Paradise

Today is the Day

Published on March 5, 2007 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Religion

So our Pastor sermonized the second saying (out of 7) of Jesus on the cross. Again, this is part of a series leading up to Easter. After this we are going to start on the book of Revelation.

This second utterance on the cross was "Verily I say to you, Today shall you be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

We looked at the two criminals that were on either side of him, one of whom this statement was addressed. Many believe these two were insurrectionists under the leadership of Barabbas who was set free by the Romans as a good will gesture in lieu of the Passover holiday. Basically Jesus was put to death in the spot of Barabbas. I wonder whatever happened to that man? I wonder if he ever came to Christ with a grateful heart? I mean, we know Christ took our spot on the cross but he literally, physically took Barabbas's spot on that fateful day.

Anyhow we see how these two malefactors hurled insults at Christ along with those hanging about down below. Basically he was being pelted with cruel mockings. We talked about how this still happens today. Nothing is new. Insults are still coming his way on a daily basis. Ridicule is still the order of the day. There is nothing new under the sun.

But something happened to one of the criminals as he hung up there. We see a shift in his behavior. What did he see? Perhaps he heard Jesus forgive those that were verbally attacking him. Perhaps he noticed how inhumane it all was. Perhaps he noticed that Jesus was not exchanging insult for insult. Something happened. What was it? What did he see? As Christians this should pierce our hearts. What do others see as they watch us? Whatever it was that happened on that day, we see by the reading of this text, his eyes were opened and his tongue confessed when he said...."Lord remember me when you come to your kingdom." Once again we see two men, two reactions, two decisions and two destinies.

This is what "Faith Alone" is all about. This criminal was saved by Faith. He didn't get down and do anything. He didn't get baptized first. He didn't perform more good deeds that would outweigh the bad ones. This criminal recogized, all of a sudden, that this man who hung beside him was God himself. By his statement we can easily recognize his need. He needed Jesus. He recognized Jesus as King. Only a King would have a kingdom.

As we looked at the passage closely we saw something else. I never saw this before. We see that Jesus addressed directly 4 parts of the statement made by this professing criminal. This is what we see:

Thief >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jesus

1. Lord >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I say to you
2. Remember Me >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You shall be with me
3. When you come >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Today
4. Into your Kingdom >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> In Paradise

I never saw that before. I love it when I see these hidden messages in scripture and realize the more I know the less I know. Jesus addressed him completely here. Talk about wanting to be heard. We see that Jesus does hear our every word. How great is that?

The other thing I love is the immediacy of it all. I mean Jesus was telling him that before the day was out they would be in Paradise. Immediately. I know some believe in soul sleep but never in scripture do we have anything that even remotely suggests that the spirit sleeps. When we die we in an instance will find ourselves in the presence of God. How awesome is that?

Comments (Page 2)

lulapilgrim

on Mar 16, 2007

LULAPILGRIM POSTS: that would depend on the condition or state of my soul. If I'm in a state of grace when I die, I will go to heaven, guaranteed. But if I die in the state of mortal or dealy sin (and those sins have been enumerated in Scripture) willful and unrepentant rebellion against God--I will go to hell, guaranteed.

Paul said, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our lord." Rom 8:38

By listing these powerful forces, St.Paul is making the point that nothing and nobody, no created thing, is stronger than God’s love for us. Here, we are told how God is faithful and how much He loves us. Knowing this is a great source of the virtue of hope.
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He also said in Col 1 that we are reconciled to him. Once we were enemies and alienated yet he now has reconciled with us. Once you reconcile, it's a done deal.

The Gk word here for reconciled is “apokatallass” { ap-ok-at-al-las’-so} and is seen only in one other place, Eph 2:16. It means 1) to reconcile completely 2) to reconcile back again 3) bring back a former state of harmony. This is a picture of a total restoration.

What do you mean, ‘done deal’? At no point in life can we be assured that salvation is a “done deal”. We are saved by grace through faith which works by love Gal. 5:6. God does the doing, however, we must cooperate with Him in His plan for us. We must choose to allow God’s grace to work through us. He doesn't force us to continue in grace Acts. 13:43. The Bible speaks of justification in the past, present and future tenses, implying that it is an ongoing process of sanctification in the life of each believer: ”being justified therefore, by faith, let us have peace with God through Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom.5:1; “being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus” 3:24 and, “But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is Christ then the minister of sin? God forbid.” Gal. 2:17. Christ makes it clear that salvation is no easy matter and should be our lifetime’s concern.

