COMPARISON


Readers, this evening I have decided to write something that will surprise you, if not shock you a little bit. It’s about the thief on the cross, a story from the Bible that many of you are already familiar with. I am also going to quote a verse or two, also from the Bible, about what Jesus had said.

“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. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 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 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." Luke 23:32-43.
Readers, Jesus knew that those who are crucified on the cross will soon die. Both thieves can sin no more at the end of the day. Jesus saved the thief who said to the other thief "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? "And we 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." This thief #2 admitted his wrongdoing and feeling of remorse by admitting his wrongdoing, but the thief #1 did not. He blasphemed Jesus and had never shown any remorse. 

What Jesus did to thief #2 was an exception. He saved the thief #2 because the man who was dying had asked Jesus to save him. The thief can commit no more sin after he dies. And he had paid his debts on the cross. When Jesus told him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" He forgave all his past sins. Jesus forgave all his sins, and he could sin no more after he died. He is clean. How about us? Are we clean? Are we clean of our sins? Or are we still dirty? Have our sins been forgiven? How do we know?

Now, compare the story about the thief on the cross with this one. “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-3. In other words, Jesus' death will not save us unless we are converted and become as little children. 

"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” Matthew 18:7-9.

Readers, do we listen to Jesus, or do we listen to His disciples? Do we believe what Jesus said, do we believe what His disciples said or wrote, or do we believe in our church pastors? Jesus is not interested in paying for our sins. He wants us to pay for our sins, cut our hands off, or pluck our eyes if they cause us to sin.

Incidentally, do we know that Jesus’ death was a mistake? Those who crucified Him did not know that Jesus was the Son of God. They crucified Him by mistake. 

Jesus said while hanging on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."

If the Jews had known that Jesus was the Son of God, they would have never crucified Jesus. Who then would pay for our sins if not we ourselves? We know that until today the Jews did not believe in Jesus Christ, and Jesus had forgiven their sins for doing what they did to Jesus. Has Jesus forgiven our sins? That is the question that we should ask every day until Jesus returns. Forget about grace unless we have converted and become as little children.

What is sin? 1 John 3:4 says, “Everyone who commits sin breaks God's law, for that is what sin is a breaking of God's law.

“Then one of them, a lawyer, asked [Him a question], testing Him, and saying, "Teacher, which [is] the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” Matthew 22:35-37

Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

Are we keeping all of His commandments, or are we keeping only those that can fill our pockets with CASH?





 

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