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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
the purpose of this text? Is the purpose of Luke
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
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.