So, no one can claim to have absolute certainty of their salvation. Sure, we have a moral assurance of salvation meaning that God will always remain faithful to His promise of eternal life for those who love and obey Him. The Bible explicitly says that Christians do not have an absolute assurance of salvation.

St.Paul says it clearly “It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself: For I am not conscious to myself of anything, yet, am I not thereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord come, for he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the motives of the hearts, and then every man shall have praise from God.” 1Cor.4:4-5. Other verses on this are Rom. 11:22; Heb.10:26-29 and 2St.Peter 2:20-21.

Sin separates us from the love of Christ. In St.Matt.5:19-30, Jesus speaks of the “least commandments’ that a person can break and still go to heaven and then He tells of sins that will leave a man in hell fire. In Ch.25:41-46, He said that a place of ‘everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and angels would also be a place of the ‘everlasting punishment’ of multitudes of people in an age to come. Jesus said that all those men and women whose names are “not found in the book of life” will be there. The Apoc. 20:15. In the next chapter 21:8, we learn who these people are: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” St.Paul gives us the list of sins from which those who commit shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5-7; and 1Cor.6:9-10.

Do you recall the incident of St.Luke13:22-30, when someone asked our Lord “Lord, are there few in number who are to be saved”? His answer “Try to enter through the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will try and be unable.” He gave us parables on the preparation for death---the ten virgins and the housekeeper keeping careful watch for the safety of his home, lest a burglar enters. He reminds us “unless you do penance you will all likewise perish.” He gives this admonition, “If you are going to be my disciple, then you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me daily.”
From this, it doesn’t seem to me that those people who say they believe in Christ and commit these sins and remain unrepentant of them can possibly have absolute certainty of their salvation based on Faith alone.

While salvation is a free gift from God, Christ expects each one of us to do a generous share of prayer, sacrifice, penance, keeping His commandments, doing works of charity, and live the Faith that is within us from Baptism. St.Augustine reminds us that Christ brought us into this world without our help, but that He will not save us without our cooperation.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 16, 2007

While salvation is a free gift from God

ok, stop right here. This is a very small phrase from your larger last paragraph.

This is it in a nutshell. Yes, salvation is a gift. A GIFT!!! Do you buy a gift? Do you work for a gift? What do you do when a gift is offered to you?

After you receive such a great unbeieveable gift like this, then what? We show our gratefulness to the giver of the gift. That's where the works come in. What did Adam and Eve do to desrve Paradise? Did they work for it? Did they buy their way in?

WE DO NOT EARN, BUY, OR DO ANYTHING TO RECEIVE THIS GIFT. IT'S A GIFT.

We say, thank you!!

lulapilgrim

on Mar 16, 2007

While salvation is a free gift from God, Christ expects each one of us to do a generous share of prayer, sacrifice, penance, keeping His commandments, doing works of charity, and live the Faith that is within us from Baptism. [/quote]

KFC POSTS: ok, stop right here.
This is it in a nutshell. Yes, salvation is a gift. A GIFT!!! Do you buy a gift? Do you work for a gift? What do you do when a gift is offered to you?
After you receive such a great unbeieveable gift like this, then what? We show our gratefulness to the giver of the gift. That's where the works come in.
We say, thank you!!

OK,by me. We'll accept God's free gift of salvation and say thank you by each one of us doing a generous share of prayer, sacrifice, penance, keeping His commandments, doing works of charity, and live the Faith that is within us from Baptism. Case closed. Over and out.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 16, 2007

OK,by me. We'll accept God's free gift of salvation and say thank you by each one of us doing a generous share of prayer, sacrifice, penance, keeping His commandments, doing works of charity, and live the Faith that is within us from Baptism. Case closed. Over and out.

AMEN BABY. BY GOLLY I THINK YOU'VE GOT IT NOW!!

But I'm not holding my breath.......

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