Luke 23:39 " and one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying if thou be Christ save thyself and us ".
Contrary of the popular belief and the self serving messages of today, Jesus came to save. He said, He came to call the sinner to repentance. We have begun to allow the worlds doctrine, ideals and belief structure start to dictate the why Jesus came into this world. We celebrate His birth with the giving and receiving of material things. Making it about the treasures and pleasure of this world and many have lost track of the true gift and meaning of this holyday season.
Our text today is a picture of the prayer and desire of many of todays believers. There were two thieves hanging with Christ. They were both near to Christ Physically, so they both saw the same thing. They both prayed, but their prayers were for different things. While one prayed to be saved from the cross, the other prayed to be saved by the cross. One prayed to be saved in his sins, while the other prayed to be saved from his sins. Many of us today want to bypass the suffering and the necessary death needed to truly enjoy a life with Christ. We desire to be saved from the cross instead of by the cross. Jesus came to save and if you truly want to receive the spirit of Christ surrender your life to Christ. Be saved by His new birth into your life and the dying of the old man. Deny yourself and take up your cross daily and be saved by the cross and not from the cross.
Remember the cross on which He Our Saviour)died for the forgiveness of our sins. Death could nor would overcome Him. He openly made an open show of him on the cross
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