Luke 23. I'd like to consider just for
a few minutes this passage of scripture that our brother just
read. This is very familiar. passage of Scripture, I dare
say that there are many folks in all the world that have not
heard something of this passage right here. This is about the Lord Jesus Christ, and he
is being crucified. There are two men, one on each
side of him. They are being crucified, too. Some amazing things are said
in this passage of Scripture. I don't doubt for a second that these men, when they were
taken hung on those two crosses. You just come to that point where
you're thinking, this is more than I can handle. I just can't
even imagine. This is what I've been brought
to. This is where I'm at. I just don't know why in the world
ever let myself get into a situation like this. You know, you can
imagine. You know, if we could see the
final end of all things, if we could behold and truly see them
and know what was really going to happen, I'd I don't think I'd be afraid
to say that our attitudes and our activities would probably
be different if we truly saw them and knew them and believed
them. That's the way it's going to be. But you know the amazing
thing is that we're told. Scripture tells us. It tells
us just exactly what's going to happen. This is what's going to happen
for believers. This is what's going to happen for unbelievers.
This is what's going to happen. This is going to be the final
straw. This is where everything is going
to come down to this right here. The scripture clearly states
that there shall come a day. There's going to come a time
and there's going to be Folks that did not trust Christ, look to Christ. Cast themselves upon His mercy. And they're going to stand before
God, and this is what they're going to say. Now you think about
this. one day, one time, it's going
to actually be happening. And of all the times that we've
considered this scripture that I'm about to quote, it's one
in Matthew where the Lord said, many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your
name? Haven't we cast out devils in your name and done many mighty
works in your name? And he said, And then will I
say unto them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never
knew you. Now there's coming a day when
that is going to happen. Could be today. This could be
it. Today could be the day. I heard someone say one time,
he asked someone, do you believe that today the Lord is coming
back? Do you think that this is the
last service that you're ever going to sit here? This is it.
Last one. This is the last time you're
ever going to hear the gospel. Maybe before this message is even over.
Maybe before I finish this next sentence. Do you believe that
today is the day? People say, no, I don't think
so. The Lord said, in a day that
you think not. In time, just like right now,
this could be it. There's going to come a time
when all of a sudden, the scripture that we've heard quoted and preached
on, all of a sudden, you'll hear it. And you'll say, he said it
was going to be like that. That's exactly what he says is
going to happen. That's what scripture says is going to happen
to all unbelievers. Also, the scripture says concerning
believers, this is what's going to happen. John 10, I'll just read this
for you. John 10, 27 and 28. The Lord
said, My sheep. Now that's comforting. The Lord
has a people. My sheep. Always been my sheep. All eternity. Chosen. My sheep. There'd be some lost
sheep right there, but they're his sheep. He said, Oh, the sheep
I have, not of this fold, them I must bring. My sheep. Here's what's going to happen.
They're going to hear my voice. Now hear it. Somewhere along
the line, in due season, Paul said, when pleased God, when Almighty God is pleased,
to call. You know when you heard? When
it pleased him. When he called. Factually. My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them. Now there's some that he's
going to say, I never knew you. He's going to say, I know you. I've loved you with an everlasting
love. I've always loved you. While we were yet in trespasses
and sins. He died for us. My sheep hear
my voice. I know them. And they follow me. You know, you don't have to browbeat
the sheep. You just preach to them. You just preach the Word. Preach Christ to them. And you
know what they do? They follow. They just follow. Is there a possibility that there's
a believer here this morning that would truly desire to be
somewhere else this morning? Well, I just kind of wish I wasn't
here. I just sort of wish that I could go somewhere else and
hear something a little different. I wish I could just go and hear
something just kind of tickle my ear, you know. Something that
appeals to my flesh, you know. You know, these people here,
they just hammer too much, you know, on just Christ. They just
don't ever get off of Him. Is there a believer here that
would say that? No chance. Not a chance. They follow me. And I give unto them eternal
life. They don't earn it. I gave it
to them. I gave it to them. Did they deserve
it? No. Did they do anything to merit it?
No. All of a sudden they say, you
know what, I think salvation is by grace. I give unto them eternal life,
and listen to this, and they shall never perish. It's just like that Time this
morning, we were talking about Sunday school. Would you just
quote that verse one more time to me? They shall never perish. They'll never perish. Never. How do I know that? He said it. They'll never perish. Neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hands. Now that right there,
or to just quiet our fears, whatever happens, come what may. Lord, You said, Thou'll never perish. I'll follow
You. I'll hear Your voice. And God's people just rejoice
in that. What is it that just ignites
their heart? What is it that ignites the heart
of a believer? I'll tell you what it is. It's
him. I'll tell you exactly, I can
prove that. You remember the two on the road
to Emmaus? Walking along, the Lord Jesus Christ came and said,
he asked them, he said, what are y'all talking about? I'm
paraphrasing here. And they said, you must be new
in town. You must not be from around here.
