Grace That Is Greater Than All My Sin!
Luke 23:32-43
“No one is righteous—not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one…
18 “They have no fear of God at all.” Romans 3:10-12 & 18 NLT
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them…” John 6:44 NLT
“You did not choose me, but I have chosen you…” John 15:16 NLT
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV
Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43 NLT
The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way. Matthew 27:41-44 NLT
#1: The first thing God did—He opened this sinful man’s eyes to what he faced after he died!
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?” Luke 23:39-40 NLT
Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. Hebrews 9:27 GNT
You either suffer separation from God in hell!
OR You enjoy celebrating with God in heaven!
Has God opened your eyes to this Truth—the Truth that you’ll face God after you die?
#2: The second thing God did—He opened this sinful man’s eyes to his sin!
“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes” Luke 23:40-41 NLT
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Isaiah 53:6 NLT
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Proverbs 20:9 NIV
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:8-9 NLT
Has God opened your eyes to this Truth—the Truth that you are a sinful person?
#3: The third thing God did—He opened this sinful man’s eyes to who Jesus is!
“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Luke 23:40-41 NLT
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” Matthew 16:13-17 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
Has God opened your eyes to this Truth—the Truth that Jesus is God’s Holy Son, your Savior?
#4: The fourth thing God did—He opened this sinful man’s eyes to his need for grace!
“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Luke 23:40-42 NLT
“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31 NLT
Has God opened your eyes to this Truth—the Truth that you need to call out to God for His grace?
What happens when you call out to Jesus?
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 NLT
#1: Salvation is instantaneous!
“Today you will be with me in paradise”
#2: Salvation is an absolute certainty!
“Today you will be with me in paradise”
#3: Salvation is all about a relationship!
“Today you will be with me in paradise”
#4: Salvation is a real place!
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
“Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT