The Thief on the Cross (Part 1) () - November 1, 2011
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Mike Abendroth Mike’s passion is preaching the Bible in a verse-by-verse fashion and training other men to do the same. He graduated from The Master’s Seminary in 1996 (M. Div.), received his doctorate in Expository Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2006 (D. Min.), and is an adjunct professor at EBTC (European Bible Training Center) and The Master’s Seminary (Doctoral Mentor). Pastor Mike is also the author of Jesus Christ: The Prince of Preachers (DayOne, 2007), The Sovereignty and Supremacy of King Jesus (DayOne, 2011), Things that Go Bump in the Church (Harvest House, 2014), Discovering Romans (Zondervan, 2014), Sexual Fidelity (NoCo Media, 2015) and Evangelical White Lies (NoCo Media, 2016). He is overwhelmed at God’s grace in his salvation and for his family (Kim, Hayley, Luke, Maddie and Grace). Mike has been the Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Bible Church (BBC) in West Boylston, MA since April 1997. When not enjoying his family, Mike is often seen on this.
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Steve Cooley Steve graduated from The Master's Seminary in 2002 and retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2004, after 21 years of service. He and his family were called to Bethlehem Bible Church in June, 2004. Steve and his wife Janet have three grown children: Steve Jr., Kristin, and Megan, two godly sons-in-law, Jerry Fish and Joey DeFilippo, and is a grandfather of 6: January, Devany, Autumn, Carys, Jude, and Declan. Steve, aka “The Tuesday Guy,” is the Associate Pastor at Bethlehem Bible Church. He also likes board games, particularly those with some historical flavor. |
Before getting into today's topic on the thief on the cross - Pastor Mike takes a couple minutes to reiterate the priorities of Bethlehem Bible Church, No Compromise Radio, and his own book-writing ministry. The aim in all of these things is to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bring glory and honor to Him, not ourselves.
Today Pastor Mike sits down with us and 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? Mike goes over some key things this passage illustrates:
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, 14 who 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...
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