Scripture:

Luke 23:42-43　And he said, Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And He said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

I. Two criminals:

  1. The two criminals who were crucified with Jesus committed the same sin and received the same punishment.
  2. Of the two, one believed and the other did not. Formerly, they were both criminals. The only difference was that later on one believed and one did not.

II. One blasphemed Jesus:

  1. The first thief, being very sinful, blasphemed the sinless Jesus.
  2. Today many are really deep in sins, yet they blaspheme Jesus.

III.  The other one asked Jesus:

  1. The other criminal reproached Jesus as the first.
  2. But when he thought about God, a godly fear came up within him, and he said, “Do you not even fear God?” (Luke 23:40). The reason men repent and call on Jesus is that men think about the matter of God.
  3. He knew himself. Because he was afraid of God, his conscience caused him to confess before the Lord, acknowledging that he deserved the punishment of death.
  4. He knew the Lord; he also acknowledged that the Lord Jesus had done nothing amiss to deserve such punishment and that the Lord Jesus was bearing his sins and dying for his sake.
  5. He asked. So he asked the Lord Jesus to save him, to remember him when the Lord would come into His kingdom.
  6. He was saved. As soon as he asked the Lord, the Lord’s salvation came to him. He was asking for the future, but the Lord promised him, saying, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43). Just ask, and you will receive. To ask is to show your faith. Your asking is a proof that you have believed. So just ask, and you will be saved.
  7. He received assurance of his salvation. The assurance of his salvation was in the Lord’s words, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” The Lord has given us many words, and these words are the assurance of our salvation. For example: “He who believes into the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36); “He who has the Son has the life” (1 John 5:12). Just lay hold on one verse, and you will be saved.