This is part 2 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this Sermon, Pastor Matt takes a deep dive into the thief on the cross next to Jesus and his last interaction with Christ.

Prophecies Fulfilled:

One of the most significant aspects of Christ's time on earth is that he fulfilled prophecies from hundreds or even thousands of years before. Two that are fulfilled in the story of Jesus and the Thief on the cross are that Jesus would be "numbered with the transgressors" despite being innocent, and that his enemies would surround him and mock him. Isaiah and David both looked forward to Jesus' coming and made predictions about it through the Holy Spirit.

We should identify with the criminals.

We should fight our tendency to view ourselves as the hero and recognize that we belong on the cross next to Jesus. The thieves on either side of Christ deserved their punishment, but Jesus did not. We, too, like the thieves, deserve punishment. Let us remember that we are not the hero, Christ is.

Jesus took our place on the cross.

God loves us so much that he provided his own Son to take the punishment we deserve. In the heroic climax of history, Christ died the death we deserved so that we could be saved.

We are Justified by Faith.

Since God has offered us salvation as a free gift, how do we access this gift? The scriptures make clear, and this story demonstrates, that we access the free gift of God through faith. When we believe in God who sent his Son for us, God grants us salvation. He makes it "just as if I'd" never sinned. This is what it means to be "justified by faith."

Propitiation

This is one of those words that you will only ever hear in church. Propitiation means that God's wrath was diverted from us and onto Christ. For this reason, we no longer pay the penalty ourselves, but rely on Christ who paid it for us.

The criminals' last words sealed their eternal destination

While the one criminal mocked Jesus, the other repented and expressed faith in him. In these final moments, each thief sealed his own fate. One sealed his eternity in heaven by putting faith in Jesus. The other condemned himself by refusing to put his faith in the only one who can save.

Ultimately it is Jesus who removes our condemnation

The most important point is that Jesus is the one who saves us. He is the only one who can. When you put your faith in him, you move from death to life, and from condemnation to reconciliation.