05-20-2012 Study in Luke 23:32-49
It should be everyday but, wouldn't it be great if America had a holiday to remember what Jesus did for us like we do Memorial Day?
Easter and Christmas should be but, it has turned into chocolate bunnies....colored eggs...Easter bonnets with all the fringe upon it....ol saint nick in which there is nothing holy or good about him...only a deceiving marketing idol.
But, what about a day when the Government closes...parades in our towns...TV ads promoting a day of remembrance to our Lord.
Our country having communion together at a certain time on that special day.
A day when in certain areas in rivers and streams are people waiting to be baptized. A day when it would be a welcome site for preachers to have freedom to walk the streets witnessing, preaching....passing out tracks...a day when every church in America would be full and you couldn't even find a place at the altar to pray.
But, the problem is non belief....people are lost because they just don't believe.
Is It Possible To Believe In Jesus ..And NOT Be Saved?
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Believe: He forgave
Luke 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Of course Jesus was crucified between 2 criminals on a hill called Calvary or Golgotha meaning skull.
Why did Jesus say Father forgive them?.......Gods waft could have come upon them I believe but, because Jesus ask God to forgive them...that opened the door for repentance.
Could He also have been talking to people today?....give chance to repent..............Is it hard for us to forgive?
That statements Father forgive them for they know not what they do is one of the 7 statements Jesus made from the cross.
Luke recorded 3 of them
1. “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). 2.“Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).3. “Woman, behold thy son” (John 19:25–27). 4.“Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46) 5.“I thirst” (John 19:28). 6 “It is finished!” (John 19:30) 7. “Father, into Thy hands” (Luke 23:46).
*********Believe: He obeyed************
Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
If Jesus had come down from the cross, He would not have been the Christ.
Because Jesus Christ stayed on the cross, we can be healed of sin.
It's hard to comprehend but, that was established before the world began.
When Jesus was crucified, they put a inscription over Him in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
Greek was the language of intelligence, of education, of literature, and of science.
Latin was the language of law and order, of the military and of government.
Hebrew was the language of religion. When Christ returns to set up His kingdom, He will be the political ruler, the educational ruler, and the spiritual ruler of this universe.
That sign will be accurate in the end.
There is one who would believe on the cross and one who is a non believer.
Could Jesus have come down from the cross?...I don't think so...if He had ..He would have lied.....God can not lie.....He told Adam and Eve "thy shall surely die and He followed through with that didn't He?
***************Believe He saved
Luke 23:40 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.
Both Matthew and Mark tell us that in the beginning both thieves ridiculed the Lord Jesus.
But during the six hours that they were on the cross, especially the last three hours, one thief saw that something unusual was taking place.
He recognized that this One dying on the cross was not dying for Himself but for another.
Although he knew Barabbas should be on that cross, he also seemed to realize He was dying for him.
He recognized that this was a transaction between God and the Man on the cross, and the Man on the cross was God.
Then he turned to Him in faith.
We live in such a time today that a lot of Folks would say that the thief on the cross was not saved....he didn't go to the altar....he didn't join the church....he didn't pay his tites....he didn't say the sinners prayer before a Pastor or Preacher....he wasn't baptized
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Luke 23:44-49 (KJV)
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things
A God sent darkness......3 hours of total darkness..over all the earth the Bible says
The veil tore in half...from top to bottom...the veil that separated God and man.
..You notice anything about the Lords death in these verses? V-46
Dr. Luke speaking from a doctor’s viewpoint. He had been in the presence of many people who had died.
He knew how they died, and He knew how our Lord died.
Our Lord’s death was different.
There is what is known as the “death rattle” when one draws his last breath.
It is always with a struggle with a great effort.
The two thieves on their crosses undoubtedly died that way, but the Lord Jesus did not.
He voluntarily died. He dismissed His spirit. You notice what He said? “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” with a loud voice;
Book of John adds that His final word was a shout of victory “Tetelestai!” It is finished
The centurion, I believe, became a saved man.
It is as if the Spirit of God let down the curtain because the Crucifixion was too horrible to see.
Mankind was shut out from what happened on the cross.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
