A Criminals Confession

  A Criminals Confession

In the Gospel of Luke we read of this conversation between the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus and Jesus.

Luke records,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

It has been pointed out to me that the criminal that Jesus said would get to heaven (Paradise) never said the sinners prayer.

I pointed out the sinners prayer isn’t seen in the Bible and that the criminal that believed in Jesus did everything he was called to do to enter heaven.

He believed Jesus was who he claimed to be. And he confessed his sins.

The apostle Paul pointing out,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9,10.

The apostle John stating,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

Is this you today? 

Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord?

Have you confessed your sins to God?

If you truly did this you are on your way to Heaven.

Please think about it.

You can't earn it

  You can’t earn it

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

When it comes to getting into heaven we cannot boast. We cannot say “look at the good works I did. That is what got me to heaven.” We cannot say this because it is not true. It is through the grace of God we get to heaven. It is through believing in Christ Jesus. 

On the day Jesus was crucified Luke’s gospel records,

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The one criminal who obviously had no chance to do good works. Admitted that he’d sinned and was being punished justly for what he did. Believed Jesus was who he said he was and confessed his sin to Jesus. Prompting Jesus to say “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”

This is something we all must do.

Please think about it.

Not Everyone is

  Not everyone is

Jesus said,

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.

We here in North America a place where there is more freedom than any other place in the world there are a lot of people, especially in the Media that say they are Christian but are not.

Sadly these “false prophets or preachers” are becoming the face of Christianity. That being said we who are true believers need to stand up to them.

We need to do all we can to preach the unadulterated Gospel of Christ. We need to do all we can to see that those who enter out churches house fellowships and other meeting places, receive the true word of God.

As individuals we need to steer clear of these false teachers. We need to know what is right doctrine. The only way we can do this is by praying and asking God to lead us. Then reading and studying the scriptures for ourselves.

Do you at least read the scriptures daily? Just how much time to do spend reading the scriptures?

Please think about it.

A Look at Christ's Crucifixion

 A look at Christ’s Crucifixion 

Luke’s gospel records this about the crucifixion of Jesus,

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

One did not believe in Christ asking for physical proof that he was the Christ by physically saving them. He gave no hint of confessing his wrong deeds. He just wanted his life in this world to be saved.

The other believed in Christ by faith. He admitted his sin confessed his wrong doing and asked Christ to remember him when He came into his kingdom.

We today have the same two choices. Reject Jesus, or believe in Him by faith. Confess our sins to Him and accept the Salvation He offers.

Are you willing to believe Jesus is the Son of God. The Saviour of all who believe in Him?

Please think about it.

Anyone can

Anyone can

The Psalmist writes,

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16.

This is one of my favourite scriptures. Put simply it says God knows why we are the way we are. He knows our DNA. That is why God and only God has the right to judge anyone especially with respect to where they will spend eternity.

The Bible makes it clear how we are to get to heaven. The apostle Paul makes it clear,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

If we look at the crucifixion of Jesus we see crucified with Jesus a man who by his own admission was a thief deserving of the punishment being rendered to him. Yet Jesus tells him he will be with Him in paradise. Luke’s gospel recording,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

Anyone can get to heaven if they truly turn from their sins, believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, and confess their sins to Him.

As I said at the beginning God knows why we are the way we are. He knows if we are truly repenting of our sins. If we have truly accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Which is something we as mere humans cannot. And thus must not judge anyone with respect to where they will spend eternity. 

The job of the Christian. The true believer in Christ Jesus is simple. Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.