|
|
Sermon #176
Luke Sermons Title:
One Taken,
the other Left Text:
Luke
23:39-43 Subject: Seven
Lessons from the Penitent Thief Date:
Sunday
Evening — August 27, 2006 Tape
#
Z-9b Readings: Merle
Hart and Ron Wood Introduction: Turn with me to Luke
23:39-43. He did not learn it until he was in hell, but in hell the rich man
learned that between him and Lazarus Òthere is a great gulf fixed; so that
they who would passÓ from one side to the other cannot (Luke 16:26). So it has
been, so it shall be, and so it is. The human race is divided into two parts:
sheep and goats, elect and reprobate, Jacobs loved of God and Esaus hated by
him, vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath. Goats will never become sheep;
and sheep will never become goats. Elect will never become reprobate; and
reprobate will never become elect. Jacob will never become Esau; and Esau
will never become Jacob. Vessels of mercy will never become vessels of wrath;
and vessels of wrath will never become vessels of mercy. The gulf was fixed in
eternity. The division was made in the decree of God. The distinction was
established in eternity. It will be made clear to all at ChristÕs second
coming, in that great day when the Son of God sits in judgment upon his Great
White Throne (Luke 17:33-36). (Luke
17:33-36) ÒWhosoever shall seek
to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall
preserve it. (34) I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one
shall be taken, and the other shall be left. (35) Two women shall be grinding
together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (36) Two men shall be in the field;
the one shall be taken, and the other left.Ó In that day, Òone
shall be taken, and the other left.Ó As it shall be in that day, so it is today.
When the appointed time of love is come for the salvation of GodÕs chosen, one
is taken, and the other left. We see that fact vividly set before us in the
two thieves who were crucified with the Lord Jesus. (Luke
23:39-43) ÒAnd 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.Ó Only Luke was inspired to tell us of our SaviorÕs abundant mercy
and distinguishing grace bestowed upon this dying thief. It is a story that
deserves to be written in gold, told often and remembered by all. Salvation
by Grace The first thing that is obvious in this story is the fact that salvation
is altogether the work of GodÕs free grace, altogether without works. This
dying thief had no
merit of any kind. He had no pre-disposition of heart toward the Son of God.
He rendered no service to the Lord. He observed no ordinance. He was not
baptized. He never united with, or even visited a church. He never observed
the LordÕs Supper. Everything
we know about this man tells us that he was a depraved sinner, a moral
degenerate, whose life of infamous shame was about to be ended by penal
execution. Yet,
this poor, wretched, degenerate man was saved. No explanation can be given
for that fact except this — ÒBy grace ye are savedÓ (Rom. 9:16; Eph. 2:1-5, 8-9;
Titus 3:3-7). — ÒBut God!Ó (Romans
9:16) ÒSo then it is not of him that willeth, nor of
him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.Ó (Ephesians
2:1-5) ÒAnd 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;)Ó (Ephesians
2:8-9) ÒFor 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.Ó (Titus
3:3-7) ÒFor we ourselves also
were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and
love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Ó Sovereign,
Distinguishing Grace Second, GodÕs saving grace, in every instance of it, is set
before us in Holy Scripture as sovereign, distinguishing grace. Certainly,
that is obvious in the story of these two thieves. — Both of the other
malefactors crucified with the Lord Jesus were guilty thieves, justly condemned.
— Matthew and Mark tell us that both joined in the rabble of Pharisees
and the soldiers, mocking the Lord of Glory and railing upon him. Then there was a sudden change. One of the thieves ceased to
curse the Savior and sued him for mercy, crying, ÒLord, remember me when
thou comest into thy kingdom.Ó — Both were equally near the Savior, one
on his right hand and the other on his left. — Both saw and heard all
that happened, during the six hours that he hung on the cross. — Both
were dying men. — Both were suffering acute, torturous pain. — Both
were alike wicked sinners. — Both needed forgiveness. — Yet one
died as he had lived, hardened in sin, proud and without repentance,
unbelieving and without hope. The other repented, believed, cried to the Son
of God for mercy, and was saved. What made the difference? Grace! Grace alone! — The
penitent thief was made penitent because the Lord Jesus gave him life and faith by
the power of his omnipotent grace. He snatched the dying thief from the very
brink of hell and took him with him to heaven as a trophy of his rich, free
and sovereign grace. His conversion cannot be
accounted for in any other way. We can only say, ÒEven so, Father, for so
it seemed good in thy sightÓ (Matt.