Surely if you had, you would have heard Jesus of Nazareth,
the one that we were sure that he was the one. Oh, slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets taught concerning him. It said, in beginning with Moses,
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, all the prophets
and the law. He expounded unto them in all
the Scriptures those things concerning Himself. You know, I love to
look in the Scriptures and see some of these pictures. And it's
like when you see a picture of Him, it just excites you. That is so good. I don't think
I've ever seen that before. Can you imagine being taught
from his mouth and by his Spirit to their heart. And they saw
it, just like Abraham. They saw it. They saw his day. And this was their conclusion.
Did not our heart burn? As he opened unto us the scriptures,
our heart just rejoiced in it. hanging on every word he said. Just at his word, at his voice,
at his revelation. Just, our heart just burned. But here's two men hanging on
a cross. Two crosses. And these two men,
I'm going to tell you right now, every person in this congregation
this morning, can relate to one of these two men. Everybody. The character of these two men
right here, everybody in this room can associate with one or
the other. The Lord Jesus Christ hanging
on this cross, here he is dying for sin. He's dying for it. He's dying for somebody. He's
not just there hanging on a cross. If you'd stop and think about
that for just a second, he's just hanging on a cross, just
dying for the sins of the whole world. That's what men by nature
say. That's the most blasphemous,
disrespectful thing that anyone could ever say. Just hanging
on a cross. He's just dying for sin. All
you have to do, that ought to throw up a red flag. All you
have to do to make it effectual is just receive it. He wants
to give it to you, men say, but you have to take one step toward
the Savior, my friend, and you'll find His arms open wide. And
as it's been truthfully said, if you take the first step, you
take them all. If you believe, if you're sitting
here, this morning and you believe that the reason that you're saved
is because you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. He offered it and
you accepted it. And because you accepted it,
then therefore God looked at your obedience and therefore
gave you salvation. You accepted it. He gave it to
you. That's a lie. And the man that
told you that is a false prophet. It's a false God that he's preaching.
And I'm telling you, that God that he's preaching is no God. He's a liar. Salvation must be
by grace. Or it is not salvation. Two men. One of them is dying in his sin. And he speaks that way, too. When a man or a woman is dead
in sin, they speak a certain way, and a believer hears it. Do you know the most repulsive
thing to a believer? I'll tell you the most repulsive
thing. is to me, and I'll tell you, I'll bet you it is to you
that believe, is to hear someone just speaking religiously. And
what they're doing is they're trying as hard as they can to
impress you. And the more they speak, the
worse it gets. Really, you just get to a point
where you think, you know, if you'd just shut up, I'd hold
up more. You'd just be quiet. Don't talk. They speak of a God, but they
speak so disrespectfully. But a believer, the harder he
tries to put himself down and to exalt the Lord, the more he
just stammers and stutters around, the more consistent it is. He's
just consistent. All believers are consistent.
They're consistent. I said that to somebody one time,
they think, I'm not consistent. I tell you what, the most consistent
thing I've ever seen is a man, I think I said this last time
I was here, that admits, I'm inconsistent. He'll say it of
himself. I don't see any consistency in
myself. And I said, that's consistent.
That's right. Two men, one of them dying in
his sin. The other one dying to sin. And
the Lord Jesus Christ in the middle dying for sin. Two men. One of the writers said that
when these two men at first, they both started railing on
the Lord. Both of them. Well, obviously something happened.
Something changed. Wasn't it that way with you?
