His Native Condition; Gracious Transformation

Driving home: And in the lowest depths of the Redeemer's humiliation, in the darkest hour of the power of darkness, when Satan's policy seemed to be crowned with complete success, this immortal soul, chclockwise with dismal bloodACTIV…

Martin quotes James Buchanan's exposition of the passage, which describes the crucifixion as illustrating Christ's abasement and the certainty of his reward, with the thief's conversion serving as a pledge of Christ's triumph.

I can do no better in introducing our studies in this profoundly moving portion of the word of God than to read the words with which James Buchanan, a Scottish preacher of another day, begins his exposition of this passage, in which he says the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was so ordered as to furnish a striking illustration at once of the depth of his abasement and the certainty of his reward. To enhance the agony and the shame of his death, our Lord was crucified between two thieves, being numbered with the transgressors, placed on the same, level in public view, with men whose lives had be...

4:27 - 5:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section details the thief's original spiritual state: a 'malefactor' and 'evil doer' who was a defiant rebel against God's law, an irreligious and hardened sinner, and a…

Used to explain how 'soldiers' could refer to the group rather than every individual, drawing a parallel to the interpretation of 'robbers' mocking Christ.

Now some, viewing this apparent discrepancy, have said, well, just as the passage says later on that the soldiers put a sponge on a reed, and it was obvious it didn't take three or four soldiers to put a sponge on a reed, but soldiers is used to describe that this activity came from the rank of the soldiers when Matthew and Mark tell us that the thieves cast the same in his teeth. It simply means from the quarter of the thieves, it could be one or two of them. However, another interpretation is possible and is warranted by the language, and I prefer it,

16:48 - 17:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section introduces the 'gracious transformation' of the dying thief, posing three questions: how it came to pass, what evidences its reality, and what means God used. Martin…

Martin uses the analogy of teaching points (1, 2, 3) versus the fluid, interwoven reality of spiritual transformation to clarify that the elements of conversion are not strictly sequential in experience.

And we want to consider this morning, we'll begin to consider that transformation. And let me say, as I introduce this element of the study, when you're teaching, you've got to have point one, point two, point three. At least you better have. Do you want anybody to learn anything?

29:36 - 29:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Allow the Spirit, through fragments of truth, to pierce your heart and show you your true condition before Almighty God, leading you to fear Him and prioritize eternal concerns over temporal ones.

Martin uses the example of a difficult spouse (shrewd woman or recalcitrant man) to illustrate that even severe temporal problems pale in comparison to the spiritual problem of accountability to God.

My friend, when you see your true condition, before Almighty God, I don't care what your problems are. You may have the most shrewdly like woman in all the world that you're tied to for life.

38:08 - 38:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This is to impute Godhead to Christ. If a man casts his all upon the mere memory of a person, he must have a very high esteem of that person.

Martin quotes Spurgeon's perceptive comment that the thief's petition 'Remember me' imputes Godhead to Christ, showing a high esteem and worship for Jesus.

And Spurgeon has a most perceptive comment on this very point, saying, in addition to thus praying, you will see that the thief adores and worships Jesus for he says, Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. The petition is worded as if he felt, only let Christ think of me and it is enough. Let him but remember me and the thought of his mind will be effectual for everything that I shall need in the world to come. This is to impute Godhead to Christ.

48:06 - 48:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The thief's faith embraced Christ as the innocent Son of God (his person), the coming King and Messiah (his position), and the willing and able Savior (his purpose), as evidenced…

Martin uses the analogy of knowing someone is able to give you something (like cars or a home) but not willing, to explain that the thief's request implies he believed Christ was not only able but also willing to save him.

It's necessary to fit me for the everlasting kingdom to be manifested at the last day. And not only does he believe Christ is able to save, he believes he's willing or he never would have asked. There's some people I know that are very well able to buy me three cars if I needed them, buy me a home, do anything. But I never ask them because I know there's not an ounce of willingness in them.

51:53 - 52:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The thief's faith embraced Christ as the innocent Son of God (his person), the coming King and Messiah (his position), and the willing and able Savior (his purpose), as evidenced…

Martin uses the example of children trying to discern if parents are willing to give them something, to further illustrate the thief's confidence in Christ's willingness without needing to 'feel him out.'

And you don't even bother to ask. And you see, sometimes you kids, you have problems. You know, Mom and Dad may be able, to give you something you need, but you're not quite sure whether they're willing, so you've got to feel them out. Right?

52:18 - 52:30 Read in full sermon