We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
3 sermons cite this verse
When Jesus is finally ready to give up his own life, where does he trust it to? Into the hands of his Father. Amazingly, that is the same place that you and I go to the moment that we die. We enter into eternal life and are received by the gracious and comforting hands in our Lord. Of course, there are earthly things to fear and to be nervous about. There's no discounting those. But the ultimate fear for the people of God in death is gone. We are to be received by God and his hands. So as you can read in the catechism, this phrase, descent into hell, is a summary statement of suffering, death, and burial, which is to say, and this is pretty much anywhere else except this context, crude language, but that Christ went through hell. He endured all of the suffering and the torment that he could. And this is a comfort to us because when we fear death or when we are thrown by the anguish and the trials of this life, you can remember that you are not alone. …
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. May you have a seat. So I wonder, when was the moment? When was like the moment? When was the moment of victory? When was the moment Jesus won? Today is this incredible feast, Christ the King. And we'll talk about that in a second. But I first want to tell you a story about a queen. And the story happened around the year 480 BC. What happened was this was the Jews were exiled. about the Babylonians, right? The Babylonians came in, exiled the Jews, brought many of them to Babylon. At one point, though, the Persians defeated the Babylonians. And so the entire world, essentially, the Persian Empire, extended over everything. It extended from India to Ethiopia. And there was a king. He was not a good guy. He was not a good person. King Ahasuerus is the king at this time of the story. At one point, there's a story. It's about King Ahasuerus, who had a party that went on for his friends and other people who were royalty. …
"And one of the malefactors who was hanged, railed on Him, saying, If you are Christ, save Yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we, indeed, justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto you, today shall you be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:39-43. THE dying thief was certainly a very great wonder of Divine Grace. He has generally been looked upon from one point of view only—as a sinner called at the eleventh hour and, therefore, an instance of special mercy because he was so near to death. Enough has been made of that circumstance by others! To my mind, it is by no means the most important point in the narrative. Had the thief been predestined to come down from the Cross and live for half a century longer, his conversion would have been neither more nor less than it was. The work of Grace which enabled him to die in peace would, if it had been the Lord's will, have enabled him to live in holiness. We may well admire Divine Grace when it so speedily makes a man fit for the bliss of Heaven! But it is equally to be adored when it makes him ready for the battle of earth. To bear a saved sinner away from all further conflict is great Grace. But the power and love of God are, if anything, even more conspicuous when, like a sheep surrounded by wolves, or a spark in the midst of the sea, a Believer is enabled to live on in the teeth of an ungodly world and maintain his integrity to the end! Dear Friend, whether you die as soon as you are born-again, or remain on earth for many years is comparatively a small matter—and will not materially alter your indebtedness to Divine Grace! In the one case the great Husbandman will show how He can bring His flowers speedily to perfection. And in the other He will prove how He can preserve them in blooming beauty despite the frosts and snows of earth's cruel winter! In either case your experience will reveal the same love and power. …