Was there not a time when you spoke with inconsistency and
disrespect? You look back on it now and you
say, you know, I just spoke so disrespectfully of him and I
didn't even know it. No, you were dead in trespasses
and sins. Blind. You couldn't hear. You couldn't speak. You couldn't
walk with any consistency at all. That's where these two men
were. And one of them is railing on
the Lord. Scripture says in verse 39, one
of the male factors which were hanged railed on him, just lambasted
him, just ironed me and gave him down the road. Here's a man
and he's in his This man's dying. He's bleeding just like the Lord
Jesus Christ in the other one. Just crazy man, just speaking
out of the abundance of his heart. He is the Lord of glory, and
this man does not know it. He's speaking exactly what his
heart dictates, railed on him. And this is what he said. If
thou be Christ, save thyself and us. And I'm telling you out
of that little sentence right there, that man said three things
that absolutely exposed the heart of every unbeliever. Three things
he said. Three things out of that man's
mouth. What did he say? If thou be Christ. He didn't believe that that was
Christ. If. If. If. This morning I started to name
that message this morning, It. I should have named this one If. If. That's the unbelieving. If thou be Christ. He saw absolutely no beauty in
the office of the Lord Jesus Christ. He saw no beauty in him
as the surety. Here was the only one that could
afford him any hope. And he said, if thou be Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ said in
John 8.24, If you believe not that I am He, if you believe
not that I am the Messiah, if you believe not that I am the
Promised One, if you believe not that without the shedding
of my blood there is no remission of sin, if you believe not that
I am the covenant head If you believe not that I am the door,
if you believe not that I am the way, if you believe not that
I am the truth, that I am the life, if you believe not that
I am he, you will die in your sins just
as sure as he spoke it is so. If thou be Christ, he that believeth On the Son
hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall
not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." Here is
a man dying in his sin, and according to the Word of God, the wrath
of God was on him. Railing on the apple of God's
eye. That is the first thing he revealed.
He did not believe. Christ to be the Messiah. No
one believer believes that. They create a God in their mind,
and they make that God to be their puppet, to do whatever
they bid. And whatever they bid and dictate,
that's the way he does. If thou be Christ, here's the
second thing he said, save thyself. If thou be Christ, Save thyself. Now what was he really saying?
I don't need a substitute. Save yourself. Come down off
that cross. He was blind to the necessity
of thy Lord's death as the atonement, the propitiation. God is going
to have to be satisfied He is a just God. He said, I'm a just
God and Savior. He's just. The wages of sin is
what? Death. And you know, I know that
somewhat. I believe that. I believe it. But there is no exhibition of
it. like the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. I see through
a glass darkly. The wages of sin is death. If I truly saw that, believed
that as clearly as God exhibited it, I don't know if I could contain
it. I'd just, you know, save thyself. If thou be Christ, save thyself
and us. That's the third thing he said.
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. He had no regard for
God's law. None whatsoever. He saw no need
for God to punish sin. If thou be Christ, get me off
of here. Get yourself off too. And this
other guy over here. If you're who you say you are,
Get us down. If you're God, as you claim to
be, get yourself down and get us out of here. We're in trouble. For the moment, I might get a
little relief. But he thought nothing. One of
these days, I'm going to die anyway. Get me down today. Give me some relief today. But
the other was quite different. There was another thief on the
other side. There's that first thief. That's what he said, that's what
he thought, and that's what every unbeliever thinks. Every unbeliever
thinks that. You do not see the Lord Jesus
Christ as being the Messiah. God in flesh. The God-man. The promised one. You do not see him as one who
absolutely walked before Almighty God as the representative of
the sheep. The substitute for the sheep. Hanging on the cross.
Dying with their guilt. You don't see him like that.
You do not see the need of a substitute. Of atonement. And you don't see
God to be just in punishing sin. You just don't. You don't believe
that. And before he'd give me a heart to do that, I didn't
either. But then the thief on the other side, and I promise
you, every person in this room, that God Almighty has given a
heart after him. They can relate to this guy. He had absolutely nothing to
glory in. You know what he was? He was
a stinking, No good. Lowdown. Thief. A liar. A cheat. A murderer, either by practice
or by heart. He was getting just exactly what
he deserved. That's what he said. Both of these men had been hanging
on that cross Both these men heard exactly the same words
of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't know if this man had
ever heard the gospel before. But I'm telling you, he heard
Christ speak that day. Both of them heard, My God, My
God, why hast thou forsaken me? Both of them heard the Lord Jesus
Christ say this, Father, forgive them for they know not what they
do. I don't know. I don't know exactly
how the Spirit of God taught that man the gospel. But I wonder, I'm just wondering
now, when the Lord Jesus Christ said, I just wonder if the Spirit of
God didn't take that word, that title, that call, and tell that
thief right there, that's the son, he said, Father! And the Spirit of God just took
that and just gave him a new heart, a new mind, just new creation. All of a sudden, the Lord Jesus
Christ, He said, Woman, behold thy son. I just wonder if the
Spirit of God didn't tell him that was the one that was born
of the Virgin. Behold, it is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend
my spirit." He heard all those. The Scripture says that the Lord Jesus Christ hanging
on that cross was looked at by the second. That's what verse
40 says, the other answering the first one. Rebuked him, saying,
Does not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same Condemnation. There's four things that I noticed
about what the second thief said. The first one said, you're not
the Messiah. I don't need a substitute and
God is not just. That's what he said. That man right there, if he would
have been told it just as plainly as that, he'd have said, no,
I didn't say that. And I'll tell you this, in that day, The Lord
will say, yes, you did. That's exactly what you said. But this second one, this second one, hanging, dying
to sin, rebuked him. You know, I thought that was
an amazing thing. He rebuked him. You know what I saw in that?
