LESSONS FROM THE THIEVES ON THE CROSSES

By David J. Riggs

                        
Intro.
   A. When confronted with the gospel condition of "baptism for the
      remission of sins," many ask, "What about the thief on the     
      cross?" 
      Those who ask this question make three assumptions:
      1. That the thief was never baptized.  He could have been
         (Matt. 3:5-6; John 4:1).  We don't know for sure; they
         assume that he wasn't.
      2. That they can be saved in the same manner as was the thief. 
         They must be on a cross along with the dying Savior to be
         saved exactly as the thief was.
      3. That they are under the same law that the thief was under. 
         Heb. 9:16-17
   B. Much has been said about the thief on the cross--articles have
      been written, tracts have been distributed, and sermons have   
      been preached--however, the scriptures make the point that     
      Jesus was crucified between two thieves, the one on the right  
      and the other on the left.
      1. Hence, in this sermon we are not thinking of the thief on   
         the cross, but of the thieves on the crosses.
      2. We will also view the cross between them that we might see
         the full picture and that it might have its fullest effect  
         for good upon us.

I. THE THIEVES ON THE CROSSES WERE THE OPPOSITE IN CHARACTER TO HIM  
   ON THE CROSS BETWEEN THEM.
   A. They were "malefactors" (evil-doers) deserving of death by     
      civil decree (Rom. 13:1-4). 
      1. Also, they were deserving of the severer punishment God
         will yet inflict upon all evildoers.  Rom. 2:8-9; Heb.      
         10:28-29
      2. In contrast Jesus was:
         a. A doer of good.  Acts 10:38
         b. Totally innocent of evil.  Luke 23:14,22; 1 Pet. 2:22;
            Heb. 4:15
   B. They were thieves, robbing others to enrich themselves,        
      violating the laws of God and man.
      1. In contrast, Jesus deprived Himself to enrich others.  2    
         Cor. 8:9
   C. They were revilers, reviling the sinless Christ, along with the
      rest. Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:32
      1. Some say there is a contradiction between the writers here. 
         No, evidently they both reviled Jesus at first, but one
         changed his mind.
      2. In contrast Jesus reviled not again.  1 Pet. 2:23
   D. In comparison to the thieves, how opposite is our own character
      from the Lord's?
      1. In how many respects do we fall short?  Are we in any less
         need of divine mercy than they because we are not
         pronounced guilty by a human decree?

II. THE THIEVES ON THE CROSSES INADVERTENTLY FULFILLED PROPHECY      
   CONCERNING THE CHRIST.
   A. Hundreds of years previous, Isaiah hand prophesied of the
      vicarious death of the coming Messiah, signifying, among other
      things, that he was to be "numbered with the transgressors" 
      Isaiah 53:12
      1. That this referred to Jesus there can be no doubt.  Luke
         22:37
      2. Thus, the thieves present valuable evidence that Jesus was
         indeed the Christ.
         a. But this does not mean the thieves are to be
            commended; they were not forced to do what they did.
   B. The fact that Jesus was numbered with transgressors did not
      make Him a transgressor.
      1. He was the "friend of sinners and publicans," -- numbered
         with them, but He did not participate in their sins or      
         condone their evil in any way.
         a. One should not jump into the quick-sand in order to pull
            people out of it.
      2. Nevertheless, He died as though He were a transgressor
         because of our transgressions.  Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:21-25 

III. THE THIEVES ON THE CROSSES TURNED OUT TO BE DIFFERENT FROM EACH 
   OTHER. Luke 23:39-43
   A. One is untouched in the presence of divine goodness.
      1. He continues to worsen his sins by railing on the Lord. 
         Verse 39
      2. He refuses to listen to the words of his dying comrade.
      3. Thus, he goes to death hardened, with an impenitent heart. 
         This brings tragic results.  Rom. 2:5
   B. One is touched and moved in the presence of the dying Savior.
      1. He rebuked his dying comrade.  
      2. He acknowledged his own sinfulness.
      3. He proclaims the innocence of the Lord.
      4. He makes a plea to the Lord.
      5. Thus, he goes to death with an altogether different heart. 
         This brings marvelous and glorious results.  Num. 23:10

