Sermon Notes - McLean Bible Church

People Jesus Met, part 53 - The Thief on the Cross (How to Activate God‟s Plan of Salvation)
“I can accept getting older. I can even accept getting old. But dying Man, that‟s a tough one.”
Rodney Dangerfield
“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be crucified.” Luke 23:32
“They were thieves” Matthew 27:38
“And when they came to the place called „The Skull,‟ there they crucified Jesus and the criminals, one of
them on Jesus‟ right and the other on His left.” Luke 23:33
“And Jesus said, „Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.‟ Meanwhile, the soldiers
divided up Jesus‟ clothing by casting lots.” Luke 23:34
“The people stood by, looking on. But the rulers sneered at Him, saying, „He saved others; let Him save
Himself if He is the Messiah of God.‟” Luke 23:35
“The soldiers also mocked Him, offering Him wine vinegar and saying, „If You are the King of the Jews,
save Yourself.‟” Luke 23:36, 37
“And there was also a written notice above Him which read: „THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.‟”
Luke 23:38
“And one of the criminals who was hanging there with Him hurled insults at Him, saying, „Are You not the
Messiah Save Yourself and us!‟” Luke 23:39
“Now My heart is troubled. Yet what shall I say „Father, save Me from this hour‟ No! It was for this very
reason (i.e., the cross) that I came.” John 12:27
Jesus knew that He had a far more critical purpose to fulfill by staying on the cross – namely paying for
our sin and purchasing our eternal redemption before a Holy God.
“But the other thief rebuked the first one and said to him, „Do you not fear God, since you are under the
same sentence of death‟” Luke 23:40
“And we are being punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man (i.e., Jesus)
has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:41
“Then he (thief #2) said, „Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.‟” Luke 23:42
“Jesus answered him, „Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.‟” Luke 23:43
The word “Paradise” only appears three times in the New Testament – each time referring to “Heaven.”
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7
“I know a man in Christ (i.e., Paul himself) who fourteen years ago was caught up into the third heaven.”
2 Corinthians 12:2

“This man was caught up into Paradise and he heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted
to tell.” 2 Corinthians 12:4
In 2 Corinthians 12:4, the “third heaven” is also called “Paradise.”
Luke 16 – a place of comfort and reward
Revelation 21
• God Himself will be there
• The water of life is dispensed freely
• The streets are made of gold
• There is no night
• Nothing impure will enter there
• No longer any “curse” (Genesis 3:17)
• No death or sorrow or pain or crying
“. . . for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4b
“Today . . .” Luke 23:43
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
The moment we as followers of Christ close our eyes in death on earth, we immediately open them in
“Paradise” in the presence of the living, risen Christ!
So What
Just think how these spiritual truths we‟ve learned could have changed Rodney Dangerfield‟s life – if he‟d
only known about them and activated them for himself.
In order for what Jesus did for us on the cross to become “ours,” we must “activate” it.
The plan of salvation God offers us is real – but before we can actually make it “ours,” there are certain
steps we must take to “activate” it.
Step #1 – He repented
“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of death And we are being punished justly,
for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” Luke 23:40
This is the heart of true, godly repentance: admitting our sins before God and ourselves – honestly,
courageously and openly.
“The rabbi stood and prayed, „God, I thank You that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers,
adulterers – or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of all I get.‟”
Luke 18:11, 12
“But the tax-collector stood at a distance. He wouldn‟t even lift his eyes up to heaven, but beat on his
breast and said, „God, please be merciful to me, a sinner.‟” Luke 18:13
“„I tell you the truth,‟ Jesus said, „it was the tax-collector who went home justified before God.‟” Luke 18:14

Repentance is not just for non-believers.
Even after we become followers of Jesus Christ – in order to unlock God‟s mercy and forgiveness on a
daily basis – we must “repent” on a daily basis.
Repentance must be a “way of life” for anyone who hopes to walk close to God.
Step #2 – He placed his total trust for eternity in the hands of Jesus Christ alone – plus nothing!
“Then he said, „Jesus remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.‟” Luke 23:42
If faith in Jesus alone wasn‟t sufficient to get him into Paradise, the thief had no “Plan B.”
Step #2 in activating God‟s plan of salvation is placing our trust for our eternal destiny fully in the hands of
Jesus Christ – plus nothing.
“Jesus answered him, „Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.‟” Luke 23:43
How to “activate” God‟s plan of salvation:
#1 – True, godly repentance from the heart
#2 – Absolute reliance on Jesus Christ – and what He did for us on the cross – as our exclusive plan for
getting into heaven
As long as there was breath in the thief‟s body, God‟ plan of salvation was still available to him God sees
every one of us just like the thief on the cross.
For every one of us, the only hope we have of every getting into Paradise is to get there the same way the
thief on the cross did.
• By truly repenting of our sin before God
• By casting ourselves on Jesus Christ [and what He did for us on the cross] as our exclusive plan for
getting to heaven.