The Thief On the Cross - Quaid Seward

Welcome to the official podcast of the Church

of Christ Wheeler area. We're so glad that you've

tuned in for today's message. Whether you're

on your morning commute or if you're relaxing

at home, we're here to share the strength and

truth of God's Word with our community. If you're

in the neighborhood, we'd love to meet you in

person. Come see us at 1500 South Allen L. Bean

Boulevard right here in Wheeler, Texas. We gather

every Sunday morning at 1030 a .m. and in the

afternoon at 230 p .m. We meet again on Wednesdays

at 7 p .m. Right now, let's open our Bibles together

and dive into today's sermon. We're going to

start with a very basic principle of Scripture

this morning in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

16. Paul writing here to his brother Timothy,

he says all Scripture is given by inspiration

of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

It's no secret that we have to have scripture

behind everything that we teach here. Everything

that we do, everything that we say, and everything

that we believe has to be founded on scripture.

And Paul lays out four of these kind of sections

that scripture is profitable for, but basically

it boils down to, number one, knowing scripture

for ourselves and knowing truth for ourselves.

And then number two, taking that what we believe

is true and teaching it to others. That's kind

of what the gist of what Paul is saying here

to Timothy. Without scripture all teaching and

learning and knowing Pointless it would be void.

It would be worthless. It's it's no good without

scripture and he said that all scripture is given

And it's profitable for these things for these

four things number one doctrine means to learn

or to teach we have to know The things that we

believe are true just because we believe something

doesn't make it true Just because something sounds

good doesn't make it true. That's where doctrine

comes into play to learn or to teach Knowing

for ourself for reproof conviction taking that

doctrine taking that truth and Using it to convict

if it really is true and that's with ourselves

and also with other people For correction it

means to straighten up we have to be able to

take doctrine, take scripture, all scripture,

and use it to straighten ourselves back up or

straighten maybe someone else back up that has

not applied doctrine to their lives. And then

lastly, instruction and righteousness. truth,

taking doctrine, and continuing in that each

day, whether it's for ourselves, whether we're

studying with someone, whether we're training

someone. But it means to take that each day and

keep applying it in our lives. And again, this

is nothing new. This is a, I would say, a basic

principle of what we know about Scripture. And

this can be applied to any Bible study, any sermon.

any reading that you could do with yourself or

with someone. But this morning I specifically

want to apply it to obviously our sermon today.

We're going to talk a little bit about the thief

on the cross and there's a ton of reasons why

we could study the thief on the cross and and

do that this morning, but I have a few reasons

for myself why I think it's been important for

me. First of all, it's a very common example

that we see in religious conversation. I don't

know about you, I hear it often, the thief on

the cross being brought into everyday religious

conversation. And it gets to a point where I

would consider it's controversial in some areas.

And if we're gonna have... Religious conversation

with people we have to be prepared to bring doctrine

bring truth into these everyday conversations

It's essential and then sharing the gospel each

chance we get Whether we intended to that day

or in that situation or not. We have to be prepared

to do that again in these everyday situations

that that we run into with people. Truth is important.

All scripture is important. It is profitable

for these things and we have to use that each

day and in our lives and in our conversations.

So the thief on the cross, it is an example that

is not always agreed upon and most of it involves

baptism for the remission of sins and that doctrine.

And because it's not agreed upon by everyone,

it causes problems in the church. Philippians

Philippians 1:27

chapter 1 verse 27, Paul writes, Now when we

disagree on things, that's not always a bad thing

because I think that helps us find truth. But

Paul here is saying, to be of one mind for the

faith of the gospel. And I think an example like

the thief on the cross is very important because

even though we may disagree or we may have questions

or we may have concerns, everyday examples like

these can help us have one mind come to a common

conclusion. I think that's very important in

the church. Peter says the same thing finally

all of you be of one mind having compassion for

one another love as brothers be tender -hearted

be courteous even when you disagree even when

you don't Think the same. Be of one mind. Have

compassion. And I think the idea of this is getting

to that conclusion to be of one mind. That's

what we should always be striving for. And that

goes with a lot of different examples, but this

morning specifically, the thief on the cross.

