Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Salvation and Judgement

Episode Summary

Luke 23:33-49 This passage focuses on the very heart of salvation. But salvation occurs when God’s judgement is executed. Judgement brings fear. Our focus is often turned to a God who is mad and angry, and wanting to put things right. That is how we react when things go wrong. We want to put it right! It is like telling kids off for manners and behavior. It causes us to doubt whether God will let anyone into his Kingdom.

Episode Notes

The many aspects of this text: 

  1. Crucifixion: the evil of it and how one dies: fulfilling Psalm 22:7,8; 14-18 (a Psalm of David)
  2. Keys to the Lord’s Prayer, the Key to Christian living: forgiveness and Kingdom coming 
  3. Two more who declare the innocence of Jesus, who are sinners 
  4. The response of the multitude there, witnesses to the type of death Jesus died.
  5. The veil torn in two with access to God and the priesthood of all believers

Let us look at the dual meaning of the words “save” and “King”

The big idea and the focus of this passage has to do with salvation. The Angel to Mary: call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins – he will sit on the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob, and his Kingdom shall have no end – today is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord – JB: Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (At the time of the offering in the temple!). There are three references to salvation:

  1. The rulers who sneered: He saved others, let him save himself, if he is the Messiah (vs. 35) (see Luke 4:23 physician heal yourself)
  2. The soldiers mocked him: if you are a king, save yourself (vs. 37)
  3. The criminal: Are you the Christ? Save yourself and us

The the light of this the other criminal responds with wisdom and and a plea for Mercy – Look at how he addresses the prophet and the healer: “Jesus”! The Lord saves! Remember me.  He confesses his guilt to all, and appeals to the One who saves! He takes a step of faith, just as Jesus does in his faith in God who will raise the dead!  Salvation or Judgement?

  1. The others judge Jesus by mocking, criticizing, making their own way seem right
  2. But Jesus judges the one who has faith as accepted
  3. God judges Jesus with our sin. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord! Rom 6:23
  4. The Judgement of God bypasses the one who puts their faith in Jesus! Jesus pays the penalty and the judgement for our sins.

Judging texts:

“Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out.” John 6:37 NASB2020

““Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NASB2020

“for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:13 NASB2020

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-15 NASB2020

“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 NASB2020