Summary: Will you be remebered in Heaven? Do you remember when you were saved?

Will You Be Remembered?

Luke 23:32-43

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. {Calvary: or, The place of a skull} 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 I apologize that this sermon’s not a very deep sermon. When I was preparing my notes I had hoped to show off all the things that I’ve been taught up in bible college, but then I decided, I’d just rather brag about Jesus.

 And here in our text we see Jesus on the cross. And we see the people gathered around the cross looking at him in disgust, looking at him with shame. Notice that when Jesus was crucified, he was placed in the middle of two vile men. He was not only treated as a transgressor, but numbered with the worst of them.

Isaiah53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" (Lu 23:34)"And He made intercession for the transgressors"

 At this point in the earthly life of Jesus one disciple had just betrayed him, another had just denied, and all had forsaken him. Even God had forsaken him so that Jesus cried out ELI, ELI, LAMMA SABACHTANI (my God my God why hast thou forsaken me).

 the Jews had condemned him as a heretic, the Gentiles crucified him as the vilest of impostors

 But look at Verse 42

LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM.

This man was the first who believed in the intercession of Christ

Notice how this wicked man feared God. Notice how he owned the justice of his punishment. Notice how he wanted, not the preservation of his body, but rather the salvation of his soul. Not only for his soul, but the soul of his brother’s, that suffered with him. This once wicked man glorified Christ more at the moment of his death, than some do in the whole course of their lives. The apostles themselves didn’t have such a clear conception of the kingdom of Christ.

 The first thing I want to ask you tonight is: Do you remember? Do you remember when you felt the heavy weight of conviction for you sins? Do you remember when you called out to God just like this thief on the cross and asked him to save your wicked soul? Do you remember?

 Do you remember how relieved you felt do you remember how all that sin you had resting upon your shoulders was lifted? Do you remember how you wanted to tell all your friends? Do you still remember?

 I remember the day that I got saved, but at the time I wasn’t going to Bible-believing church. Nobody ever took the time to show me that I could be sure of my salvation. I always thought salvation was like Santa Claus.

 Santa Claus Salvation: As long as you don’t do anything to bad you’ll still get that present on Christmas day. But I had done some pretty bad things in my life. I’d done some things I wasn’t sure that God could forgive.

 Do you remember what it was like when you wanted to tell everyone you knew about Jesus? Do you Remember? I’m afraid we sometimes forget.

 I know I do and I haven’t even been living for the Lord that long. How much more for someone who has been at it longer than me.

 I’ll get caught up with work. I’ll get caught up with friends. Sometimes I’ll even get so caught up studying for school that I’ll put off telling others about Christ. It’s amazing. The whole reason I’m going to this school is so I can be a better witness for Christ and sometimes I let it keep me from doing exactly that.

 Do you remember?

Maybe you don’t remember, if you can’t remember someone taking the Bible and showing how you can know you’re going to heaven when you die. Let me ask you this: will you be remembered?

 If you’ve never had any one take a Bible and show you how you can know for sure you’ll go to heaven, would you let someone here do that tonight? We want you to be remembered in heaven.

 What did this thief do so that Jesus might say in verse 43, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.?

 Well let’s first look at what he didn’t do. We all know he didn’t get off the cross and get baptized, right. Probably didn’t join a church. Those are good things and we as born again believers ought to do those things, but it’s sort of hard to do with nails in the hands and feet.

 You know, he probably didn’t get confirmed. Probably didn’t speak in tongues. Do you see where I’m going here?

 Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 I meet so many people who are trusting in other

things. I’ve talked to people who said, “My pastor told me I was going to heaven.” I’ve heard people say, “I’ve been baptized or confirmed or I cried at the altar.” Can I tell you that those things won’t get you into heaven. Can I tell you that good works or lack of bad ones won’t get you into heaven.

 How then can we be remembered in heaven? (lift up) the Bible

 Will you be Remmembered?

 How can we be remembered in heaven then?

 Three things: Conceive, Believe, and Receive

1. Concieve:

 We must realize our wickedness.

 Verses 40-41 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

 He realized that he was condemned to die justly for his sins. He knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Just as we must acknowledge our sinfulness.

2. Believe:

 Vs. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

 He calls him Lord. So must we acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship over our lives.

3. Receive:

 You can be sure that when you acknowledge your sinfulness and call out to God, just like that thief, he will save you.

 V. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Do you Remember what it was like when you first got saved? Do you remember the joy unspeakable that just burst forth and made you want to tell everyone you knew about Jesus?

If you can’t remember that time, are you sure you’ll be remembered?

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Don’t be left.

…Will you be remembered?

 The story of “the repentant thief on the cross” is probably one of the most famous stories in the entire Bible.

 The Bible doesn’t tell his name. But many people use this story to put off giving their life to Christ. They figure that they can also make heaven by the seat of their pants. But if you’re waiting for a more convenient time to be saved, then I want you to know that there isn’t. That time is now. We’re never promised tomorrow. Hell is full of those who waited too long. There was only one thief on the cross. One, so that none might despair, but only one so that none might presume.

 The Bible compares heaven many times to a great marriage feast. Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 Do you have that wedding garment today? The Bible says that when we are saved we are given a robe of righteousness.

 Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

 But just like Adam and Eve in the Garden we try to clothe ourselves. We try to put on our own righteousness. But the Bible is very clear on how God sees our own coverings.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.