We hear often, what about the thief on the cross?

Say we're talking about baptism or Christianity

in general. What about the thief on the cross?

Explain that to me. He was not baptized and he

was still saved by Jesus Jesus said he would

take him to paradise explain that and Because

of this it must mean that baptism is not essential

today. We hear it. We hear it often explain the

thief on the cross explain the thief on the cross

and Maybe someone is is trying to believe in

baptism, but because of this example, it's a

it's a roadblock. It stands in their way again

let's be prepared this morning to Dissect these

examples in everyday conversation apply truth

and then be of one mind come to a common conclusion.

I Think these are all fair questions. I think

when When we're really trying to study scripture

and we're really trying to understand The will

of God and the will of Christ questions like

this are gonna arise. Well, what about this?

What about this? What about this? I totally think

that's fair to ask But we can take these things

and use it to connect and to be of the same mind.

And I think that's essentially what scripture

is profitable for. So we'll all have doctrine.

And when it comes to the thief on the cross,

I want to go back to this verse. All scripture

is given by inspiration of God is profitable

for doctrine. The doctrine of baptism. We have

to know and understand that baptism that we teach

is doctrine. It's true. for ourselves and also

for others. We have to apply it to others to

to reprove them or to convict them. We have to

use baptism to correct those who need baptism,

to need to be straightened up, and then finally

to then go on and teach that doctrine for instruction

and righteousness each day. In the next verse,

Paul writes that the man of God may be complete

thoroughly Equipped for every good work. I think

this morning we can take the thief on the cross

example and be equipped for the good work of

teaching the gospel Applying it again to ourselves

and then also to other people we have to be equipped

in these conversations Let's read the example

this morning the example of the thief on the

cross now Matthew Mark Luke and John all mentioned

the men hanging next to Jesus. Luke's account

is much more detailed and if you go back and

read the other accounts, you'll see why. We're

gonna look at Luke chapter 23. It's by far the

Luke 23 · chapter mention

most detailed example this morning. I'm gonna

read through this and then we're gonna come to

a kind of a common conclusion about Luke chapter

Luke 23 · chapter mention

23. 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 Jews save yourself and An inscription

also was written over him in the 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 But the other answering rebuked him saying

do you not even fear God? seeing you are under

the same condemnation and We indeed 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 and surely

I say to you today You will be with me in paradise

Jesus hanging on the cross You will be with me

in paradise. He saved that thief. While hanging

on the cross, he saved that thief. In conclusion

of Luke chapter 23, the thief was not baptized

Luke 23 · chapter mention

in water. The thief accepted Jesus as a savior

right then and there. Jesus granted the thief

salvation and took him to heaven. Done. We might

as well close down and sing the invitation song

and continue on in the service. Paul writes that

all scripture is profitable for doctrine, for

proof, for correction, instruction, and righteousness.

I think in order to have a true conclusion of

the thief on the cross, we must take into consideration

all scripture, not just Luke chapter 23, which

Luke 23 · chapter mention

I think is a great example that we can use and

take. But this is not the conclusion of the thief

on the cross. It's not even close. We must take

into account all scripture. Now I'm a... I'm

a question asker. When I'm trying to learn something,

you should see some of my outlines. They're just

questions, questions, and bullet points, and

arrows going to another answer. I like to ask

questions, and I work in construction. So when

I don't know something and I see someone who

does, I'm asking questions. I'm asking questions,

trying to learn. If it's in one of my hobbies

maybe hunting or outdoor hobby and I don't know

something I'm asking questions all the time and

it's the same in scripture and I think you'll

see that this morning that we're going to ask

some some questions That way we can get to a

to a common conclusion this morning. So my question

Right now is the thief luke chapter 23. What

Luke 23 · chapter mention

is the purpose of this text? If we really just

look at luke 23, what is the purpose of including

the thief on the cross in this context. Certainly,

Jesus hanging on the cross couldn't have been

left out, but why mention the thief? And I want

to ask, is it because, for us to conclude, whether

he needed baptism or not? Is that the purpose

of Luke chapter 23? And I think that we'll answer

Luke 23 · chapter mention

that throughout this study, but I want you to

keep that in the back of your mind this morning.

