Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
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The conversion of one of the two criminals crucified with Jesus Christ is recorded in Luke 23:39-43:
"Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'"
In the conversion of this crucified criminal there is good news for the physically impaired. The obedience to God which results in conversion to Jesus Christ and salvation is a matter of the spirit, not the flesh; a matter of the heart, not the body. God saves "slaves of sin" (which we all are by nature) when they have "obeyed from the heart" (Romans 6:16).
The conversion of this crucified man is proof. His condition was far more severe than being physically impaired. He was physically restrained, nailed to a tree. But his heart was yet free to act.
What obedience to God did he perform with his heart?
1) His acknowledged himself a sinner. He told the other crucified criminal that "we are indeed [condemned and crucified] justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds" (v.40).
2) He reverenced God whose law he had broken. He said to the other criminal, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?" (v.40).
3) He acknowledged the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. He defended Christ when the other criminal jeered Him, declaring that "this Man has done nothing wrong" (v.41).
4) He addressed Jesus Christ as "Lord" (v.42) -- not as a mere title of respect, but in obedience to God's command "that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [or Jehovah] to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
5) He acknowledged the "kingdom" of Jesus Christ, and therefore His kingly office (v.42).
6) He acknowledged his physical inability to save himself and ...
7) He requested saving mercy and grace when he said to Jesus, "Remember me [not reward me] when You come into Your kingdom" (v.42).
Is there any hope for such a person? for one physically incapacitated and able to obey God only from the heart?
Propagators of man-made religions of salvation by works would slam shut in his face the door of salvation. The Arminian "soul-winner" would do so by requiring him to "walk the aisle" or "come to the altar" or "raise your hand while I pray" or "sign a decision card." The theological liberal would do so by requiring him to perform good works. The baptismal regenerationist would do so by requiring him to be baptized. He can do neither -- he is nailed to a tree! The sabbatarian would do so by requiring him to observe the Sabbath. He cannot -- he will die before the Sabbath arrives (v.43). All such heretics condition conversion upon the physical act of their own choosing, declaring that faith in Jesus Christ is not enough.
Not so Jesus Christ! "And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise'" (v.43). Paradise is "the third [and highest] heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2,4), the "Abraham's bosom" to which the disembodied spirits of the righteous depart at death (Luke 18:22). This was the immediate destination of the spirit of Jesus Christ at His death, and where His spirit remained during the three days and nights when His body was in its tomb. Jesus Christ here assures this repentant and believing criminal that, because of his repentance and faith, he would be the companion of his Lord and Savior in that abode of the blessed immediately after he died. The man-made doctrines of "soul-sleep," purgatory, and limbo are patently contrary to the truth of God and Holy Scriptures. Believers in Jesus Christ are assured that at the very moment they die, they are "absent from the body" but "present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).
This is the good news for the physically impaired -- for those confined to wheel chairs or beds or quarters or cells or whatever. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8f).
And since this is the only manner in which God saves sinners, we all are physically impaired. We are physically helpless to do anything which will merit God's salvation. And our confidence in what we have done physically impairs us further. We therefore repeat: the salvation of sinners is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone! This crucified man is proof.
In the conversion of this crucified criminal there is good news for the worst of criminals. Here again note the parallels between his condition and our own.
1) His violation of the law of man was a capital offense, worthy of death. Likewise, our own violation of the law of God is a capital offense: "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23); "The soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:21). This is the punishment each of us deserves: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all are as much death-deserving criminals before God as this man was before man.
2) His capital offense was so terrible that he was punished through crucifixion. Crucifixion was so degrading that Romans considered it "the slaves' punishment," unbefitting Roman citizens and the freeborn. It was also the most shameful way for a Jew to die (Deuteronomy 21:23): "for he who is hanged [on a tree] is accursed of God."
Likewise, our own capital offense before God is so terrible that Jesus Christ, in order to obtain forgiveness for sinners, had to be crucified. Those sinners for whom He died are therefore told, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')" (Galatians 3:13).
A marvelous truth is here presented at this crucifixion. This criminal was crucified for his violation of man's law. Jesus Christ was crucified for this criminal's violation of God's law -- vicariously, as his substitute, to obtain his redemption and forgiveness.
3) This worst of criminals was saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Likewise, we, through faith in Jesus Christ, are saved even though we be the worst of sinners. Paul the apostle has written to believers, "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
In the conversion of this crucified criminal there is good news for all on the deathbed. Deathbed conversions are usually suspect -- for good reason. We are aware that many persons who believe that they have but a short time to live, or who realize that their chances of surviving an infirmity or sickness are slim, experience spurious conversions. They perhaps bargain with God to permit them to live longer in exchange for their promised service to Him. But upon rising from their deathbed, their bargain is forgotten and they return to the former way of life.
But credible deathbed conversions are indeed possible. This criminal experienced one. Within just a few minutes of his death, he professed faith in Christ and was assured that heaven would be his eternal abode.
Nevertheless, credible deathbed conversions are extremely rare. In all the Holy Scriptures, this is the only one recorded.
You unknowingly may be on your deathbed. You have no assurance when you retire this night that you will arise next morning. Death may come so suddenly that you never know when your next breath will be your last.
If you desire to spend eternity with the blessed in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, follow the example of this dying criminal. Acknowledge your sinfulness. Reverence God whose law you have broken. Acknowledge the sinlessness of Jesus Christ. Confess Him as your Lord, Jehovah-Jesus Christ. Submit to Him as your King. Acknowledge your inability to save yourself. Beg Him for His grace of forgiveness. Then you will receive His assurance that you, like this criminal, "will be with Me in Paradise."
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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