He rebuked the other one. And you know why he did? Because
he feared God and he didn't fear men. Himself he couldn't save, which
was true. That was a true statement. Saved
others he couldn't save himself and saved them. But here they
were railing on the Lord Jesus Christ, you know. And I just
kind of wonder if that first thief, maybe trying to just gain
their favor, he started railing on him too. It seems like these
chief priests are in control here. You know, sometimes if you notice
the people that seem to be in control, maybe if you get on
their side, Maybe they'll show you some kindness and some mercy,
you know. So he started railing on the
Lord Jesus Christ himself. Because he had a heart to do
that. That's all he wanted to do. But here's this other one. He rebuked him. He took sides
with the Lord Jesus Christ against himself. And against those that
were railing on Christ too. Why? He feared God. He feared
God. He rebuked him, and he says,
Just not thou fear God? What's the matter with you? Sitting there in the same condemnation, don't you have any respect? You're getting ready to meet
God. My mother called me. a few days
ago and told me of a people back in Louisiana, somebody that I'd
known for years and years and years. And she said, You're not
going to believe this. So-and-so's wife just found him
dead. And I'm telling you, the first
thing that goes through my mind when I hear that, that person
met God. He met God today. And you know just as sure as
you're standing here. In fact, more sure than I'm standing
here. And that person leaves this world
without Christ. And you know he's lifted up his
eyes out of hell. Don't you fear God? You're getting ready to meet
Him where that unrepentant thief reviled the Lord Jesus Christ. The other rebuked him for it. Is that not the heart of a believer?
They hear those speaking disrespectfully. And I know that often, and probably
wisely so, you may not say anything, but
in your heart Don't you have any fear of God? That's so disrespectful
to what you're saying. Number one, he rebuked. That was the first thing. A believer
will not take sides with those that love not their God. They
just don't. They won't be unequally yoked
to them. I'm sorry, I just can't go along
with you. I know, I know, I don't have
anything to glory in. I understand that. But I'm sorry. I'm just not with you. The second thing I know is that
repentant thief admitted his guilt and the fair reward for
it. Thus not thou fear God, seeing
thou art in the same condemnation, and we indeed justly." We are receiving the due reward
of our deeds. We are not innocent. Now, man
by nature does not see himself truly as guilty before God. And the reason I know he doesn't
is because he will not, by nature, he will not call upon the name
of the Lord. Before you heard the gospel and
the Spirit of God gave you a heart for the gospel, why did you not
call? Why did you not call? Why did
you not call out to Almighty God for mercy? Why? You know
why you didn't? You didn't want to. I don't want
to. Don't you see yourself as a stinking
sinner before God? No. I really don't. I'm not that bad. I go to church. We're getting exactly what we
deserve. And I know this. But for the
grace of God, that Christ would die as my substitute. Truthfully, I know that I get exactly what
I deserved. If he lay down not his life for
me, I know this. If he doesn't die for me, I'm
going to perish. That man had a true sense of
sin. We're guilty. were more guilty. In fact, they were more guilty
than we are told in this scripture. You say, what are you talking
about? These men were thieves. Now, I won't take the time, but
you just make a note of this. Exodus 22, verses 1 to 4, it
talks about this. I'm going to say this. I'm not
going to read it for sake of time. It talks about being a
thief. And you know what the penalty? Restitution. You steal something,
you give back. You steal an ox, and you give
back five. You steal a sheep, you give back
four. Thievery. Restitution's got to
be made. You remember when Zacchaeus The
Lord Jesus Christ was walking through Jericho. Here was Zacchaeus. He went up and got on top of
this sycamore tree because he was short of stature. He got
up there by God's grace and mercy and appointment. He put him exactly
where he was supposed to be. That's just like this thief right
here. What a blessing that thief was
hanging on that cross. You know, we go through things.