11:26). How can two people hear the same sermon, from the same preacher,
in the same condition, and one is converted while the other remains dead in
sin? — How can one be totally indifferent and the other bowed in
brokenness before God? — How can one pray for mercy, while the other blasphemes?
— How can one see, and the other remain blind? There is only one answer
that can be given to those questions. — ÒThe LORD doth put a
difference between the Egyptians and IsraelÓ (Ex. 11:7; 1 Cor. 4:7).
(1
Corinthians 4:7) ÒFor 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?Ó Timely
Grace Third, let me show you something that many fail to see in the
conversion of this dying thief. — Grace is always on time. Many say,
concerning this man, ÒHe was saved just in the nick of time.Ó But that is
hardly the case. He was saved precisel at the divinely appointed time. He
could not have been saved at any other time; and he could not have been saved
at a better time. He could not have been saved
at any other time because, for him, this was Òthe time of love,Ó when he must be
called (Gal. 4:4-6). (Galatians
4:4-6) ÒBut when the fulness of
the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, (5) To
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons. (6) And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.Ó Some are saved in youth. Some are saved in the middle of life.
And some saved in old age. But all who are saved are saved at the only time
they could be saved, because for each of us it took the whole experience of
our ruin to bring us to our Savior.
And he could not have been
saved at a better time. You might think, ÒBut, wouldnÕt it have been
better for him to have lived longer, that he might serve and honor Christ
upon the earth?Ó Let me answer that question by asking youÉ
Every saved sinner is saved at GodÕs appointed time; and each
one is saved at the best time. The
Means of Grace The fourth thing that strikes me about the conversion of
this man is this: — The means of
grace is not always obvious. We know that Òfaith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of GodÓ (Rom. 10:17). We know that sinners are Òborn-again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
everÉ And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto
youÓ (1 Pet. 1:23-25). But many point to the dying thief and say, ÒThat
man was saved without hearing the Gospel.Ó Was he? No. Let me remind you of
the things he heard, as he hung upon the cross. I do not know what he heard,
or did not hear beforehand. But as he hung by his dying Savior, he heard and
saw the Gospel as clearly as anyone ever could.
The
Character of Faith Fifth, the dying thief shows us the character of true, saving
faith. This man stands before us as a defining example of God-given faith
(vv. 39-42). (Luke
23:39-42) ÒAnd 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.Ó Here are seven things that
are always characteristics of that faith that comes by the gift and operation
of God the Holy Spirit. True faithÉ
(Luke
23:43) ÒAnd Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.Ó This manÕs faith was, in all those respects, precisely the same
as that which God gives to every heaven-born soul. Yet, his faith in Christ
is the most remarkable display of faith to be seen in all the Word of God,
the most remarkable faith to be found in the history of the world! — He
trusted Christ as God his Savior, his Lord and King, when all others had
forsaken him, as he was dying! A
Willing Savior Sixth, this inspired narrative declares in bold letters that
the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to save all who come to God by him, and Òable
to save to the uttermostÓ (Heb. 7:25). The Lord Jesus Christ is able to save any
sinner, in any circumstance, in any place, at any time. And he is willing to
save. But that is not all. — The Son of God will save all who come to
God by him (John 6:37-40). (John
6:37-40) ÒAll that the Father
giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out. (38) For
I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that
sent me. (39) And
this is the FatherÕs will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given
me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
(40) And this is
the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and
believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the
last day.Ó
Glory
Near Seventh, this brief history of the dying thief tells us how near
we are to Glory. Heavenly Glory is but a breath away! What a consolation that
fact ought to be to us all, especially when we find ourselves dying. Heaven
is but a breath away. Our Savior said to this new-born soul who would soon
cease to live in his tortured body, ÒToday shalt thou be with me in
paradise.Ó
That word ÒtodayÓ speaks volumes. It tells us that as soon as
this earthly house, this tabernacle of clay is dissolved, we have a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. — ÒTo be absent from the
body is to be present with the LordÓ (Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 4:17-5:9). (2
Corinthians 4:17-18) ÒFor our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.Ó (2
Corinthians 5:1-9) ÒFor we know
that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we
shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being
burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality might be swallowed up of life. (5) Now he that hath wrought us for
the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (6) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that,
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) (For we walk by faith, not by
sight:) (8) We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with
the Lord. (9) Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.Ó And in that blessed
state, in that place called heaven, we shall be with Christ! What is heaven
like? Look yonder to the assembly around the throne. What are their joys, their feelings, their
happiness? All is explained by this simple expression, — they are with Christ.