What is the purpose of what we just read? Was

it the purpose of Luke to portray baptism or

to not portray baptism? I Want to ask two another

what -if two what -if questions To kind of divide

the rest of our study what -if and we've always

heard well, don't don't play the what -if game

You'll get yourself in a bond. You'll get yourself

in trouble. We're playing the what -if game this

morning We're gonna we're gonna ask two what

-if questions first of all what if What if the

man hanging next to Jesus was baptized? Could

we even get to this conclusion? Does it change

anything? But what if? What if he was baptized?

Matthew chapter 3 verses 1 through 6. those days

Matthew 3:1–6

John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness

of Judea and saying repent for the kingdom of

heaven is at hand for this is he who was spoken

of by the prophet Isaiah saying the voice of

one crying in the wilderness prepare the way

of the Lord make his path straight and John himself

with clothes was clothed in camel's hair with

a leather belt around his waist and his food

was locust and wild honey then Jerusalem all

Judea and all around And all the region around

the Jordan went out to him and were baptized

by him in the Jordan confessing their sins Jerusalem

all Judea and all the region around the Jordan

Went out to John the Baptist and were baptized

in the Jordan River now Matthew The tax collector

I I would think or or guess that he was that

he was pretty good with with money and pretty

good with numbers and could probably add and

subtract and even a true number of all that went

out to John the Baptist, Matthew didn't bother

even counting it up. I think this insinuates

that it was a lot of people and he doesn't include

all the names obviously of who all went out to

the Jordan and if he did include those names

I think the book of Matthew would be a lot longer

than 28 chapters. A lot of people went out to

be baptized by John the Baptist. Let's look at

Mark's account. It's the same story. Who all

was involved? Mark chapter one, verses four through

eight. John came baptizing in the wilderness

and preaching a baptism of repentance for their

mission of sins. Then all the land of Judea and

those from Jerusalem went out to him and were

baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing

their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's

hair. and a leather belt around his waist he

ate locust and wild honey and he preached saying

there comes one after me who is mightier than

I whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop

down and loose I indeed baptize you with water

but he will baptize you with the holy spirit

he's saying I'm baptizing it's it's different

than the baptism that is to come which we'll

talk about here in a little while but again the

point here is a lot of people in this area, in

this region were being baptized in the Jordan

River by John the Baptist for their repentance.

Who all was involved? It's impossible to know

who all went out to the Jordan River. It's impossible,

but a lot of people were doing that. Let's take

it a step further. John chapter four, one and

two, therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees

had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples

than John. Though Jesus himself did not baptize

but his disciples Jesus disciples were doing

more numbers than John the Baptist so if you

add the region of Jerusalem Judea all around

the Jordan and then possibly double that That

that that Jesus disciples were baptized we're

talking about a lot of people were going out

to be baptized a ton of people So many that they

didn't include numbers they're just whole regions

were being baptized and we have to ask ourselves

was the thief part of that crowd that was I mean,

he was a sinner. He was obviously a thief Did

he feel the need to go be baptized in the Jordan

River? Just a map for kind of context here he

talks about Jerusalem the whole region, Judea,

the region, then all around the Jordan River

were going out to John the Baptist. Again, a

lot of people. I don't think it's hard to understand

that a count would be impossible or to know exactly

who there would be impossible. But I think to

say that the thief, I think to say that he was

not baptized is, completely unfounded on scripture.

He very possibly well could have been baptized.

