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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Theme: The Three Crosses. T ext : Luke 23 ¿33-4$ I nteôduçtion :
III. Christ on the cross (vv. 33 - 38 ). 1. Who is He? Not a sinner, not a criminal, jiot a dan gerous man, not an impostor, hut the Son o f God, a spotless man, a sinless human being. 2. What are they doing to him? Fulfilling the Scriptures. “ Beholding Him.” - 3. Why do they crucify Him? In the impenitent thief we saw a man dying with sin in him and on him. In the penitent thief we saw a man dying with sin in him but not on him, for Christ was bear ing it. In Christ we see One with no sin in Him but with sin on Him, taking the sinner’s place and bearing the sin o f the world (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2 :24; Isaiah 53:6; John 11:29). “Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond ^degree!” Theme: Consider Death. T ext : -Deuteronomy 32:39; 2 Kings 20 : 1 . I ntroduction : The general unwillingness to consider Death is not a debt o f nature; it is the wages o f sin. Man is a suicide; sin slays the race; we die because o f sin. 2. As to its certainty. i There is no escape. It is appointed unto man once to die. Die we must unless the Lord comes. Nothing can come into the heart o f man without his willing permis sion (cf. Revelation 3 :20) except death, and that comes in, not through the door, but through the window, because man is not -willing to admit death. “For death is come up into our windows” (Jeremiah 9:21). 3. As to its time. Who knoweth the day o f his death ? With God it is fixed, but it is hidden from us. death, yet it is inevitable. I. Consider death itself. 1. As to its origin.
- A description o f Calvary, the mount of crucifixion, and the three crosses. They have much to say to us with regard to God, sin, and salvation. It The impenitent thief (v. p). 1. Sin looks most black and ugly when viewed in the light o f the cross. The cross as a mirror. The sin o f unbe lief (cf. John 16:9 with Hebrews 10:28, 29). 2. A man may be very near Christ and yet lost. Judas was near enough to kiss the Mas ter, and yet was lost. The danger o f near ness. 3. The impenitent thief did not change at death. The probabilities are that men will die as they have lived. Dying time is a poor time for salvation. Death-bed repentances are usually unreliable. II. The penitent thief, (vv. 4 1 , 43 ). Quite ' a refreshing contrast to what we have just seen. 1. He was convicted o f sin (v. 42). A moment before he had railed on Christ; now he calls for mercy. What wrought the change? A vision o f the Christ. 2. He confessed his sin (vv. 41, 42). He acknowledged the justice o f his pun ishment; he did not excuse his sin. 3. He recognized the righteousness o f Christ (v. 41). “ This man has done nothing amiss.” 4. His request (v. 42). ;3j Greater faith than that o f Abraham or Moses. Calls Him Lord even though cruci fied. Sees another crown than that o f thorns. Speaks o f the kingdom when no
scepter is in Christ’s hand. 5. Christ’s answer (v. 43).
The assurance o f forgiveness and the ' enjoymeht o f the personal presence of Christ, -, “With me”—that is heaven.
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