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LUKE 23:39-45

I. WHY DID GOD ORDAIN HIS SON TO BE CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO THIEVES?
        A. To show the shame to which He descended?
                a. Birth with beast.
                b. Death with offscouring of society.
        B. To show position as substitute?
                a. Dying on Barrabas's cross.
        C. Was it not to give vivid drama of Salvation and man's response to it.
                a. One sinner believing and being saved.
                b. One sinner reviling and mocking.

II. LESSONS TO  BE LEARNED.
        A. Sovereignty of God.
                1. Both equally near to Christ.
                2. Both notoriously wicked.
                3. Both suffering and dying.
                4. Both needing forgiveness.
                        a. One died in sins.
                        b. Other repented of sins believed in Christ and went with Him to
                           paradise.
                5. Similar today.
                        a. Same set of circumstances melts one hardens another, same sermon
                           one hears another lost.
        B. Victorious Grace. "By grace are ye saved."
                1. Grace planned, grace provided, grace completed.
                2. Example Saul and dying robber.
                        a. Saul high moral rich service.
                        b. Robber neither.
                                1. Some think we must fit ourselves for God.
                                2. Some think we are kept by good works.
                3. Consider time of conversion.
                        a. According to appearances He had lost all power to save  Himself or
                           others.
                        b. Probably first time to see Christ.
                                1.  Rejected by people and religious leaders.
                                2. Forsaken by friends.
                                3. Being crucified contrary to concept of Messiah.
                                        Even some who believed before doubted now)
                                4. No one in crowd saying "Behold the Lamb of God"  Miracle 
                                   of Grace.
                        c. Conversion took place prior to miracles of day. Salvation is  of 
                           the Lord, never magnify human instrumentality above  Divine agency.

III. WHAT THIS TEACHES vs.42,43.
        A. Representative sinner.
                1. On brink of eternity untied with enemies of Christ.
                        a. Demonstration of human depravity.
                        b. Same depravity in you.
                                "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
                                 wicked."
                2. You have to-see yourself as this thief.
                        a. Sinner but no thief.
                        b. You have robbed God.
        B. Man has to  come to end of himself before saved.
                1. He could do nothing to save himself.
                        a. The work of his hands or feet.
                        b. Couldn't turn over new leaf he was dying.
        C. See meaning of repentance and faith.
                1. Realization of lost condition, judging our state, owning lost state.
                2. Active conscience in presence of God.
                        a. "Dost thou not fear God?" not punishment but God.
                        b. He apprehends God as judge.
                "And we indeed justly for receive reward for our deeds."