Now it was the baptism of John again which we'll

get to here in a few minutes but to just conclude

from Luke chapter 23 that he wasn't baptized

Luke 23 · chapter mention

is unfounded. Tons of people were being baptized

and he very well could have been in this crowd.

Now it doesn't clarify either way and I'm certainly

not saying that he was baptized because It just

doesn't say. I would never aim to claim that

if the Bible itself does not, but I think it's

important to at least study that and to possibly

understand that he could have been in that crowd

of baptism. I think it's very, very possible.

I think it's very possible that the thief was

baptized by John. Number two, what if. What if

the thief was not baptized? Let's say, let's

read Luke chapter 23. Let's read the account

Luke 23 · chapter mention

of Matthew and Mark. Let's read these things

and then let's come to the conclusion. What if

he was not baptized? Would this mean that baptism

is not essential today? Does that change anything

for us today? Very important question to ask.

We're talking about eternal salvation. It's extremely

important to ask and to answer. What if he was

not baptized? Matthew chapter 28, the great commission.

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

Jesus here gives a command of the new law before

he ascends into heaven. Verses 18 through 20.

Jesus came and spoke to them saying, all authority

has been given to me in heaven. and on earth

go therefore and make disciples of all nations

baptizing them in the name of the father and

the son of the holy spirit teaching them to observe

all things that i've commanded you and lo i'm

with you always even to the end of the age amen

this is the new law commandment he said i have

authority here's what i'm telling you to do go

make disciples and baptize them now we have to

understand that in order for this new law to

go into effect Jesus had to die The new law was

only brought forth by Jesus's death Hebrews chapter

Hebrews 9 · chapter mention

9 in verse 15 through 18 for this reason He is

the mediator of the new covenant talking about

Jesus here. He is the one that's bringing the

new covenant to us He says by means of death

For the redemption of the transgressions under

the first covenant that those who are called

may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance

For where there is a testament there must also

be necessity be of death of the testator for

a testament is in force after men are dead since

it has no power at all while the testator lives

therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated

without blood jesus had to die um in order for

his new law to take effect. Jesus had to die

in order for him to give the Great Commission

and say go baptize all nations. And it's similar

to the earthly will that we create in our life

preparing for death. And I want to use the earthly

will as an example this morning. And I want to

kind of connect that to To Jesus's new law and

new will Let's say I Wrote in my will that I

was gonna give my house and my car to brother

Josh when I died. Now would he have the right

or the opportunity to take those things from

me before I died? No, that's not the case. A

will only takes place if the testator, the one

who makes the will, died. And I think that's

the same with Jesus this morning. He had to die

in order for that new commandment to be given.

Now at the time that he gave that commandment

in Matthew chapter 28, the thief had already

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

died. The thief was not hearing the new law commandment,

which I think is very important to note this

morning. He had died on that cross that day with

Jesus. So to answer our question, what if he

wasn't baptized? Even if he wasn't baptized,

the law didn't require the baptism at his time

of death. And I don't think, and I think that

means we cannot simply take this example in Luke

23 and apply it to the rest of humanity, the

rest of humanity who will live under a completely

different law, which is the will of Jesus. Sorry,

I'm trying to. Since the thief lived and died

under the old law The testator which is Jesus

could have chosen to give the thief salvation

on whatever basis he chose just as I just as

I chose to You know, I could give Somebody something

in my lifetime on whatever basis I chose. Let's

say I choose to give Let's say I choose to give

brother Bevard $5 ,000 check today and I gave

it to him. He'd be happy about that And then

in my will I wrote that I would give Brother

Jace a $5 ,000 check on the condition that he

was baptized and I died tomorrow. And all you

guys came around to read my will and in my will

it said that Jace got $5 ,000 if he was baptized.

Well, Jace may understand that I already gave

Beverly a check for $5 ,000 yesterday, and Beverly

already cashed it in the bank. And Jace may up

in demand that he get his $5 ,000 the same way

that Beverly did. But that's not how a will works.