If the sheep are with the
Shepherd, — if the members are with the Head, — if the saints are
with him who loved them and gave himself for them, — if the Bride is
with her Beloved, — if the redeemed are with the Redeemer, — if
the saved are with the Savior, all is well. Nothing is lacking. Their joy is
full! I do not know and cannot describe heaven
is, but the name of that city is Jehovah-shammah, Òthe Lord is thereÓ (Ezek. 48:35). I want no more. I
ask no more. I can have no more. — ÒChrist is All!Ó Well does the Psalmist sing, ÒIn
Thy presence is fulness of joy.Ó (Psalms
17:15) ÒAs for me, I will behold
thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy
likeness.Ó (Psalms
27:4) ÒOne thing have I desired of the LORD, that
will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of
my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.Ó ÒJesus,
Thou art the sinner's Friend As
such I look to Thee. Now
in the bowels of Thy love, O
Lord, remember me. Remember
Thy pure word of grace, Remember
Calvary, Remember
all thy dying groans, And
then remember me. Thou
wondrous Advocate with God, I
yield myself to Thee; While
Thou are sitting on the throne, Dear
Lord, remember me. I
own I'm guilty, own I'm vile, Yet
Thy salvation's free; Then
in Thy all abounding grace, Dear
Lord, remember me. However
forsaken or distressed, However
oppressed I be, However
afflicted here on earth, Do
Thou remember me. And
when I close my eyes in death, And
creature helps all flee, Then,
O my dear Redeemer God, I
pray remember me.Ó Application When Joseph had
interpreted the chief butlerÕs dream, how pathetically does he plead with
him! ÒThink on me when it shall be well with theeÓ (Gen. 40:14). But
such is the base ingratitude of man, that all was in vain. When the butler
was restored to he cared nothing for Joseph in prison. Exalted men seldom
care for needy souls. But it is not so with the King of kings. He is ever the
Friend of poor sinners. He remembers us in our low estate. For us he hung on
the accursed tree between two accursed sinners. One was taken, the other
left. You and I are represented by both. In the saved thief we
see the marvellous power of GodÕs sovereign grace. Here is a reviler changed
into a suppliant. What caused the change? Let every proud notion of self-righteousness,
self-worth, and freewill forever perish! Fall down before the Son of God and
adore his distinguishing grace. One malefactor was left to himself and went
to hell blaspheming. The other died in faith, trusting Christ, and praying,
worshipping him. He was snatched, by omnipotent grace, from the jaws of hell,
as a brand our Savior would not allow to be burned. Do you see your nature to
be as wicked and your state as desperate as this thiefÕs? If so, your soul is
humbled before him. Do you see that nothing but the same grace of Christ can
save you? If so, you will exalt the free grace of God in Christ. O my soul, exalt
the mercy, love and grace of Christ! Oh, may God the Holy
Spirit teach you to pray as he taught this man to pray, ÒLord, Remember
me. There
is no Savior but you, no salvation but by you. I am a hopeless, helpless
sinner; unless you save me, I must be damned forever. You are the King. Yours
is the kingdom. O bring me with you into your kingdom!Ó If God will grant you
such faith in the Savior, Christ Jesus, you will soon be in Glory with the
same Lord, who Òis richÓ in mercy Òunto all who call on himÓ (Rom. 10:12). Oh, what a great magnet the crucified Christ is
to poor, needy, helpless sinners! — ÒI, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he
should dieÓ (John 12:32-33). Amen. |
|