus made the difference.
Has he made a difference in your life?
If not, why don’t you come to Him today and let Him make a difference in your life!
If Christ has made a difference in your life, is that shining through in your life such that he is making a difference in the life of your family, your friends, or others you come into contact with?
We are to be lights in this world because we have been lit! Is your light shining or is it under a bushel?
1 John 4:17–“. . .as He is, so are we in this world.”
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!