MESSAGES
Life or Death (Luke 23:42)
Jesus was crucified between two criminals, and according to one of them, they deserved that punishment.
Luke 23:32-33 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Why did God choose for Jesus to be crucified between two criminals instead of, for example, between two apostles?
The answer is simple: those two criminals — and their attitudes on the cross — represent nothing more than ourselves, our attitudes, and our decisions.
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’
Luke 23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?’
1st — We were all condemned to death for our sins and deserved God's sentence of curse and death.
2nd — Every day we have the opportunity to:
• Repent of our sins, acknowledge Jesus as the innocent one who gave his life for us to cancel our death sentence and grant us salvation and eternal life alongside God.
• Or reject Jesus' sacrifice, blaspheming against God with words or actions. In that case, there will be a final separation from God, and the death sentence will be carried out.
The Bible says:
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1 John 3:8 …The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
One of the criminals crucified with Jesus chose to remain in sin. He didn't acknowledge his mistakes and, as a result, didn't repent.
This criminal mocked Jesus and tested him, asking for salvation without faith and without repentance — just so Jesus would show off his power.
The other criminal, on the contrary, showed:
• Fear of God.
Luke 23:40 Do you not fear God…?
• Acknowledgment of his mistakes and repentance.
Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.
• Acknowledgment of Jesus' holiness and sovereignty.
Luke 23:41-42 …but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
Jesus' response was immediate: the repentant criminal received the promise of salvation that very same day.
Luke 23:43 And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
The attitudes that lead to salvation remain the same, because God does not change.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
AND THESE ATTITUDES ARE:
• Repenting from practicing sin.
• Abandoning sin.
• Faithfulness to God.
• Believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who gave his life for us and that only He has the power to save.
Practice these attitudes out of faith and love for God, and you will be SAVED.