IV. THE PENITENT'S PLEA REVEALS:
   A. The wise thief had belief in consciousness after death, both of
      the Lord and of himself.
      1. He was not of that persuasion who say that man has no soul,
         that all ends with the death of the body.
         a. Some teach that the wicked dead are annihilated and the
            righteous dead sleep in death and will be raised again
            when the Lord comes.
         b. The New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses
            changes the comma in Luke 23:43.
      2. Jesus taught that:
         a. Man has a immortal soul.  Matt. 10:28
         b. In death the soul exists in hades.  Luke 16:19-26
         c. He would survive the grave.  John 2:19-21; Matt. 16:21;
            17:22-23; 20:18-19;  26:31-32
            (1) Even the enemies of Jesus knew that he had taught
                this.  Matt. 27:63-64
         d. He would one day call forth all the dead to a general
            judgment and eternity in heaven or hell.  John 5:28-29
      3. How much of all this the thief knew we do not know, but
         certainly he had heard some of it.
   B. The wise thief had expectation of the coming eternal kingdom. 
      (Notice the chart below).
   C. The wise thief had a desire for a favorable place in the divine
      remembrance.
      1. Surely he was not wanting to just be remembered that there
         was a certain thief who died with him.
      2. To be remembered favorably is to enjoy His blessings, His
         approval, His intercession.
      3. We will all be remembered in the judgment, and some will
         wish then to be forgotten.
      4. The thief was exceedingly wise.  His plea reveals:
         a. Belief in life after death.
         b. Hope - expectation of coming kingdom.
         c. The spirit of humility.
      5. This gives no hope for death-bed salvation today.
         a. Weren't those who were called at the 11th hour given
            the reward?  Matt. 20:1-16 
         b. All the workers went to work when called.  Death-bed
            salvation is comparable to the ones who were called at
            various hours of the day saying, "I'll not go to work
            now; I'll wait until the eleventh hour."

V. THE LORD'S REPLY TO THE WISE THIEF REVEALS:
   A. The existence of a place called "Paradise" for the righteous   
      after death.
      1. He did not say that the thief would sleep in death until he
         would some day be with Him in paradise.
      2. The place can only be "hades" where the Lord went.  Acts
         2:27-32
         a. Jesus came out for a short time because His soul was
            reunited with His body; His resurrection.
         b. His death, nor the abode of the dead, did not stop Him
            from building His church.  Matt. 16:18
   B. When we die, we can be with Christ.  Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8;   
      Rev. 20:4

Concl.
   A. The thieves on the crosses are typical of two classes of people
      today.  We need to consider which class we are in.
      1. One is impenitent who is untouched by the preaching of the
         cross.  These are hardened and will not repent even in the
         face of death.
      2. The other is the penitent who brakes down by the sight of a
         suffering Savior. 
         a. The wise thief took advantage of the opportunity he
            had.  
         b. There was nothing else he could have done, but he had
            such an attitude of heart that he would have done
            anything the Lord required.
   B. Which class are you in?
      1. Will you not repent and comply with the simple terms of the
         gospel?  Acts 3:19
      2. We, too, need to learn the words of the publican.  Luke
         18:13

Chart:
THE ETERNAL KINGDOM
1. There is an eternal kingdom. 2 Pet. 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:50; 2 Tim.     
   4:18; Luke 23:42
2. It will be ushered in at His Coming and Judgment. 2 Tim. 4:1;      
   Matt. 25:31-34
3. There are only two alternatives. Mark 9:43-48; Matt. 8:11-12; Luke 
   13:23-30
4. The rich will hardly enter it. Matt. 19:24-26; Mark 10:23-27; Luke 
   18:24-27
5. The poor, rich in faith, are heirs of it. James 2:5
6. The wicked shall not inherit it. 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 
   5:3-6
   a. This includes the wicked in the kingdom. Matt. 13:31; ex. Matt. 
      22:11-13; 25:26-30
7. What must we do?
   a. Do the will of the Father. Matt. 7:21-23
   b. Continue in the faith. Acts 14:21-22
   c. Give diligence to add the virtues. 2 Pet. 1:5-11