Luke 23:32-33; 39-43
Introduction Today is Part 2 of our series called A Resurrection of Hope Last week, we saw how the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus was God s plan through the ages The cross was God s plan A The cross bore the sacrifice for our sins
Introduction Today I want to look at the hope the cross offers us This is important because we live in a time where people know little about the cross of Christ or even care For many, it has really become meaningless Think about it
Introduction Today, crosses are worn on necklaces and earrings Crosses are tattooed on peoples bodies Crosses decorate many walls Crosses can be found on steeples and stained glass Crosses are everywhere
Introduction The cross has become so beautified it has lost its meaning Having lost its meaning, many fail to see and embrace the hope of the cross Think about it this way
Luke 23:32-33 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
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
Luke 23: 39-43 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.
THERE REALLY IS HOPE
The cross offers HOPE We see three crosses Two crosses with men that are guilty One cross of Jesus who was not guilty Jesus died on His cross to offer forgiveness of sin to die for the guilty
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The cross offers HOPE Hope of forgiveness Our sins required a blood sacrifice for forgiveness Only Jesus death on the cross would be sufficient The cross offered forgiveness for all our sins past, present, future
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin
The cross offers HOPE Hope for the defeat of sin Sin entered the human race through Adam and Eve and spread to all humanity Everyone is a sinner (Romans 3:23) Everyone deserves the death that is the punishment for sin (Romans 6:23) Christ s death on the cross satisfies the death sentence held against us by God
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
The cross offers HOPE Hope from the revelation of God s love Perhaps Charles Wesley's old hymn explains it best- "Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!" Love put Him there (Father s love for us) Love kept Him there (Son s love for the Father)
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
The cross offers HOPE Hope from the manifestation of God s grace Only perfect people may dwell in the presence of a perfect God The cross cancels out our sin and restores us to fellowship with God as if we had never sinned
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast,
The cross offers HOPE Hope from the manifestation of God s grace This is good news for those who trust Christ's death on the cross to be sufficient to cover all of their sin This is bad news for those who hope to earn their way into heaven by their good works
Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public
Colossians 2:14-15 spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
The cross offers HOPE Hope from the victory won Nailing Christ to the cross was meant by Satan to be his great victory It was used by God to deliver Satan a fatal blow The victory God won at the cross has eternal consequences for you and me
Why this is all important Pastor surveyed 100 church goers in his community Asked "Would it make any difference in your life if Christ had not died on the cross?" Remember he asked church members
Why this is all important Survey of 100 church goers Results: 45 said they didn't think it would make any difference 25 said they thought so not sure what 20 said it made all the difference in how they lived 10 said they didn't know didn t understand
Why this is all important Only 20 percent believed the cross made all the difference What percentage are you today? Do you really know clearly what it means that Jesus has died for your sins and mine? Let s look at the responses at Calvary
Two criminals on either side of Jesus Luke called them robbers Mark called them murderers They apparently were guilty of multiple offenses of violence They represent all mankind guilty and deserving of punishment
The One Who Refused the Hope of the Cross He joined right in w/ the mob mentality If you are the Christ, save yourself and us. Problem is, he didn t believe Jesus was the Messiah He just wanted to be rescued so he could go and sin some more
The One Who Refused the Hope of the Cross Sound familiar? This is a vivid depiction of many people today They call on God to take away pain and suffering while planning their next selfserving ambition
The One Who Refused the Hope of the Cross How can a man be so close to the Savior yet so far from the truth? It amazes me how people can get so close to the truth and say No. A man went to get his hair cut The barber said, I don t believe God exists
The One Who Refused the Hope of the Cross If God exists, why are people sick? Why are children abandoned? Why does God allow pain and suffering? I don t believe barbers exist If barbers existed, then why are there people who have long hair and beards.
The One Who Refused the Hope of the Cross The barber said, Because some people refuse to come. The man replied, Precisely. That is the point. God too exists. It s just some people have just decided not to come. Have you come to God in faith?
The One Who Embraced the Hope of the Cross Don t you fear God? We re getting what we deserve, but this man is innocent! He admitted his guilt He owned it no excuses, no comparison Until we come to the same conclusion - we can t be saved. We re guilty!
The One Who Embraced the Hope of the Cross He trusted Jesus with his future Will you remember me when you come into your kingdom? He realized that death was not the end but the beginning He understood that there was something beyond this life Jesus and His kingdom
Jesus response And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. What did He have to gain by promising this thief a place of honor at the banquet table? What could this thief ever offer Jesus in return? The hope of the cross is founded in what Jesus did and not what we could do
For us The cross is important because of all of these things But it is nothing if it is not the means of our salvation Only when we have turned from our sin and received the forgiveness offered to us through the cross of Jesus Christ does it have any meaning for us personally
What is your decision today?