While I was alive, while I was living, I could

have given anything I wanted to Beverly. But

as soon as I died, My will goes into effect,

and that's what allows these things to take place.

That's just how a will works. The orders of my

will must be followed, and that's the same as

Jesus Christ. When he died and he gave us his

will, that's what we must follow. While he was

living salvation could be granted to whoever

he wanted But when he died salvation must be

handled in the terms of his will which we have

in the New Testament Instructions in the New

Covenant, which he wrote and gave Acts chapter

Acts 2 · chapter mention

2 in verse 38, Peter said to them, Repent and

let every one of you be baptized in the name

of Jesus Christ for remission of sins and you

shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This

was the first gospel sermon after Jesus had been

resurrected and we know that the thief was not

hearing the sermon. The thief had died. Peter

is now preaching the will of Christ. Now that

Jesus doesn't have an earthly say in what is

said, Peter is taking the new covenant of Jesus'

blood and preaching it. He is following that

command in Matthew chapter 28. I command you

Matthew 28 · chapter mention

to teach this gospel and to baptize nations.

And that's exactly what Peter is doing. The thief

didn't hear this message because Jesus hadn't

even delivered that command yet When the thief

was still living Jesus hadn't even delivered

the gospel the death burial and resurrection

It was in the process Jesus was was dying but

hasn't died hadn't been buried and hadn't been

resurrected so we cannot take Baptism and apply

it to that time because he lived in a completely

different law How can we be saved through the

gospel? if Jesus hadn't even delivered it yet.

The gospel was far from complete when Jesus was

hanging on that cross, and it was far from saving

the thief from his sins. What if baptism took

place? What if we can conclude that baptism did

take place. Well, he was baptized in the old

law. He lived under a different law. He was baptized

in the baptism of John, which is not the same

as the baptism of Jesus. He was still a sinner,

maybe looking to repent if he was baptized, but

he wasn't forgiving. John himself said he couldn't

forgive, he couldn't offer forgiveness or the

Holy Spirit, but he could offer repentance. And

it certainly was a baptism for God, but from

God, but if he was baptized, it wouldn't have

changed his salvation. What if the thief hanging

on the cross was not baptized? Well, he was still

a sinner, same as before. Maybe not looking to

repent and certainly not forgiven, but again,

it was the old law. Baptism wasn't required.

There was no saving gospel yet. Jesus hasn't

delivered the gospel, hasn't delivered the Holy

Spirit. If he wasn't baptized, it wouldn't have

changed his salvation. I want to go back to our

question like before, Luke chapter 23, what is

Luke 23 · chapter mention

the purpose of this text? Is the purpose of Luke

Luke 23 · chapter mention

chapter 23 to teach us whether we should or shouldn't

be baptized? It's a great example for us to use

and to study, but I think we answered that question

this morning. It takes all scripture to come

to a conclusion. We can use this example to be

of one mind and come closer to each other, but

I don't know if the purpose of that was to teach

us baptism or not baptism. Luke is writing to

Christians of the new law, of the New Testament.

now delivered to you by Jesus. And for me and

you, we live in a time, we live in the time of

the new law, an unchanging law, in a time where

the gospel of Christ is as powerful now as the

day that Peter gave that sermon. The blood of

Jesus is just as powerful because he has given

us the new law. Baptism wouldn't have changed

the thief's salvation, but Jesus can. And that's

the same as it was in Acts chapter 2 and that's

Acts 2 · chapter mention

the same as it is today. Jesus can change your

salvation. And if you need your salvation changed,

you live in the new law. You're offered baptism

and you're offered the Holy Spirit because Jesus

died and because the testator died and because

he gave us his new will. Thank you for listening

to today's sermon from the Church of Christ Wheeler

area. We hope this message encouraged you and

strengthened you in your faith this week. Don't

forget the doors always open at 1500 South Allen

L. Bean Boulevard at 10 30 a .m on Sundays, 2

30 p .m on Sunday afternoons, and recharge with

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a blessed week and we'll see you next time.