Things happen. You know, we're told of a tragedy,
or the doctor relates to us, our condition, or something like
this. And all of a sudden we think,
oh, that's so bad. But what a miracle of God's grace
that God took that thief, him, and had him arrested by the authorities. Went through a trial. He was
found guilty, because he was guilty. And brought him to that
place, and he's hanging in the safest place that he could possibly
be. Right here. Next to the Messiah. Next to the Savior. Man by nature
said, this is the worst place I could possibly, I can't even
believe I'm here. This man, by God's grace, realized
it. He knew it. I'm in the best place
I could be. Thievery, restitution. But these men are hanging on
a cross. Now, I don't know exactly the
totality of what they did. I don't know whether they were
murderers or rapists. I don't know what they were,
but whatever they did, this man right here is saying, you know
what? We're getting just exactly what we deserve. If he could
have gotten off with just giving four sheep back, He'll come up
before sheep. I'm more guilty than I possibly
can realize or describe. I have sinned against Almighty
God, and by nature, you know what I deserve? Death. By nature, in myself, I deserve
just exactly what God says I deserve. how thankful I am that he would
cause me and bring me to that place where I could behold him
and would give me a heart to say what this man says. Don't
you fear God? We get just exactly what we deserve. But this man has done nothing. That's the third thing he said.
He saw Christ to be God's This man has done nothing amiss. This man has done always only
those things that please the Father. This man right here,
he is without guilt. He is God's lamb. He is God's
substitute. This is the hope of sinners.
This is the one that has obeyed God's law. He is the all-perfect
sacrifice. That's what he said. That's what
he said. You say, well, I don't read that,
that that's what he said. That's exactly what he said. He said unto him, Lord, Lord. He bowed. He bowed to him. When Peter and
other disciples were asked, who do men say that I am? Peter said,
well, some say that you're Jeremiah, Elijah, one of the other prophets.
Who do you say I am? Peter said, I say that you're
the Christ, the spotless Lamb of God. I believe that you're
God's Christ, God's chosen, God's elect. That's who you are. And he said, Peter, my father taught you that. Just
like he taught this stinking sinner right here. This man has
done nothing amiss. And then the fourth thing in
closing. This is what I say. He saw the
Lord Jesus Christ to be the Messiah. He feared God, rebuked that one
that was railing on him. Saw him to be God's lamb. saw
himself to be a center, and this is what he said, I'm a helpless center, and I
need you. I need you. Lord, will you remember me when
thou comest into You're the king, and you have
a kingdom. You're the eternal God. You're God Almighty in human
flesh. The God-man. When you enter into
your kingdom, and I know that you are, will you remember me? Will you think of me? Will you
just remember me? If you remember, it's enough. Lord, don't leave it up to me
to remember you. I'll never think on you as I ought. But if you
remember me, if you think on me, if you remember in eternal
love, eternal everlasting covenant, you're all my hope. No pleading of his own merit?
What merit? Didn't say, Lord, I just railed
on him for you. Lord, I just spoke respectfully. I just railed on him. Would you remember me? Lord, you saved me. Peter, remember
Peter walking on the water. How long was that prayer? saved
me. The Lord saved me. And the Lord Jesus Christ assured
that man of salvation, God's people. They're sure. He gives them a heart. My sheep
hear my voice. I know them. They follow me. I'll never leave them. I'll never
forsake What's the assurance of a believer's hope? That's
your word. That's your word. Oh, Scripture gives more proof
that salvation is by grace alone. This one right here. J.C. Riles
said of this Scripture, he said that should be written in gold,
he said, before every believer. He said, boy, you take that.
What a pitiful example. Here's a thief. This horrible, stinking, you
know. But to the Lord Jesus Christ,
He looked upon that one chosen of His Father, given to Him. That right there, that's a member
of His Bride. Perfect. Robed in His righteousness. Cleansed by His blood. Made spotless. washed white. Would you remember
me? You'll be with me today. You're
going to be with me today. I read that and I just thought,
what a comforting word. You're going to be with me today. You're going to be with me in
paradise today. And you know what? He believed him. He believed him. Almighty God,
by sovereign grace, saved a sinner, died for him, died for that thief
right there. I'm redeeming you right now.
I'm putting away your guilt. All that you are, I've made it
to be mine, made a curse for you, made to be sin for you. That thief looked at him and
rejoiced. Wounded for me, wounded for me. There on the cross, he was wounded
for me. Gone my transgression, and now
I am free. All because Jesus was wounded
for me. Dying for me, dying for me. There on the cross He was dying
for me. Now in His death my redemption
I see. All because Jesus was dying for
me. so