| What About the Thief on the Cross? 1. Was He Saved? A: Yes, Jesus told him, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) B: Jesus had all authority including “to forgive sins” while he lived on this earth and forgave people their sins for various reasons: (Faith of friends, Mark 2:5-12; Was son of Abraham, Luke 19:7-10) Person’s own faith, Luke 7:48-50; No reason, John 8:3-11 C: However, no example of pardon before the Lord’s death can be our example today. 2. When Did Jesus Forgive the Thief? A: Before he, himself died on the cross; therefore the Old Testament Law was still in force (Col. 2:14) B: Before he completed His offering for the sins of the world (Heb. 9:12) C: Before the Gospel was fact (Death, Burial, Resurrection – 1 Cor. 15:1-4 D: Before Jesus issued the specific terms of pardon relative to his blood and the cross (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:18-20) E: Before the New Testament will went into effect (Heb. 9:16-17) F: Before the terms of savation were announced to the world (Acts 2) 3. Conclusions A: The thief could not have been baptized for the remission of sins because the blood had not been shed; Christ had not yet “died for our sins” (Rom. 5:8) B: The thief could not “obey the gospel” because the death, burial, and resurrection had not occurred. C: This is not true for those living this side of the cross. When Does One Become a Sinner? 1. Is one “Born in Sin” ? Psalms 51:5 – “Behold I was brought forth in sin (into a sinful world); and in iniquity did my mother conceive me.” ---What David inherited from his parents was a weakness of the flesh toward sin (See Rom. 7:18). He did not inherit their sin. Ezek. 18:20 – “The soul that sinneth (the soul who disobeys God); it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father..” ---Sin itself is not inherited. Each person comes under the penalty because of his own actions. 2. When does one become a sinner? A: When old enough to Know what God’s way is: James 4:17 – “ him that Knoweth to do good and doeth it not” Rom. 4:17 – “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 10:17) B. When old enough to commit sin; that is, to lust and yield to the lust. James 1:15 – “when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin…death” 1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law” C: When old enough to choose between God’s Way and Man’s Way Rom. 6:16 – “to whom ye yield yourselves ..sin..or…obedience.” 3: What about Children? Jesue said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me..for of such is the kingdom of God..” (Mark 10:14) “Except ye be converted, and become as little children (innocent); ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3- 4) |
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