I. Christ died between transgressors.

A. Is. 53:12 - Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1. This was written 700 years before the actual death of Christ.

2. Yet it happened just as God had said it would.

B. Why did God want his only beloved son to perish between two thieves?

1. Wasn't it enough for Jesus Christ to come into the world and take the form of man?

2. Wasn't it enough for Jesus to die on the cross?

II. Reason number one.

A. Isaiah 53:3 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

1. Christ was despised by man.

2. He was hung between the two thieves to show that man really despised him.

3. But notice again--Christ was not only despised, he was rejected.

a. John 19:19 - Jesus had a title, written by Pilate which said, …Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

b. This title was true, Jesus was the King of the Jews, but the Jews had rejected him as their king and had crucified him between two thieves as if he were a common criminal.

B. The Devil thought he had everything going his way, but he was wrong. The Devil was unknowingly yielding to Christ's power because he was doing everything that had been prophesied for him to do.

III. Reason number two.

A. The salvation of the thief on the cross is used by God to refute those who would say that Christ was helpless as He hung on the cross.

1. Christ was far from being helpless.

2. Christ still had the power to save souls, and he did save the thief's soul.

3. Notice a few things concerning the people who had been with Christ before his crucifixion.

a. Peter had denied the Lord three times. (Luke 22:54-62)

b. All of Christ's disciples followed him afar off or left him completely. (Mark 14:27)

c. Christ's had been blindfolded and tried at night, which was against the law. (Matt. 26:34)

d. Pilate beat Jesus with a cat of nine tails, and the soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head, and a purple robe on His body, and mocked Him. (John 19:1-3)

e. Jesus stood before the "court" of Pilate and Herod. Both of these men confessed that they could find nothing at all wrong with the things that Jesus preached.

f. Pilate's wife even told Pilate not to have anything to do with Jesus, because of some dreams she had. (Matt, 27:19)

g. But Christ was taken anyway.

h. Barabbas was released.

i. Jesus was taken to Golgotha where He was stretched out on a cross and a nail driven through each hand and each foot.

j. Christ's naked body was raised up high in the air for all to see His shame.

B. Does this present a picture of weakness or strength?

1. To the human eye, it looks like Jesus is on His last leg, it looks like God had been defeated, it looks like the devil is going to be victorious over God.

2. But in the midst of all this, Jesus saved a soul from burning forever in the flames of hell.

3. Notice also that the thief was saved

a. before the three hours of darkness,

b. before the triumphant cry "It is finished,"

c. before the rending of the temple veil,

d. before the quaking of the earth,

e. before the centurion's confession, "Truly this was the Son of God".

f. Yet, in the light of all this, the thief saw salvation in Jesus Christ.

C. John 3:8 states, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

1. Surely we don't understand the power of God even to know when it is possible for a person to be saved.

2. We never know when or how God is using His Holy Spirit to convict a lost person of his sins.

IV. Now let us take a look at the thief himself.

A. The believing thief was like everybody else.

1. Matt. 27:44 states, The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

a. Neither of the thieves saw any good in Jesus.

b. Neither of the thieves thought that Jesus could save their souls, until the Holy Spirit touched the soul of one of the thieves.

c. Luke 23:39-43.

1.) Both of the thieves saw exactly the same thing.

2.) Both of the thieves mocked Jesus.

3.) Both of the thieves were under the same righteous condemnation.

2. But the Holy Spirit came to one of the thieves and Jesus saved his soul.

a. All lost people are in the same condition as the thief, away from God, and headed for an eternity in hell.

b. If you say you are not a thief, read Romans 12:1.

c. If you have ever stole anything, of ever thought one bad thought, or ever said anything about anyone, or ever sinned, then you are just like the thief and need the blood of Christ to cleanse you from your sins.

d. Isaiah 1:18-20 states, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

B. The thief was not saved until he had come to the place where he knew he could do nothing to help himself.

1. The thief came to know that only Jesus could save his soul. Then Jesus did save him.

2. Notice also that the thief said "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into thy kingdom."

3. The thief knew in his mind that Jesus was the Son of God. But that didn't save him.

4. When the thief came to know Jesus as the Son of God in his spiritual heart, then Jesus saved his soul. (James 2:19)

a. You may know that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is able to save you, but if you don't trust His shed blood to the salvation of your soul, you will die in your sins and spend eternity in hell!

C. Notice some things the thief realized about himself and Christ.

1. He believed in a future life and in judgment. The thief knew that Jesus was dying for him and that Jesus would live again because he said Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

2. He had a deep spiritual belief and fear of God, even though he did not show.

3. Repentance: he knew he was a sinner. In Luke 23:40,41, he says …Thou art in the same condemnation. and we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds. He was genuinely sorry for his sins before God, not just that he got caught.

4. He believed in life after death, as he knew he was dying and would be going someplace after he died.

5. He believed in memory after death, as he asked Christ to remember him.

6. He did not ask to be preferred, but remembered – shows his humility and submission.

7. He recognized that Christ was sinless and innocent even though he had gone through two trials. Luke 23:41 This man hath done nothing amiss…

8. He saw that Christ was a king. Luke 23:42. He said, …When Thou comest into thy kingdom…

9. He believed Christ had a kingdom.

10. He believed in the Second Coming if Jesus Christ. Luke 23:42 ..When Thou comest…

D. Notice Christ's answer. Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise. This tells us that when a saved person dies, he goes immediately to be with His Saviour.