Recently Pastor Mike preached this sermon at Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston, MA. Please open up your Bible and follow along. Pastor Mike examines a passage of scripture closely (Luke 23:13ff) that talks about the awesome power of Christ's saving work. Christ was crucified in between 2 criminals - one said "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"... but the other rightly viewed his own sin and Christ's lack of sin by saying: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." After this we have an exchange between him and Jesus in vs 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 will be with me in Paradise." What can we learn from this? 1. Salvation changes the sinner immediately When justification happens, sanctification starts. Titus 2:11-14 says: ¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. At the time of salvation - not only is your status changed from enemy to friend, but also the new nature comes out and begins to change the sinner. 2. Listen in next time...