A Tale of Two Criminals: The Crucial Choice of Guilt or Forgiveness

About this sermon

Learn More | https://trbc.org/encountering-jesus-study/ Watch Week 6 | https://youtu.be/idPJ8JJPyE4 Start from the Beginning | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNgjNZYoI92N0j-v2zxnwCRSfThJbxztt Giving | http://TRBC.org/GIVE Subscribe for weekly content | http://youtube.com/@ThomasRoadChurch?sub_confirmation=1 DISCOVER: What does the passage say? Who is the author and what is the time period that the passage was written? ◊ The passage in Luke 23 was written by Luke, a Gentile physician who traveled with Paul on mission trips. It was written in the late 50s or early 60s AD. What is the setting? When did it happen (look at the chapter before)? Where was it? Who is the audience? ◊ Luke wrote his Gospel and the book of Acts for a man named Theophilus, with the intention of keeping a record of the life of Jesus and the early church. The setting of Luke 23 was outside of Jerusalem at Golgotha, as Jesus was being crucified in the morning. The dialogue was between three people being executed on crosses: a mocking criminal, a repentant criminal, and Jesus. Are any key words or phrases repeated? Which ones are the most important? ◊ In this short passage there are not repeated phrases, but a keyword is criminal (Note: Matthew 27 and Mark 15 calls them robbers or outlaws). The word is important because it highlights the guilt of all people, represented by these two men on crosses who have broken the law. LEARN: What is the passage teaching? What was the biggest lesson you learned from today’s teaching? ◊ The greatest lesson from this passage is the guilt of humans and the forgiveness of Jesus. It encapsulates the truths of the gospel message – sin, judgment, atonement, repentance, love, forgiveness, and heaven. It shows the two responses that people can give to Jesus – accept Him or deny Him. What do these verses teach about God (the Father, Son, and Spirit) and His character? ◊ These verses show Jesus’ willing sacrifice of His life for the sins of humanity, His innocence, His willingness to forgive, and His free invitation to His heavenly home. How do these verses reveal the nature of humanity to you? ◊ The passage gives a bold, clear picture of fallen humanity. The two criminals were guilty – there was no argument about their law-breaking. They deserved the penalty of the judgment – execution. This is the state of every human. APPLY: What are you to do with the passage? 1. Many people are like the unrepentant criminal - they know about Jesus, His teaching, His work - but they do not believe. How could this man reject Jesus? Why do people miss the truth of Jesus? 2. The repentant criminal started the morning condemned to execution, and mocked Jesus like everyone else. But something changed his heart quickly and radically when he encountered Jesus. Share about a time when your life was radically changed through a “Jesus moment.” 3. Is it fair of God to save people like this criminal in the last moments of life? He had wasted his entire life. Shouldn’t he have shown more repentance before God saved him? What does this teach us about God? 4. Look again at the truths the man confessed to gain Jesus’ invitation. What were they? How can we use his confession and Jesus’ – Stay connected with our church. Instagram | http://instagram.com/ThomasRoad Facebook | http://facebook.com/ThomasRoad

Topics

• Forgiveness