1. The compassion of Jesus (39)
A. To those who mocked Him. (Matthew 27:44)
1. Both men had joined with the crowd
2. One thief was especially bitter.
(39)
B. To those who crucified Him
1. “Father, forgive them..”
2. He died just as He lived!
C. We need to show this compassion to others!
1. We are to be His witnesses
2. We are to show compassion to
others.
2. The comparision of two thieves (39-41)
A. What do we know about them?
1. We do not know their names, ages,
or background
2. Both were guilty and by law
desired to be excecuted.
B. What were their differences?
1. One continued to mock (39)
2. Other becomes convicted of his
sin (40-41)
3. One tunes out the voice of God;
the other listens.
4. One tunes out the cry of the
conscience; the other responded.
C. Which thief are you like this morning?
3. The conversion of the penitent thief. (42-43)
A. Conviction always precedes conversion
1. The bible is clear that we are
sinners:
a. “For all have sinned...”
Romans 3:23
b. “There is none righteous,
no, not one:” Romans 3:10
c. “But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags”
Isaiah 64:6
d. “All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have
turned every one to his
own way;and the LORD hath
laid on him the iniquity
of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
2. Until we see our selves as God
sees us, their is no hope of
salvation.
B. Evidence of God’s work in His life
1. He admited his sin.
2. He accepted Christ as his Lord
3. He had never seen a miracle but
believed
4. He saw Christ crucified but
called Him Lord
5. He faced death and believed in
the ressurection.
C. The Lords acceptance of the thief (vs. 43)
Conclusion:
Jesus died exactly how He lived His life: reaching lost souls and bringing them to salvation. Is this the purpose of your life? Who have you tried to reach lately? Often through the hardest times of our life, God gives us the greatest opportunity to witness!
Is Christ calling you this morning? Do not be like the thief that refused to listen and kept mocking! Turn to Christ today! He will saved you and keep you, but you must turn to him, see yourself as he sees, accept His free gift through faith, and simply call upon His name! Are you willing to do that this morning? God is waiting with open arms to receive just one more soul!
