I Deserve It: Death But HE Gave Me Life

I DESERVE IT—1

I DESERVE DEATH BUT HE GAVE ME LIFE

• WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF BREAKING GOD’S LAWS.

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. James 2:10 NLT  

For the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23

A STORY OF TWO THIEVES

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with [Jesus] to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 

Luke 23:32-33

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at [Jesus]: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:39-41

WE ARE ALL ONE OF TWO THIEVES

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at [Jesus]: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:39

• THIEF #1: UNREPENTANT

…“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:40-41

• THIEF #2: REPENTANT

THE SECOND THIEF DESERVED DEATH

BUT JESUS GAVE HIM LIFE!

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

 [God] does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10-12

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13