HE FORGIVES US

He Gets Us #2

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

(Luke 23:39–43, NLT) “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

1.  WE WILL FACE GOD WHEN WE DIE

(Luke 23:40, NLT) “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?”

• God is transforming the heart of the thief.

• The thief isn’t concerned with getting off the cross but with being prepared to meet God.

• He fears

(Luke 12:4–5, NLT) “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.”

(Revelation 20:11, NLT) “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.”

(Hebrews 10:26, Message) “If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice”

(Hebrews 9:27, NLT) “Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,”

2.  WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD

(Luke 23:41, NLT) “We deserve to die for our crimes, …”

(Romans 6:23, NLT) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

3.  WE MUST KNOW THAT JESUS IS THE TRULY SINLESS ONE

(Luke 23:41, NLT) “…This man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:20, NLT) “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

(2 Corinthians 5:21, GW) “God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through him.”

4.  WE MUST KNOW THAT ONLY GOD’S GRACE CAN SAVE US

(Luke 23:42, NLT) “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me…”

(Ephesians 2:8–9, NLT) “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

5.  JESUS WILL SAVE US IF WE ASK

(Luke 23:42, NLT) “…when you come into your Kingdom.”

(Acts 16:31, NLT) “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”

(Luke 23:43, NLT) “Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Growthwork

Jesus died praying for his enemies and bringing a man to eternal life.

This is how we should live!

(2 Corinthians 6:2, GN) “Listen! This is the hour to receive God’s favor; today is the day to be saved!”

(Romans 10:13, NLT) “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”